• Namecheap
• Yandex Mail
• Yandex Mx Records For This Domain Have Not Been Set Up

Have you ever wondered “can I use Gmail with my domain name?”

When I started Solopreneur Diaries, I needed a business email address. I didn’t want to use my personal email, because [myname]@gmail.com doesn’t exactly scream successful business, now does it? It’s not the professional image that I want to portray.

How to Set Up Free Custom Email on your Domain with Zoho Mail Updated on Sep 16, 2014 by Tuan Do You are probably aware that both Google and Microsoft ended the support to create free custom domain email and use their services to manage email addresses.

So I set up a couple of custom email addresses through my hosting service, both ending with @solopreneurdiaries.com. But when I tried using the webmail interfaces provided by my web host, I found that they were just dreadful. Clunky, lacking in features, and just plain ugly.

At this point, I knew I wanted to go a different way. Fortunately, Google offers a simple solution by allowing you to use Gmail with your own domain.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Why use Gmail with your own domain?

While there are many reasons that you might want to use Gmail with your custom domain, two of them rise to the top.

You’ll have a professional email address

Using an email address that includes your business name is simply more professional. A standard gmail address like “Yourname@gmail.com” is fine for your personal email. But most businesses use email addresses like “yourname@businessname.com.” Not only is it standard practice, but it’s part of your branding.

You probably already know how to use Gmail

If you use Gmail for your personal email, then you already know how to use the program. You are familiar with the design and interface. There’s no need to waste time learning how to use a new email service. Plus, Gmail makes it easy to access email from your computer desktop or mobile device.

Two ways to use Gmail with your custom domain

There are two easy ways that you can use Gmail with your own domain name.

Namecheap

The free method: use your personal Gmail account

The first method, using your personal Gmail account, is free. Google has an option that allows you to check emails from other accounts within your Gmail account. This might be the right option for you:

• if you don’t get many emails
• if you are super-organized about email
• if you know how to use tags in Gmail to distinguish between the different accounts

If you go this way, you’ll need to be mindful of which email account you’re replying to.

However, if you do receive a lot of emails, using your personal Gmail account could quickly become cumbersome.

Which leads to the second way that you can use Gmail with your custom domain (and the one that I use and recommend):

Recommended: Use G Suite for your business email

G Suite not only enables you to set up a professional email address with your domain name, but also includes other Google apps, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Hangouts, and more.

There is a cost, but I think the benefits are worth it. It’s easy to keep your work and personal email accounts separate. You can keep personal and business accounts open at the same time in different tabs or windows. Plus you get 30 GB of cloud file storage with the Basic account.

How to set up a custom email address with Gmail using G Suite

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to set up your G Suite account and set up your custom email address.

1. Make sure you have a custom domain

The first step is to buy a custom domain if you don’t have one already.* If you need to buy a new domain, then I recommend Namecheap. I use them as my domain registrar because they are inexpensive and user-friendly.

2. Head over to the G Suite site and click Get Started

Visit the G Suite site and click the get started button.

3. Enter your business information as requested

You’ll be asked for some basic information, such as your business name, number of employees, etc. Enter the information requested in each step to create your G Suite account.

4. Enter your custom domain name

One of the steps will ask for your custom domain name. If you already have a domain, then enter it now. If not, head over to Namecheap to purchase one before proceeding any further.

Yandex Mail

5. Select a Basic or Business account

Unless you know that you need unlimited storage, I recommend starting out with the Basic G Suite account. It costs $5 per month and includes 30 GB of cloud storage, compared to $10 per month for the Business account. You can always upgrade later if you find that you need the additional cloud storage or other features that are included in the Business edition.

Both options include a 14-day free trial.

6. Verify your domain

Now that your G Suite account has been created, you need to verify your domain name. Click the “Start Setup button.”

There are several ways to do this, but I think the easiest option is to insert a meta tag into WordPress. This is simply a bit of code that you will copy and paste into WordPress. You can paste it into your WordPress theme settings or enter it into a plug-in if your theme doesn’t provide a space for header scripts.

If you have a Genesis theme

One of the reasons that I always use Genesis themes is that they include a space to add header scripts.

Go into Genesis Theme Settings, scroll down to Header and Footer Scripts, and paste the code into the Header Scripts box. (If you have already added something to this box, such as your Google Analytics code, just paste the new code below it.)

Or use a WordPress plug-in

If your theme doesn’t include a space for header scripts, then you can install a plug-in to do the same thing. Here are two plug-ins that make it easy to add header scripts to WordPress:

Set up your email MX record

This is the last step in setting up your custom email address. It’s what makes the emails actually flow into Gmail. This will require changing some settings at your web host. Google has specific instructions for many web hosts here. If your host is not the list, then follow the generic instructions here.

This step sounds scary because the instructions have a lot of technical language. If you follow the instructions step-by-step, you should have no problems. However, if you do, contact customer support at your web hosting provider. They will be able to help you.

Congratulations! You’ve set up your own domain to work with Gmail

You’re all done with setup and you are ready to use Gmail with your domain. To make sure that everything is working correctly, create an email to send from your new account to another account that you own. It’s better to troubleshoot any issues now before you start sharing your new email address with others.

Yandex Mx Records For This Domain Have Not Been Set Up

Add additional email addresses if you need them

At this point, you can add additional users or create alias email addresses if you need to.

Each “user” costs $5 per month.

You may not need to add additional users, however. You can add multiple alias email addresses to any user at no additional charge. You may want to add some non-personalized email addresses such as “hello@yourcompany.com,” “support@yourcompany.com,” etc. This will allow you to filter specific types of email messages into different mailboxes.

To add users or alias email addresses, click Users in your Google Admin console.

To add alias emails, select a User, then click on User details. You’ll see an option to add Email aliases.

Now you have a professional email address, a variety of alias email addresses, plus all the other apps and storage that come with G Suite.

*If you’re just starting out and haven’t started your blog yet, check out this post where you’ll learn how to start a blog with WordPress and SiteGround.

Related posts about systems that will help you manage your business:

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People love the familiar Gmail interface, but using Gmail with your own custom domain isn’t free, and resorting to myname@gmail.org isn’t very professional. Luckily, there is a way to have it all.

However, I do recommend just signing up for G Suite instead. There's a 14 day free trial, and it's much simpler and more reliable than the hack described in this post. After the trial, it’s just $5/mo so it's really worth the expense. Also, you can get a coupon code for 20% off your first year by completing this form:

If you're a nonprofit, you can get unlimited G Suite addresses for free through Google for Nonprofits.

Regardless of whether you're a non-profit or for-profit, it's best to take the long-term view. If you want to switch later, it will be a pain in the butt to transfer all your emails to Google for Nonprofits or G Suite. But if you still want a quick fix for the time being, here’s a quick workaround to use gmail with your own, custom domain.

Basically, you’ll just forward all the mail from you@yourdomain.org to a Gmail account, and change a setting so outgoing mail says you@yourdomain.org too. That’s it! So let’s jump right in.

1) Create a Gmail account

You probably already have a Gmail account, and you could use it for your nonprofit’s email, but just like finances, it’s best to keep business and personal separate. It will make things a lot easier down the road if you upgrade to Google for Nonprofits.

Here’s how to make the account:

• Visit the Gmail sign-up page and pick a new email address. name.organization@gmail.com usually works well.

• Follow the rest of the steps to create your account, and sign in.

2) Create your custom email and forward it

Chances are, your web host also includes email hosting, or at least email forwarding. If you’re hosted by GoDaddy, 1&1, Bluehost or Hostgator, you definitely have email hosting. For hosts that don't provide forwarding or hosting, checkout Mailgun as a free alternative.

Below are the instructions for each of those hosts. If you use a different host, look at the Hostgator instructions–chances are your host uses the same interface.

Hostgator

1. Log into cPanel

2. In the Mail section, click Forwarders

3. Under the Email Account Forwarders section, Click Add Forwarder

4. Type in the Address to Forward (you@yourdomain.org)

5. Select “Forward to email address” (you.organization@gmail.com)

6. Click Add Forwarder

GoDaddy

1. Login to your account and click your name in the top-right.

2. Select My Products from the drop-down

3. Click the Manage button next to Workspace Email

4. Click Create Forward

5. Under Forward this email address, type the address you want to forward (you@yourdomain.org)

6. Under To these email addresses, add your Gmail address

7. Click Create

Bluehost

1. Login to your Bluehost account

2. Under the hosting section click the email link

3. Click the forwarding link

4. Click the add email button

5. Enter the address you would like to be forwarded. (you@yourdomain.org)

6. Choose your new Gmail as the destination for the forwarded email

7. Click submit

1&1

1. Log in to your 1&1 Control Panel and select the relevant package

2. Click the Manage E-mail Addresses link from the Mail panel

3. Click the Set up forwards link located in the right corner of the page

4. Choose a name and domain for the forwarding address (you@yourdomain.org)

5. Type your Gmail into the Forward Target(s) box

6. Click Save

3) Enable Gmail to send as yourdomain.org

This step will allow you to send email as you@yourdomain.org using Gmail’s SMTP servers.

1. Go to this link. If you can enable “Less secure apps,” do so. If you get an error, go here to create an app-specific password.

2. Return to Gmail, click the gear icon, then Settings

3. Click Accounts and Import, then Add another email address in the Send mail as section

4. Enter your name and you@yourdomain.org, allow Treat as an alias and then Next Step

5. Enter the following credentials:

   • SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com

   • Username: The part of your gmail address that comes before “@gmail.com”

   • Password: Your Gmail or App-specific password

   • Port: 587 or 465

   • Secure connection using: TLS for 587, SSL for 465

4) Final Configuration

1. You’ll be sent an email with a verification link. Make sure to click it to enable your new address.

2. Once you are returned to the Settings page, click Make default next to your new, custom email.

3. Send a friend an email to test outgoing messages

4. Have them send you a message to confirm incoming messages

And that’s it! You now have Gmail with your own domain for free!

If you have any issues, comment below and I’ll do my best to fix them with you.