Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#1

Post by jcuenod » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:14 PM UTC

I want to send email using domains I own. It would be nice to have a decent gmail-like interface for them, but I don't want to pay for gsuite.

I could set up access within my gmail account, but I don't want to accidentally email people with the wrong address. What do people generally do?

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#2

Post by Bender » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:19 PM UTC

Some here use Fastmail [1] with their domains. Others run their own self hosted mail servers. Fastmail is probably less expensive and less hassle unless one has a bit of knowledge of setting up mail servers. I don't know gsuite pricing or if this is a better option for your use-case.

[1] - https://www.fastmail.com/pricing/

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#3

Post by jcuenod » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:22 PM UTC

Bender wrote: post #2

Some here use Fastmail [1] with their domains. Others run their own self hosted mail servers. Fastmail is probably less expensive and less hassle unless one has a bit of knowledge of setting up mail servers. I don't know gsuite pricing or if this is a better option for your use-case. [1] - https://www.fastmail.com/pricing/

My impression of self hosting is that your mail just ends up undelivered because you're not a big shot.

Thanks for the fastmail pointer. I'll take a look, but I am hoping to find a free option (at least at this point).

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#4

Post by mlhpdx » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

I use AWS Simple Email Service for sending and receiving, but my use of email is largely automated (not reading it with my own eyes) so a bit of a niche. I wrote about the harder bit (receiving)[1].

[1] https://github.com/mlhpdx/email-delivery

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#5

Post by jcuenod » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:32 PM UTC

mlhpdx wrote: post #4

I use AWS Simple Email Service for sending and receiving, but my use of email is largely automated (not reading it with my own eyes) so a bit of a niche. I wrote about the harder bit (receiving)[1]. [1] https://github.com/mlhpdx/email-delivery

Thanks, I haven't given SES a good look.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#6

Post by lubosm » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:44 PM UTC

Postfix, Dovecot and DNS with cheap Debian/Ubuntu LTS is all I needed to maintain all my email for about 10 years.

I also made a habit of creating an email alias per web service to keep credential leaks under control.

Edit: you messages should pass through any big email service if you implement DKIM, DMARC, etc. and make sure you are not an open relay.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:44 PM UTC

lubosm wrote: post #6

Postfix, Dovecot and DNS with cheap Debian/Ubuntu LTS is all I needed to maintain all my email for about 10 years. I also made a habit of creating an email alias per web service to keep credential leaks under control. Edit: you messages should pass through any big email service if you implement DKIM, DMARC, etc. and make sure you are not an open relay.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#8

Post by jcuenod » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:46 PM UTC

lubosm wrote: post #6

Postfix, Dovecot and DNS with cheap Debian/Ubuntu LTS is all I needed to maintain all my email for about 10 years. I also made a habit of creating an email alias per web service to keep credential leaks under control. Edit: you messages should pass through any big email service if you implement DKIM, DMARC, etc. and make sure you are not an open relay.

Are you saying you didn't have delivery issues? Any spam issues/other gotchas I should know about before deciding to self-host?

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#9

Post by lubosm » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:54 PM UTC

jcuenod wrote: post #8

lubosm wrote: post #6

Postfix, Dovecot and DNS with cheap Debian/Ubuntu LTS is all I needed to maintain all my email for about 10 years. I also made a habit of creating an email alias per web service to keep credential leaks under control. Edit: you messages should pass through any big email service if you implement DKIM, DMARC, etc. and make sure you are not an open relay.

Are you saying you didn't have delivery issues? Any spam issues/other gotchas I should know about before deciding to self-host?

I have no delivery issues - see my updated message above - and I'm providing the service to my small company, my family and running automated services for other companies.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage email on a custom domain?

#10

Post by lubosm » Mon, Aug 28, 2023, 4:58 PM UTC

lubosm wrote: post #6

Postfix, Dovecot and DNS with cheap Debian/Ubuntu LTS is all I needed to maintain all my email for about 10 years. I also made a habit of creating an email alias per web service to keep credential leaks under control. Edit: you messages should pass through any big email service if you implement DKIM, DMARC, etc. and make sure you are not an open relay.

My starter pages: https://www.exratione.com/2012/05/a-mailserver-on-ubuntu-120... https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PostfixCompleteVirtualMail...