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Email for Shopify stores compared
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Short answer
If you want email accounts on your store's domain that you manage and pay for inside Shopify, HostedEmail.io is the simplest option. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are separate accounts that you sign up for, set up and pay for outside Shopify. Shopify forwarding is free but can't send, and marketing apps like Shopify Email, Omnisend and Klaviyo send campaigns but don't give you an email account.
Side-by-side comparison
Scroll sideways to see every option.
| Feature | HostedEmail.io | Google Workspace | Microsoft 365 | Shopify forwarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email account on your domain | Yes | Yes | Yes | NoForwards to another inbox |
| Send and reply from your address | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Set up and managed in Shopify admin | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Billed on your Shopify invoice | Yes | No | No | Free |
| Entry price | $5 per email account/month | About $7 per user/month | About $7 per user/month | Free |
| Storage per user | 10 GB, up to 50 GB | 30 GB pooled | 100 GB | None |
| Webmail and phone/desktop apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Spam and virus filtering | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyHandled by your receiving inbox |
| DNS and setup support | YesWe guide you through every step, or set it all up for you as a Shopify collaborator | Self-service guidesYou add the DNS records yourself | Self-service guidesYou add the DNS records yourself | Not neededOnly for domains bought through Shopify |
| Migration help | YesFree, done for you | Self-service tools | Self-service tools | Not applicable |
Competitor prices are entry-level business plans in US dollars as published by each provider in October 2026, billed annually where that is cheaper. Check each provider's site for current prices.
The alternatives in more detail
Each of these is a sensible choice for some stores. Here's who each one suits.
Google Workspace
Google's business suite, with Gmail on your domain.
- A good fit if
- You already use Google Workspace and are happy to manage it separately from your store.
- Worth knowing
- You sign up, manage users and pay Google separately from Shopify, and add the DNS records yourself.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft's business suite, with email on your domain.
- A good fit if
- You already use Microsoft 365 and are happy to manage it separately from your store.
- Worth knowing
- You sign up, manage users and pay Microsoft separately from Shopify, and add the DNS records yourself.
Shopify email forwarding
Shopify can forward mail sent to addresses on a domain you bought through Shopify to another inbox.
- A good fit if
- You only need to receive mail and are happy to reply from a personal address.
- Worth knowing
- There's no email account, so you can't send from your store's domain. Replies come from your Gmail or other personal account.
Marketing apps: Shopify Email, Omnisend and Klaviyo
These send newsletters, campaigns and automated flows, such as abandoned-cart reminders, to your customers.
- A good fit if
- You want to email your customer list about launches, sales and offers.
- Worth knowing
- They don't give you an email account for day-to-day email. Most stores use one alongside a email provider, not instead of one.
Which should you choose?
- You want email accounts on your domain, managed and paid for in ShopifyHostedEmail.io
- You only need to receive mail, never send from your domainShopify forwarding
- You want to send campaigns to your customersA marketing app, plus a email provider
Set up and manage your business email in your Shopify admin panel.
Install HostedEmail.io, add your DNS records and create your first email account. Forwarding is free and email accounts are $5 per month each.