Re: Simple E-mail provider?

[Steve Rikli <sr%genyosha.net@localhost>]

They aren't my primary solution, but I can recommend SDF aka freeshell,
SDF Public Access UNIX System:  https://sdf.org/

They offer many services, including email, shell logins, some DNS, and
other things, depending on what level of membership you join.

Plus the systems are NetBSD, which is always a plus.  :-)

It's not fancy, and may not be exactly what you're looking for, but it's
worth checking their page and faqs to see how it might fit you.

Cheers,
sr.


On Sun, Jun 07, 2026 at 01:27:06PM -0400, Greg Troxel wrote:
> Paul Goyette <paul%whooppee.com@localhost> writes:
> 
> > I'm looking to remove all local handling of E-mail, and intend to
> > rely on some web-based system instead.
> 
> Do you mean all of
>   - don't run an outgoing MTA (accepts via submission, does DKIM)
>   - don't run an inbound MTA (listens on 25, spamfilters, delivers)
>   - don't run an IMAP server
>   - don't run any program (Thunderbird, K-9 on Android) that accesses
>     mail over IMAP?
> 
>   - I want to keep my domain and email address, just change the hosting
>     scheme.
> 
> I get the "I want somebody else to run my mail server", but I am not
> following "only web-based instead".
> 
> > Looking for suggestions on who to use as "host" for email and dns
> > (currently handled by easydns.com but managed/maintained by me).
> 
> DNS and mail are separable but given DKIM/SPF/DMARC it may be easier to
> have one place.
> 
> > Ease of transition and minimization of on-going maintenance are
> > major decision factors.
> 
> Those should both be ok with good providers; many others have the same
> sorts of feelings.
> 
> > Also want to be able to eliminate as much html mail as possible, both
> > in- and out-bound.
> 
> Wanting to not send html make makes sense :-)
> 
> Wanting to eliminate inbound HTML mail, I can sort of see but not
> really.  I'd implement that by
> 
>   score	HTML_MESSAGE	100
> 
> in spamassassin.  Is that what you mean?  Or something else?
> 
> 
> As for recommendations, I'm firmly in the doing-it-myself camp but I
> have been paying attention because, as is surely like most of us here,
> everyone asks me for computer advice.  I would look at:
> 
>   https://www.fastmail.com/
>   https://posteo.de/en
>   https://www.pair.com/pair-platinum-mail/
> 
> 
> I would set as requirements, beyond well-run
>   - terms are essentially an NDA with respect to your mail data and
>     metadata
>   - service does not do business with spammers at all
>   - straightforward IMAP available (even if you don't want it this week)
>   - no ties to a particular OS
> 
> Lots of places fail on point 1, basically any place that deals in
> surveillance-based advertising can't be trusted.  That leaves places
> that take money for service.
> 
> Google fails on point 2; while they probably try, it seems new accounts
> sign up and spam all the time, and the problem continues.  I conclude
> that they aren't trying hard enough.
> 
> MS fails on point 3; they seem to want people to use some exchange
> protocol instead.  I have an alum account that's defective this way and
> the institution seems to fail to understand this point.
> 
> Apple fails on point 4.  While you can use apple mail from non-apple
> devices, the situation is awkward and I don't think it's reasonable to
> rely on it continuing.