Email address with your custom domain: introduction and tips
In a world where we rely on email daily, why settle for an email address with the provider domain when you can have a personal email address? An email address with your own domain makes your online presence unique. It helps you stand out from the crowd. Plus, you retain control over your data. This article explains why having your custom email domain is useful. We'll show you the benefits and give you tips on how to get the most out of your domain.
FAQ: What is a custom email domain and why is it useful?
Why should I use a custom email domain as a private individual?
A custom email domain gives you full control over your email addresses and allows you to use a customised and professional address. In many cases, email addresses with first names are already taken and some providers try to suggest unnecessarily complicated and untrustworthy addresses, such as susanne1234@provider.de.
Instead of using standardised, long and impersonal email addresses, you can use addresses like vorname@meinedomain.de. This looks more trustworthy and is particularly useful if you want to use a central email address for yourself, your family or different projects. You remain flexible and create a lasting, personal impression.
Is setting up your custom email domain complicated?
No, it's easier than you might think. First, you must purchase a domain from a domain name registrar (e.g. INWX). Then you connect this domain to your email provider. Make sure that your email provider also supports custom domains.
Your email provider will guide you through the process step by step. You just need to make a few settings with your domain provider, for which there are detailed instructions. If you need support, our support team is happy to help. With mailbox.org, there are three steps to setting up your first email address with your own domain. We will explain the necessary steps for setting up your own domain in detail later in this text.
How much does it cost to use a custom email domain?
The costs usually consist of two components:
- Domain registration: Registering a domain usually costs between €5 and €15 per year, depending on the provider and the domain extension (.de, .com, etc.).
- Email providers: You can use your own domain with mailbox.org on the STANDARD price plan. With annual payment, an inbox on the STANDARD price plan costs €30 per year. This gives you an ad-free, secure email account including Drive, Office, video conferencing, and 50 aliases with your custom domain.
Overall, the investment is manageable but offers many advantages.
How secure is a custom email domain?
Security depends on several factors, in particular on your email provider and the configuration. mailbox.org places a high value on data protection and security. Your emails are stored in German data centres and are secured by powerful spam and virus filters, SSL/TLS transmission and, in addition, (optionally) PGP and S/MIME encryption. This means that your communication not only remains private but is also protected against phishing and spam. With us, you don't need to be a security expert – we take care of that for you! Our team consists of specialists who are always up to date and keep our spam and virus filters current.
What is the difference between a custom domain and a regular email address?
The biggest difference is personalisation and control. With many email providers, easy-to-remember email addresses such as vorname@anbieter.de are often already taken. With a custom domain, you can choose any email address under that domain, e.g. kontakt@mydomain.de or info@mydomain.de. This makes a positive impression, especially for official emails or job applications. What's more, you have full control over the domain. You can change email providers at any time without losing your email addresses.
Can I use multiple email addresses with a custom domain?
Yes, that's one of the biggest advantages of having your custom domain. You can create a large number of email addresses, e.g. for every family member or for every purpose. For a family member, it could be maria@mydomain.de, for business contacts info@mydomain.de and for personal correspondence firstname@mydomain.de. This creates clarity and helps you to organise your emails better.
Can I use my custom domain for other purposes as well?
Yes, that's one of the advantages of owning a domain. Not only can you create email addresses, but you can also operate your website under that domain. If you want to build a website one day, the domain is already registered and ready to go.
What happens if I want to change my email provider?
With a custom domain, you are flexible. You can change email providers without having to change your email address. This is particularly useful if you want to change providers in the future but want to keep your email addresses. As long as you have control over the domain, you can use it with any email provider.
Is it easy to move to mailbox.org with my own domain?
Thanks to our migration service, moving to mailbox.org with your custom domain is quick and easy. We help you to seamlessly transfer your emails.
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Create your mailbox.org account.
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Transfer your existing emails using our free email migration service.
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Adjust your DNS settings, so that all new emails reach our servers.
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Configure your spam settings (SPF, DKIM and DMARC) to ensure that your emails will be highly secure and deliverable. We explain the details and background below in the text.
Our team is on hand to help you with detailed instructions and personalised support to make the switch as smooth as possible.
Tips and tricks: custom email domain for privacy and how to avoid spam
There are a few practical tips for organising your emails with the help of a custom domain and avoiding spam:
Tip 1: Different email addresses for different purposes
Use your own domain to create multiple email addresses for different activities or areas of your life. Examples:
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personal@mydomain.de for friends and family.
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work@mydomain.de for professional contacts.
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shopping@mydomain.de for online shopping and newsletters.
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social@mydomain.de for social media accounts and online profiles.
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travel@mydomain.de for travel bookings and holiday planning.
This clear separation allows you to manage each address specifically and reduce spam to a minimum.
Tip 2: Catch-all function – catch everything
A catch-all address catches all emails sent to non-existent addresses under your domain. This allows you to use different email addresses for unique purposes, such as summervacation2024@mydomain.de for travel bookings.
Sometimes there are also situations in which you have to provide an email address. A catch-all address is ideal for this. If you notice that this address is flooded with spam, you can simply block this catch-all address.
Tip 3: Set up email filters
Use your email provider's filter functions to organise incoming messages automatically. Emails sent to a specific address can be moved directly to particular folders. For example:
- Have messages to shopping@mydomain.de automatically moved to the ‘Purchases’ folder.
- For messages to social@mydomain.de, go straight to the ‘Social Media’ folder.
- Emails from unknown senders go straight to the ‘Spam’ folder.
This keeps your main mailbox clear and you can search for messages in the relevant folders.
Tip 4: Use a separate login address
If you want to further increase your security when logging in, then using different email addresses for logging in and for daily communication is a good way to do this. This means that the email address you use in public (e.g. info@meinedomain.de) should not be the same as the one you use to log in to your email inbox.
By setting up a separate login address, an otherwise exposed part of your login data remains secret. If your public email address falls into the wrong hands, your inbox will remain secure because hackers will not know your actual login address. This way, you increase the security of your online communication and make unauthorised access to your account more difficult.
Set up your custom domain with mailbox.org in three steps
As soon as you have your custom domain, setting it up with mailbox.org is easy and takes just three steps. Our setup assistant will guide you through the process step by step. Here is an overview of how it works:
Step 1: Validating your custom domain
The first step is to verify that you have access to the domain you have provided. To do this, a TXT record with an activation code is entered in the DNS table for your domain. mailbox.org uses this entry to verify that the domain belongs to you and activates it for use with your email account.
Step 2: Set up your custom domain for receiving emails
To ensure that emails can be received via your custom domain, the so-called MX (Mail Exchange) records must be set up correctly. These DNS records forward all emails sent to your domain to the mailbox.org mail servers so that you can receive your messages directly in your inbox.
Step 3: Improve your custom domain's spam reputation
Now that your domain is ready to receive email, there is one last step. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to improve the security and deliverability of your email.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This DNS record determines which mail servers are authorised to send emails on behalf of your domain. This prevents unauthorised third parties from sending spam or phishing messages using your domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, that proves that the message was sent from your domain and has not been tampered with in transit.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): DMARC combines the functions of SPF and DKIM and specifies how receiving servers should handle unauthenticated emails. It provides your domain with additional protection against misuse for spam or phishing.
You can find a detailed description of these steps in our knowledge base. If you have any further questions, our support team will be happy to help.
Conclusion: Your custom email domain – individual, flexible, and secure with mailbox.org
A custom domain gives your email address more individuality and flexibility, and also protects your privacy. This gives you more control over your digital communication.
If you are looking for an easy way to use your own email domain, mailbox.org is a good choice. Use our simple migration service to move your existing emails. Rely on secure and private email communication. Use our services for your everyday needs, such as: calendar, contacts, office, drive, video conferencing and more!
