Re: Simple E-mail provider?

[Van Ly <van.ly%SDF.ORG@localhost>]

I've not used Panix but would consider their services in evaluation among options.

  https://www.panix.com/email/

I do use SDF for personal e-mail and have to say I am very happy.

Steve Rikli <sr%genyosha.net@localhost> writes:

> 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.
>


-- 
vl