plainmailPlainmail vs Zoho Mail
Prices checked November 6, 2026
Zoho Mail is cheap per user and has a free plan, but the free plan covers one domain and works only in Zoho's own web and mobile apps. Paid plans start around $1 per user a month, billed yearly. Plainmail is $5 a month for up to 50 domains and 100 mailboxes, works in any mail app, and writes your DNS for you.
Side by side
| Plainmail | Zoho Mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5 a month, flat | Free plan for up to 5 users; Mail Lite about $1 per user a month, billed yearly |
| Domains | Up to 50 | One on the free plan; more on paid plans |
| IMAP and SMTP | Included | Paid plans only |
| DNS setup | Written for you on Cloudflare, Vercel and Porkbun; exact records and checks elsewhere | You add the records at your DNS host |
| AI agent access | MCP server and REST API | REST API |
| Extras | Email only | Calendar, notes and a wider Zoho suite on higher plans |
When Zoho Mail is the better pick
- You have one domain and are happy in Zoho's web and mobile apps. The free plan costs nothing.
- You have a handful of mailboxes and want the lowest per-user price.
- You already use other Zoho apps.
When Plainmail is the better pick
- You have many domains. Plainmail's price doesn't change as you add them.
- You want to use Apple Mail, the Gmail app or Outlook without paying per user for IMAP.
- You want Claude or another agent to set up addresses and handle mail.
Switching to Plainmail
- Add your domain in Plainmail and create the same addresses you have today.
- Copy your old mail over with your mail app or any IMAP migration tool. Both sides speak IMAP.
- Let Plainmail write the new MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, or copy them at your DNS host. New mail starts arriving at Plainmail within minutes to a few hours, depending on DNS caching.
- Cancel the old plan once nothing new arrives there.
Get started$5 a month for up to 50 domains and 100 mailboxes