Email / hosting recommendations

[jimbouk]

So I've got a domain and web hosting which I only use for emails. The webmail is a bit slow and unreliable and emails don't come through very quickly. Basically I'm looking for a change.

Domain hosting - happy to stay where I am or can change, can just update the records. Renewal prices are ok (£7 a year). I might get another (.uk) domain if that doesn't bump the price up too much (or is bundled rather than transferring straight off the bat).

A fair price is the main thing really, especially at renewal as I don't want to be moving around every 2 years to get another deal. I did ponder either Microsoft or Google for an email only solution but now they're selling a business platform rather than just email hosting so I'd rather get some web hosting in case I go back to using is again.

But yeah, my google foo has been let down by 'reputable' review sites basically getting money from affiliate links and everyone offering a 'bargain' initial price and extortionate renewal or 3+ year contracts.

Any recommendations by sensible humans?

[smargh]

https://fastmail.com/

[Saracen999]

So I've got a domain and web hosting which I only use for emails. The webmail is a bit slow and unreliable and emails don't come through very quickly. Basically I'm looking for a change.

Domain hosting - happy to stay where I am or can change, can just update the records. Renewal prices are ok (£7 a year). I might get another (.uk) domain if that doesn't bump the price up too much (or is bundled rather than transferring straight off the bat).

A fair price is the main thing really, especially at renewal as I don't want to be moving around every 2 years to get another deal. I did ponder either Microsoft or Google for an email only solution but now they're selling a business platform rather than just email hosting so I'd rather get some web hosting in case I go back to using is again.

But yeah, my google foo has been let down by 'reputable' review sites basically getting money from affiliate links and everyone offering a 'bargain' initial price and extortionate renewal or 3+ year contracts.

Any recommendations by sensible humans?

It might be my tinfoil hat tendency, but I'm naturally suspicious of the privacy implications of both Google and MS for services like email. If that doesn't bother you, then they're both certainly financially stable ... or as much/more than anyone.

For email, I still normally use a domain at 123Reg, with the email records pointng to my ISP, and I then POP/IMAP stuff to a local client from the ISP, clearing it off the ISP at the same time.

I did use a hosting sevice based in Australia (and well-known on here) that I found to be trustworthy, rleiable and good value) for a while, but to be fair, have no recent experience of them. Funnily enough, I've been meaning to sort out a non-ISP route for my email because (tin hat again .... maybe) I don't really trust them either. I just can't remember the name right now.

Still, most of my email doesn't really matter, privacy-wise. But some does. That, however, is with a very small number of people, with whom there are legal and financial connections. For them, we ALL use the same encrypted email service.

If privacy and security bothers you, my understanding (not an expert) is that the ONLY way to be reasonably sure of privacy is to use ONE email service. You can encrypt between your PC and that service, and between that service and the destination end-user, pretty safely. But if you go between just two different mail service providers, the protocol used for that, MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) cannot be encrypted. If it's especially sensitive, and a little of mine is, we use attachments to send encrypted files, so even the mail service doesn't have the keys.

Note: double tinfoil hat mode - by doing so, you might encourage the curiosity of intelligence agencies and draw a target on yourself. The only true security is not to use email for delicate stuff at all. But, I don't care if intelligence agencies snoop on me, there's nothing to find they'll care about. Keeping crooks and scammers, and advertising leeches out, on the other hand ....

Anyway, back on topic - someone will come up with that aussie company's name, I'm sure, before my brain fart passes and I remember them. They used to be good, and I've no reason to think they aren't still.

[Saracen999]

Remembered.

QIQ.

https://www.qiq.support/index.php?rp...l-only-hosting

Their basic email hosting package, using your domain name and with 1GB of space, appears to be £24/yr. There are bigger packages if you need more.

That's not as good value as I remember, but service used to be very good.

[Jonj1611]

So I've got a domain and web hosting which I only use for emails. The webmail is a bit slow and unreliable and emails don't come through very quickly. Basically I'm looking for a change.

Domain hosting - happy to stay where I am or can change, can just update the records. Renewal prices are ok (£7 a year). I might get another (.uk) domain if that doesn't bump the price up too much (or is bundled rather than transferring straight off the bat).

A fair price is the main thing really, especially at renewal as I don't want to be moving around every 2 years to get another deal. I did ponder either Microsoft or Google for an email only solution but now they're selling a business platform rather than just email hosting so I'd rather get some web hosting in case I go back to using is again.

But yeah, my google foo has been let down by 'reputable' review sites basically getting money from affiliate links and everyone offering a 'bargain' initial price and extortionate renewal or 3+ year contracts.

Any recommendations by sensible humans?

https://krystal.uk/ - I use them

[jimbouk]

Cheers, will take a look at those options this afternoon.

I also hate spending money, even when I know I really need to, which doesn't make this a quick process!

[blokeinkent]

I've had nothing but great service from freethought

Been using them for years with multiple domains. Have used both Microsoft and Linux platforms and never had any issues.

[Jonj1611]

I've had nothing but great service from freethought

Been using them for years with multiple domains. Have used both Microsoft and Linux platforms and never had any issues.

What do you think of the speeds with Freethought? Have you used their standard web hosting or their ultra service? For either one what do you think speed wise for an average site

[blokeinkent]

What do you think of the speeds with Freethought? Have you used their standard web hosting or their ultra service? For either one what do you think speed wise for an average site

I've only used their standard tier. Not had anything that really taxed it speed wise but the sites done are average usage and have ticked along nicelly.

Stuff I did on Windows was slightly slower than Linux but I was using .Net and a fair bit of SQL so par for the course I suppose.

What really stood out for me though was the support. Always willing to help when I've had any configuration issues and even when I had some personal problems they really went out of their way to help, which took me by surprise. In 20+ years I've learnt the hard way that the support is often more important than the hosting setup.

[Jonj1611]

Many thanks. I might try one of their packages and see how it compares.

I agree support is extremely important as I have found out myself over the years.

[jimbouk]

Went with freethought in the end, took me a while to decide/get round to it! Just trying to figure out the interface, maybe should have stuck with cPanel hosting...

Thanks again everyone for their suggestions.

[Jonj1611]

Cpanel I find far easier than Plesk

[blokeinkent]

maybe should have stuck with cPanel hosting...

Yes I think cPanel probably just edges it for me but I flip flop between them on different packages and obviously Plesk only on Windows. If you went with Linux then they'll probably change it over for you f you ask, or if you're paying monthly I guess you could change package yourself at end of month.

[jimbouk]

Well the support from freethought has been quick and excellent so far! I was a bit confused about the webmail (Roundcube) that was a tick box option as I couldn't see any files installed for it to customise (wanted default domain on login) and I was able to login with a root domain email from the subdomain's webmail - turns out it's a shared instance which explains everything. No patronising response, no confusing jargon, just a straight forward answer with all the details needed and options for hosting my own instance.

Now I just need to get the emails actually working