Non-Gmail email for everyday use

[brxndxn]

I have been using Gmail as my everyday account ever since Gmail just started. I no longer trust Google nor want to deal with any company using my data or sifting through it. I would rather pay for a single email address.

Basically, here is what I want:

- It needs to be with a company based in the US with its servers located in the US
- It needs to be with a company that has been around and will be around
- I want to pay for it; if it is free, I am not interested
- My data is mine and not theirs - their privacy policy should state that
- I can access my email from an Internet page
- I can access my email in Outlook
- The domain must be easy to say to people.. I do not want to be brxndxn@xxmlss.co.ss.com

What service should I use?

 

[amdhunter]

How about using Office 365 and using your own domain? I've used their trial and liked it a lot. 2 Licenses will cost $12 a month.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/online-software.aspx

 

[corkyg]

I have been using these folks for several years - I pay $10 a month. Their filtration system allows me to set up a very secure white list only mailbox, and it has webmail access anywhere in the world - all for $10 a month.

http://www.sitestar.net/

 

[paperwastage]

I have been using Gmail as my everyday account ever since Gmail just started. I no longer trust Google nor want to deal with any company using my data or sifting through it. I would rather pay for a single email address.

Basically, here is what I want:

- It needs to be with a company based in the US with its servers located in the US
- It needs to be with a company that has been around and will be around
- I want to pay for it; if it is free, I am not interested
- My data is mine and not theirs - their privacy policy should state that
- I can access my email from an Internet page
- I can access my email in Outlook
- The domain must be easy to say to people.. I do not want to be brxndxn@xxmlss.co.ss.com

What service should I use?

if you are willing to do some legwork/config/reading (willing to config DNS and spf and domainkeys)

get a domain name

get a service from one of the providers listed in this thread or the link below.

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=165

 

[Tsaico]

MS office hosted exchange is decent. If you really want to have good control, then I would recommend:
1. Get a static IP.
2. run http://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/pricing.aspx on a respectable box at home.
3. Put in the DNS, your IP for mx 10 slot,
4. Forward port 25, 443 and 80 on your router to this new email server.
5. Enjoy email that no one is searching through.

 

[Motorheader]

Try here - been using them since sometime in the mid 90's.

https://www.netaddress.com

 

[ianmills]

Why not just use the email account that your ISP provides you?

 

[MotF Bane]

Set up your own site?

.

 

[scjrr]

I have been using fastmail for a very long time. I started using them back in 2003 for my original palm phone. I started up an account with them since they supported IMAP which made it easier to sync with my email at home. I have a google account that I use for contacts and calendar on my Android phone but I still use fastmail for my primary email account.

They may not fit your criteria as they were originally based out of Australia although they have servers in the US. Some time ago they were bought by Opera. Their main servers are located in New York.

I had tried another email service but eventually switched back. I had issues restoring a backup with fastmail once. In the end the backup restore worked properly but the technician took a while to figure it out (based somewhere overseas). The problem was caused by me since I had given a computer to a friend who promptly deleted the email. Since it was IMAP it deleted all of my email. I didn't like the other email services features so I switched back.

What I like:
web based interface is great and easy to use
can enter your own custom domain (bought my own domain a while back)
can create virtual domains even if you don't buy a domain
can filter your email with a script on the server (my favorite feature)
supports imap so all pcs and devices see the same view
very reliable (only lost email access 2 times over 9 years)
can host a simple web page from their server

It runs from $20-$40 a year based on the service level you want, mainly the amount of storage.

http://www.fastmail.fm