Which Email Sending Server is Best?

Why Your Mailbox Setup Matters

Your cold email campaigns are only as effective as your inbox setup. Get it wrong, and your emails will land in spam, tanking your response rates. After working with hundreds of clients and testing the latest automation tools, we’ve seen most teams struggle with email infrastructure. Here’s what you need to know to maximize your outbound success.

The Core Components of Email Deliverability

To ensure high inbox placement, you need to optimize these three critical elements:

• Servers: The foundation of your email setup. Major providers like Google and Microsoft have trusted networks, while private servers (e.g., AWS) lack the same reputation.

• Domains: A well-configured domain boosts trust and deliverability. GoDaddy domains, for example, include an rDNS record by default, which improves email authentication.

• Mailboxes: Each email account tied to your domain has a trust score. The domain’s age, warm-up process, and server reputation all impact how your emails are perceived.

Even one weak link in this chain can send your emails straight to spam.

Choosing the Right Email Provider

For outbound campaigns, you have two primary options: Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace. Both are widely accepted, but they have distinct trade-offs.

Microsoft Office 365

• Price: $6/mailbox per month. If purchased through GoDaddy, you can get it for as low as $2/month for the first year.

• Ease of Use: Simple setup, especially via GoDaddy. However, Microsoft does not allow profile pictures on email accounts.

• Performance: Strong deliverability, particularly for B2B outreach. With 46% of the business email market share, it’s a reliable choice.

Google Workspace

• Price: $7/mailbox per month, though resellers can offer it for around $3/mailbox per month.

• Ease of Use: More complex setup due to Google’s identity verification process, but it enables profile pictures for improved trust.

• Performance: Best for reaching Google inboxes, which make up 60% of business email accounts.

The Rise of Automated Mailbox Management

New automation platforms, such as MailForge, simplify the entire cold email setup—buying domains, creating mailboxes, and configuring DNS settings in minutes. While cost-effective, they often rely on newer, less-trusted servers, increasing the risk of spam placement.

Pros & Cons of Mailbox Automation

Affordable – Starting at $2/mailbox per month
Fully automated – No manual setup required
Lower trust score – Newer servers can reduce deliverability

For teams looking to scale fast, these platforms are an option, but they require careful management to maintain email health.

Our Recommended Setup

Based on extensive testing, Microsoft Office 365 offers the best balance of affordability, ease of setup, and deliverability.

Best Practice: Purchase your domains via GoDaddy and leverage their $2/mailbox promo to keep costs low. If you’re using tools like Instantly.ai, consider their done-for-you mailbox setup for $5/mailbox per month—it saves time and ensures everything is configured correctly.

Get Set Up with Origami Agents

Your outbound strategy is only as strong as your infrastructure. Let Origami Agents handle your mailbox setup so you can focus on what matters—booking more meetings and closing more deals.

Book a call today and let’s get you inbox-ready.