Gmail is a vastly popular email provider, but using the @gmail.com extension for business applications doesn’t look very professional. So, how to use Gmail with your own custom domain name?
We’ll solve the issue in no time by completing our step-by-step guide. In essence, you can either opt for the paid option and use Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or go down the free path and connect your existing Gmail account with the business domain name.
Find in This Article
- Enable Gmail to work with your custom domain via email forwarding for free
- Sign up for Google Workspace and automatically unlock custom domains and plenty more features
Connecting Gmail to Your Custom Domain for Free: A Step-by-Step Guide
First, we’ll show you how to create your own email domain and register with Gmail. So, if you already have a custom domain and a Gmail account, skip the first step and move straight to Step 2.
Step 1: Create a Google Account and Register Your Domain
Sign up for a new Gmail account
Even if you already have a personalized Gmail account, it would be wise to create a business Gmail account to have separate inboxes for professional and private use. Thus, you’ll avoid clutter and potential inconvenience.
So, to get started, visit Gmail’s sign-up page and fill out the required fields. Enter your first and last name, pick a new email address and confirm the new password.
Likewise, complete the rest of the steps to verify your phone number and protect the account from unauthorized access.
Register Your Business Email Account Domain
Now that you know how to create a new Gmail address, it’s time to file the domain with a registrar to enable email forwarding.
For instance, Bluehost is a one-stop shop offering web and email hosting and domain name registration. For only $2.95/month, it provides an SSL certificate, effortless setup, and round-the-clock support, and you get a free domain email for one year.
You can also opt for HostGator, DreamHost, GoDaddy, or GreenGeeks, as they’re all excellent alternatives. Essentially, they all offer similar services at affordable prices.
Step 2: Forward Emails from Your Custom Domain to the Gmail Account
You saw how to create a business email on Gmail and register a new domain. So, if you want to continue using the familiar interface, the next step is to route the emails from your website’s inbox to your Gmail address. The process is similar with every hosting provider.
First, log in to your hosting account and go into the email settings to enable email forwarding. Then, add the email address you want to be forwarded, choose your Gmail address as the destination, and confirm your decision.
Step 3: Configure Your Gmail to Send from a Custom Domain
You’ll have business-related emails coming to your Gmail inbox by enabling free email forwarding. So, what remains is to configure Gmail SMTP servers and allow sending emails from a custom domain, such as example@customedomain.org.
In the Gmail interface, click on the gear icon. Then, go into Settings and click Accounts and Import. In the Send mail as section, click on the Add another email address option.
After that, enter your name, custom domain, and allow the Treat as an alias option. Also, to activate Gmail custom domain SMTP, enter smtp.gmail.com into the SMTP server field.
Then, enter the username—what comes before @gmail.com—and your Gmail password. You’ll also need a port number and the corresponding certificate—SSL for 465 and TLS for 587.
Finalizing the Process
To complete the process and use a custom domain with Gmail, click on the verification link delivered to your inbox. After that, head over to the Settings page and click on Make default to set your custom email as the preferred option.
If you use Bluehost or GoDaddy email forwarding to Gmail, we advise checking if everything works correctly by emailing a friend. Likewise, have them email back to test incoming messages.
Use Google Workspace to Send Emails From a Custom Domain
As you probably noticed, the first option to use a custom domain email requires almost no expenses, except for the email hosting fee. However, the second possibility is more reliable and more efficient, and you only need to sign up with Google Workspace.
Therefore, you can cut your Gmail custom domain cost by opting for the first approach, but the overall benefits tip the scales towards Google Workspace.
Since it offers an arsenal of productivity tools, this platform can also improve your business results. Namely, collaboration services and data manipulation tools are essential for professionals in various sectors.
When signing up with Google Workspace, you get to choose between Business Starter, Business Standard, and Business Plus packages. All Google email hosting options come with a 14-day trial, and the pricing starts at $6 per user per month.
So, how to add a custom domain to Gmail via Google Workspace? First, visit the Google Workspace site and follow the instructions to create an account. When prompted, enter the domain name at the end of your new email address, e.g., @mycompany.com.
Again, new users have to verify their domain names by adding a TXT record to your web host’s name servers. Of course, Google Workspace provides step-by-step instructions for most popular hosting providers/registrars.
And that’s about it! Now you know how to use Gmail with your own custom domain. With the methods explained above, you’ll add credibility and professionalism to your custom emails while sticking to Gmail as your favorite platform.