Custom domain email without Google Workspace
You do not need Google Workspace just to use email on your own domain. If your main need is you@yourdomain.com, hello@yourdomain.com, support@yourdomain.com, or billing@yourdomain.com, Shipmail gives you custom-domain mailboxes without bundling Docs, Drive, Meet, or per-user workspace seats.
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What you need instead
A custom-domain email setup needs three pieces: an email host, DNS records, and the addresses you want to receive mail. Shipmail provides the host, shows the exact MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, then lets you create the mailboxes your team actually uses.
- Use MX records to route incoming mail to Shipmail.
- Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate outgoing mail.
- Create real mailboxes for addresses that need their own inbox and replies.
Mailbox, alias, forwarding, or shared address?
Mailbox
A mailbox is a real inbox with storage, IMAP access, SMTP sending, and its own password. Use it for addresses that need to receive and reply as themselves, like hello@ or support@.
Alias
An alias is another address that routes into a mailbox. Use aliases for light variants like contact@ or press@ when one person answers from the same inbox.
Forwarding
Forwarding sends a copy to another destination. It is useful during migration, but a mailbox is cleaner when you need reliable replies from the custom-domain address.
Shared address
A shared address is a mailbox that multiple team members can access. It works for support@, billing@, and hello@ without adding a separate collaboration tool first.
Where this beats buying Google Workspace
Google Workspace is useful when your team wants the full Google suite. If you only need professional email on a domain, the suite comparison is less important than cost, setup, and role-address workflow.
Common setups
One founder, one domain
Use you@yourdomain.com for direct replies, hello@yourdomain.com for website forms, and billing@yourdomain.com for receipts without buying a seat for each address.
Small team role addresses
Create support@, sales@, hello@, and billing@ as real mailboxes. Share access with teammates when more than one person needs to answer.
Client or side-project domains
Add more domains as the work grows. Keep each domain's mailboxes separate while managing them from the same Shipmail account.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Can I use custom-domain email without Google Workspace?
Yes. You need an email host that accepts mail for your domain, plus DNS records that point your domain's email to that host. Shipmail provides the mailboxes, sending, receiving, and DNS instructions without requiring Google Workspace.
Do I still need a Google account?
No. Shipmail handles the email hosting. You can keep a free Google account for Docs or Drive if you want, but it is separate from your custom-domain email setup.
Is forwarding enough for professional email?
Forwarding can work for very light setups, but it gets fragile when you need to reply from the same address, share a role inbox, or connect normal email clients. A real mailbox is better for business email.
Can multiple people use one shared address?
Yes. Create a mailbox such as support@yourdomain.com, then share access with the people who need to read and reply from it.