Introduction
Reliable email delivery is essential for any website. Whether you’re sending order confirmations, password resets or marketing updates, you need a system that ensures your emails actually reach inboxes. Two common options are SMTP services and shared email hosting. Although they might sound similar, they’re designed for very different purposes. In this post we’ll compare both so you can choose the right one for your website.
What Is Shared Email Hosting?
Shared email hosting is usually included with standard web hosting packages. You share the same mail server and IP address with hundreds of other customers. It’s inexpensive and simple to set up because it’s part of your hosting account. However, the downside is that your email reputation depends on other users on the same server. If someone on that server sends spam, your emails may be flagged or blocked even if you’re legitimate.
Pros:
- Included with many hosting plans
- Low cost
- Easy for small personal or low-volume business email accounts
Cons:
- Shared IP reputation can lead to blacklisting
- Limited sending rates (per hour or per day)
- Less control over security and authentication records
What Is an SMTP Service?
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) services are dedicated email-sending platforms specifically built for websites and applications. Instead of sharing the mail server with random users, you get a secure and optimised mail relay to send transactional or bulk emails.
Pros:
- Higher deliverability and inbox placement
- Scalable sending rates suitable for ecommerce and membership sites
- Better authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- Detailed analytics and bounce handling
Cons:
- Not a replacement for your personal inbox (Outlook, Gmail, etc.)
- Separate configuration required in your website or app
When to Choose Shared Email Hosting
If you’re running a small personal site or a very low-volume business email (like a single contact form) and cost is your main concern, shared email hosting can be sufficient. It’s also convenient for people who want email and web hosting bundled together.
When to Choose an SMTP Service
If your website sends order confirmations, password resets, newsletters, booking notifications or any high-volume transactional emails, a dedicated SMTP service is almost always the better choice. You control your own email reputation, get better deliverability and can scale without worrying about host limits.
Final Thoughts
Both shared email hosting and SMTP services have their place. Shared email hosting works for low-volume, non-critical email. SMTP services are ideal for businesses that need reliable, authenticated and scalable email delivery.
Where to Get Affordable SMTP Service
If you’re looking for a high-deliverability SMTP service at an affordable price, check out Rapid Host BD’s Cheap SMTP Email Hosting. Our plans are built specifically for websites and applications that need secure and reliable email delivery. We offer competitive pricing, Bangla & English support and a straightforward setup process to get you sending in minutes.
