A Complete Guide to Business Email Costs in 2025

Paying for a business email might seem like an added expense when you're just starting out, but it's the first step toward being taken seriously and establishing brand recognition.

Luckily, it doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket. Most business email plans cost between $1 and $25/mo per user, on top of whatever domain registrar costs you're paying each year for your website.

This will get you a professional email address — think john.doe@doeassociates.com instead of johndoe@gmail.com — which is standard practice for most businesses these days.

Not every business email provider offers the same value, though. Here's a detailed look at the top business email providers and how much you can expect to pay for a business email in 2025.

Average business email pricing 2025

Most business email plans range from $1 to $25/mo per user, depending on the features and storage you need. Over a 12-month period, you could spend anywhere from $12 to $300 per user annually. But if your team needs several email accounts, these costs multiply quickly. A five-person team could pay between $60 and $1,500 per year for email hosting.​

Keep in mind that while this is what you pay for hosting your email inbox, you'll also need to register a custom domain to match your business name if you haven't already. Top-level domains like .com and .org can cost anywhere between $10 and $20 USD a year. This can also double as your company's website URL.

Basic plans typically include features like custom domain email addresses, spam protection, and between 2 GB to 30 GB of storage per user. More expensive plans offer additional storage, advanced security features, collaboration tools like video conferencing, and integration with workplace productivity suites.

Factors that affect business email cost

Many factors determine how much you pay for your business email each month. Apart from the number of users who need email accounts, you also have to pay for email security add-ons, priority support, and additional storage use beyond your plan limits.

• Number of users. Most providers charge per user per month, so adding team members directly increases your monthly costs. For example, Google Workspace starts at $7/mo per user, but a 10-person team would pay $70/mo.​
• Storage. Basic plans might offer 2-30 GB per user, while premium plans provide 1 TB or more. Businesses that handle large files or keep extensive email archives will need higher storage tiers, which cost more.​
• Security features. Advanced protection against phishing, malware, and data breaches comes with premium plans. Enhanced security features like multi-factor authentication and encryption might add $5-15/mo per user.​
• Collaboration tools. Plans that include video conferencing, file sharing, and productivity apps like Microsoft Office or Google Workspace cost significantly more. These integrated suites can range from $12 to 26/mo per user.​
• Technical support. 24/7 phone support and priority assistance typically come with higher-tier plans. Basic plans might only offer email support or online resources, while premium support could add $5-10/mo per user.​

6 popular business email providers

Prices also significantly vary depending on the email provider. Full-blown productivity suites, like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, charge more per user for email hosting than standard webmail services from website hosting providers.

Bluehost

Bluehost offers two main email plans:

• Professional Email Basic for $20 annually ($1.67/mo)
• Professional Email Plus for $30 annually ($2.50/mo)

The Basic plan includes 25 GB storage and 25 email aliases, while the Plus plan offers 80 GB storage and 50 aliases with encryption features. Both plans include spam protection and email forwarding.​

This email hosting service works well for small businesses that already use Bluehost for web hosting. Startups and solopreneurs can get a consolidated professional email without breaking their budget.​

Hostinger

Hostinger provides budget-friendly email hosting with two tiers:

• Business Starter at $0.39/mo
• Business Premium at $1.99/mo

The starter plan includes 10 GB storage and 50 email aliases, while the premium plan offers 50 GB storage with enhanced features. Both plans support IMAP and POP3 protocols with anti-spam protection.​

Small businesses and entrepreneurs on tight budgets will find Hostinger's pricing very attractive. It's ideal for companies that need basic professional email functionality without paying for features they won't use.​

IONOS

IONOS offers three business email plans:

• Mail Basic 1 for $1.10/mo
• Mail Basic 25 for $2.00/mo
• Mail Business for $3.00/mo

The entry-level plan supports individual users, while the Mail Basic 25 handles small teams with multiple email addresses. The business plan includes enhanced features for growing companies.​

IONOS works well for companies that prioritize affordability and simplicity, as long as they aren’t looking for any advanced collaboration tools.​

Google Workspace

Google Workspace offers three main business plans:

• Business Starter at $7/mo
• Business Standard at $14/mo
• Business Plus at $22/mo

The starter plan includes 30 GB storage per user, while higher tiers offer 2 TB and 5 TB, respectively. All plans include Gmail, Google Drive, Meet, and other productivity apps.​

Teams that rely heavily on collaboration and remote work will benefit most from Google Workspace. It's perfect for companies that want integrated email, video conferencing, document editing, and cloud storage in one platform.​

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 provides three business email plans:

• Business Basic at $6.00/mo
• Business Standard at $12.50/mo
• Business Premium at $22.00/mo

All plans include 1 TB cloud storage and access to Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft apps. Higher tiers add desktop versions of Office apps and advanced security features.

Businesses already using Microsoft products or requiring desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will find Microsoft 365 most beneficial. It's ideal for traditional office environments, but slightly less flexible for remote work.​

Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail offers excellent value with four non-enterprise plans:

• Mail Lite at $1.00/mo
• Workplace Standard at $3.00/mo
• Mail Premium at $4.00/mo
• Workplace Professional at $6.00/mo

Its most affordable plan, Mail Lite, starts at $1/mo per user for basic features. Premium plans cost around $4/mo and include unlimited storage with advanced features. The service also provides a free plan for up to 5 users, making it attractive for very small teams.​

Small- and medium-sized businesses looking for cost-effective email with strong privacy features will appreciate Zoho Mail. It's built for companies that dislike the pricing structure of major tech corporations but don’t want to compromise on features.

Popular business email providers compared

Here's an at-a-glance comparison of six business email providers to help you choose the right option for your team.

Provider	Best for	Plan name & cost	Features	Unique qualities
Bluehost	Small businesses already using Bluehost hosting	Professional Email Basic for $1.67/mo, Professional Email Plus for $2.50/mo [1]	25-80 GB storage, email aliases, spam protection, encryption (Plus plan)	Integrates seamlessly with existing Bluehost services
Hostinger	Budget-conscious startups and entrepreneurs	Business Starter for $0.39/mo, Business Premium for $1.99/mo [2]	10-50 GB storage, IMAP/POP3 support, anti-spam protection	Most affordable option with reliable features
IONOS	Companies wanting simple, straightforward email	Mail Basic 1 for $1.10/mo, Mail Basic 25 for $2.00/mo, Mail Business for $3.00/mo [3]	Scalable storage, basic business features	Focuses on simplicity and reliability
Google Workspace	Collaboration-focused teams and remote workers	Business Starter for $7/mo, Business Standard for $14/mo, Business Plus for $22/mo [4]	30 GB-5 TB storage, Gmail, Drive, Meet, collaboration tools	Best-in-class collaboration and integration
Microsoft 365	Businesses using Microsoft products	Business Basic for $6/mo, Business Standard for $12.5/mo, Business Premium for $22/mo [5]	1 TB storage, Outlook, Teams, Office apps, advanced security	Comprehensive productivity suite with familiar tools
Zoho Mail	Privacy-focused small to medium businesses	Basic for $1/mo, Premium for $4/mo [6]	5 GB-unlimited storage, strong privacy, free plan available	Privacy-focused alternative

Hidden costs to know

Beyond the monthly subscription fee, there are a few hidden costs that could surprise small business owners. Domain registration typically costs $10-20 annually if you don't already own your business domain. Many providers also require you to purchase or transfer your domain separately, adding to your overall business email costs.​

Advanced security add-ons like enhanced encryption, advanced threat protection, or compliance features might cost an additional $3-10/mo per user. Some providers also charge setup fees for new accounts or migration services if you're switching from another email provider. And if you exceed your storage limits, you'll face overage charges that can range from $0.20 to $12/mo per GB, depending on your provider.

FAQs

Bottom line

Business email can be quite affordable when starting out, but per-user costs can add up quickly as you onboard more employees. Pricing also varies based on your storage needs, security requirements, and how collaboration heavy your team is.

Make sure you consider both current costs and your business’s future growth requirements when choosing an email hosting provider. Take time to compare the safest email providers and choose a business email that can scale with your company as it grows.​