Email inboxes and transactional emails
Email still sits at the center of digital communication, whether you’re a developer sending automated notifications from an application or a business owner who wants a professional email presence on a custom domain. A few free services cover both needs without asking for money. This post compares the best free options for transactional email services and custom-domain inboxes, so you can pick what fits your project or business.
Free transactional email services for applications
Transactional emails are automated messages triggered by user actions, such as password resets, order confirmations, or account notifications. They need reliable delivery and easy integration through APIs or SMTP relays. The five services below all have free plans that work for developers and businesses.
1. Resend
Resend is a developer-focused email platform for transactional and marketing email with high deliverability. Its free plan works well for small applications or startups.
- Free Plan Details: 3,000 emails per month, with a daily limit of 100 emails.
- Features: RESTful API, SMTP relay, official SDKs for popular programming languages, open and link tracking, and one custom domain, plus automatic suppression lists and deliverability data.
- Best For: Developers who want a simple, reliable service with a modern interface and solid API integration.
- Website: Resend
2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo handles both transactional and marketing email, with a reputation for high deliverability and easy integration.
- Free Plan Details: Up to 300 emails per day, which equals approximately 9,000 emails per month.
- Features: RESTful APIs, SMTP relay, webhooks, unlimited log retention, and integration with major CMS tools, plus customizable email templates and a drag-and-drop editor.
- Best For: Businesses or developers that send a high volume of transactional email and want marketing capabilities as well.
- Website: Brevo
3. Mailjet
Mailjet offers a solid transactional email service with a generous free plan, a good fit for applications that need consistent email delivery.
- Free Plan Details: 6,000 emails per month, with a daily limit of 200 emails.
- Features: email API, SMTP relay, real-time analytics, and template management. Integration is easy, and there are tools for both developers and marketers.
- Best For: Teams that want a balance of high email volume and daily limits for steady application use.
- Website: Mailjet
4. MailerSend
MailerSend is a straightforward transactional email service for developers, and its free plan is competitive.
- Free Plan Details: 3,000 emails per month.
- Features: transactional email API, SMTP integration, email templates, delivery tracking, and support for custom domains.
- Best For: Small applications or startups that need a reliable, no-frills email service.
- Website: MailerSend
5. Zoho ZeptoMail
Zoho ZeptoMail is Zoho’s transactional email service for application-driven email.
- Free Plan Details: A one-time credit of 10,000 emails, valid for six months.
- Features: transactional email API and SMTP support, designed for high deliverability and easy integration with applications.
- Limitations: The free credit is not recurring, so it fits testing or one-off campaigns better than ongoing use.
- Best For: Developers or businesses testing a transactional email service before they commit to a paid plan.
- Website: ZeptoMail
| Service | Free Plan Emails | Daily Limit | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resend | 3,000/month | 100 | API, SMTP, SDKs, tracking, custom domain | Developers, small apps |
| Brevo | 9,000/month (300/day) | 300 | API, SMTP, webhooks, CMS integration | High-volume apps, marketing needs |
| Mailjet | 6,000/month | 200 | API, SMTP, analytics, templates | Balanced volume and daily limits |
| MailerSend | 3,000/month | None | API, SMTP, templates, delivery tracking | Simple, reliable app integration |
| ZeptoMail | 10,000 (one-time) | None | API, SMTP, high deliverability | Testing or one-off campaigns |
Free email inboxes with custom domains
An address on your own domain (e.g., you@yourdomain.com) looks more professional and builds brand credibility. Free options are limited, but a few services host email on custom domains at no cost, and they fit small businesses, freelancers, or individuals who want a branded address.
1. Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail is a solid choice for free email hosting on custom domains, with a strong feature set for small teams.
- Free Plan Details: Up to 5 users, 5GB storage per user, and a 25MB attachment limit.
- Features: Web access, mobile apps, and email hosting for a single custom domain. The service is ad-free and secure, with a user-friendly interface.
- Limitations: The free plan does not include IMAP, POP, or Active Sync, which may limit compatibility with some email clients.
- Best For: Small businesses or teams that need multiple email addresses and substantial storage.
- Website: Zoho Mail | Pricing
2. GoogieHost
GoogieHost provides cloud-based email hosting with custom domain support for users with minimal needs.
- Free Plan Details: 2 email addresses with up to 1GB storage.
- Features: Ad-free email hosting with custom domain support, accessible via webmail.
- Limitations: Limited to two email addresses and smaller storage compared to Zoho Mail.
- Best For: Individuals or small startups that need a simple, free email solution.
- Website: GoogieHost
3. Hostpoco
Hostpoco offers global email hosting with a free plan for users who need basic email functionality.
- Free Plan Details: 2 email addresses with up to 200MB storage.
- Features: Servers worldwide, live chat support, and custom domain support.
- Limitations: Very limited storage, which may not suit users with high email volume.
- Best For: Non-US users or anyone who needs minimal email hosting with global accessibility.
- Website: Hostpoco
| Provider | Email Addresses | Storage | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Mail | 5 | 5GB/user | Web access, mobile apps, ad-free | Small businesses, teams |
| GoogieHost | 2 | 1GB total | Cloud-based, ad-free, webmail | Individuals, small startups |
| Hostpoco | 2 | 200MB total | Global servers, live chat, webmail | Minimal needs, non-US users |
Choosing the right service
When you pick a transactional email service, weigh your application’s email volume and integration needs. Brevo’s 300 emails per day handles high-volume applications, while Resend and MailerSend work well for smaller projects. Mailjet’s 6,000 emails per month with a 200-email daily cap suits applications with steady but moderate email needs. ZeptoMail’s one-time credit is best for testing.
For custom domain inboxes, Zoho Mail offers the most generous user and storage limits, which suits small teams. GoogieHost and Hostpoco are viable for individuals or startups with minimal requirements, though their storage and address limits are restrictive.
Conclusion
Free email services really can cover transactional email and a professional inbox without charging you. Resend, Brevo, Mailjet, and MailerSend all have solid free plans with API and SMTP support, and ZeptoMail’s one-time credit is fine for testing. For custom-domain inboxes, Zoho Mail has the strongest free plan, with GoogieHost and Hostpoco as lighter options for smaller needs.
Sources
Resend Pricing Page
Brevo Transactional Email Service
Mailjet Transactional Email Pricing
MailerSend Pricing Plans
Zoho ZeptoMail Pricing
Zoho Mail Pricing and Plans
GoogieHost Free Email Hosting
Hostpoco