Forward Email

Forward Email provides custom-domain email forwarding, with paid plans adding email hosting and encrypted mailbox storage. Its Free plan handles forwarding only; it does not support sending mail or storing mail on Forward Email servers. The listed paid options include Enhanced Protection at $3 a month, Team at $9 a month, and Enterprise at $250 a month. Enhanced Protection includes unlimited domains and aliases, 10 GB pooled storage, API access, and 9000+ outbound messages per month. Extra storage is listed at $3 per month per additional 10 GB. Native apps are available for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, alongside a web app. The apps page lists IMAP, POP3, CalDAV, and CardDAV support. Integration options include Gmail send-as, SMTP, email-to-webhook delivery, and developer API access. The service describes itself as built with open-source software. Email traffic uses TLS 1.2 or higher, and stored email is encrypted at rest with ChaCha20-Poly1305. Listed protections include multi-factor authentication, spam filtering, attachment virus scanning, and phishing detection.

Forward Email combines domain-based forwarding with paid hosting and a broad set of mail protocols and security features. The Free plan is limited to inbound forwarding, so sending or server-side storage requires another option.

Enhanced Protection is positioned for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses; Team is aimed at groups and organizations. Enterprise is listed for education, healthcare, government, and custom implementations.

Overview

Forward Email is a custom-domain email service for routing incoming mail and, on paid plans, hosting encrypted mailboxes. It is best suited to people and organizations who want domain-based email with standard client support and room to add team or deployment options. Its free plan is useful for forwarding, but not for sending or keeping mail on the service.

Key features

Routing, sending, and mailbox protocols

Custom domains, catch-all forwarding, multiple recipients, and delivery logs make Forward Email a flexible way to route domain mail. Paid options add Gmail send-as, SMTP, email-to-webhook delivery, and developer API access, giving individuals and teams ways to send mail or connect it to other systems. The Free plan handles inbound mail only: it cannot send or store messages on Forward Email’s servers.

IMAP and POP3 let users connect standard email clients, while CalDAV and CardDAV extend support to calendar and contacts. Native apps are offered for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, alongside a web app. This broad client coverage is a practical advantage for users who do not want to be tied to one device or interface.

Storage, security, and deployment

Enhanced Protection includes 10 GB of pooled storage; each additional 10 GB costs $3 per month. That is a clear starting allowance for a hosted mailbox, though users with larger archives should factor the extra storage charge into their choice.

Email traffic uses TLS 1.2 or higher, and stored email is encrypted at rest with ChaCha20-Poly1305 in SQLite files. The security features also include multi-factor authentication, DKIM, SPF, DMARC, spam filtering, real-time attachment virus scanning, and phishing detection. Forward Email describes the service as built with open-source software and lists self-hosted Docker email for those who prefer to manage deployment themselves.

Its compliance provisions include GDPR-compliant data handling, CCPA privacy controls, SOC 2 Type II audited processes, and a DPA for business customers. Those provisions make the service more relevant to organizations with formal privacy and process requirements than a forwarding-only tool.

Pricing

Forward Email uses a freemium model, with paid plans from $3/mo. The Free plan is billed at $0/month for unlimited domains and includes unlimited inbound email, spam protection, and a 50 MB attachment limit. It does not allow sending mail, so it suits users who only need to redirect messages to another inbox, not anyone who needs a complete domain mailbox.

Enhanced Protection costs $3 a month, billed $3/month for unlimited domains. It includes unlimited aliases, 10 GB pooled storage, 9000+ outbound / month, and API access. This is the most direct fit for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses seeking hosted mail as well as forwarding; additional storage costs $3 per month per 10 GB.

Team costs $9 a month, billed $9/month for unlimited domains. It adds unlimited team members, team permissions, shared organizational access, and priority support. Groups that need coordinated access and support have a reason to step up from Enhanced Protection; the plan’s listed benefits center on collaboration rather than additional storage.

Enterprise costs $250 a month, billed $250/month for unlimited domains. It includes unlimited API requests, an enterprise contract, onboarding, a dedicated support chatroom, and real-time engineering support. It is positioned for education, healthcare, government, and custom implementations, where direct technical support and an enterprise arrangement matter. There is no listed seat or storage allowance for this plan.

Platforms

Forward Email is available through web and native apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also supports API access and self-hosted deployment. Together with IMAP, POP3, CalDAV, and CardDAV, those options suit users who want to connect existing clients or manage mail across different operating systems.

Who it's for

Choose Forward Email if you want custom-domain routing with a path to hosted storage, sending, or team access. The Free plan fits inbound forwarding; Enhanced Protection is aimed at individuals, freelancers, and small businesses that need hosted mail; Team is for groups and organizations; and Enterprise is intended for education, healthcare, government, or tailored deployments. If you only need a lightweight forwarding service with a defined free-tier alias or daily-forward cap, compare alternatives before committing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Unlimited domains on every plan, including Free, make it possible to route mail for multiple domains without a domain-count cap.
• Pros: Paid plans combine forwarding with hosted storage, outbound mail, standard protocols, and broad app support.
• Pros: Encryption, multi-factor authentication, spam and phishing defenses, and stated compliance provisions cover important security and organizational needs.
• Pros: Team and Enterprise include organizational access or higher-touch support, while self-hosted Docker is an option for users who want to manage deployment.
• Cons: Free cannot send or store mail on Forward Email servers, so it is only a forwarding option.
• Cons: Enhanced Protection starts with 10 GB pooled storage; users who need more pay $3 per additional 10 GB each month.
• Cons: The published Team and Enterprise prices are $9 and $250 per month respectively, a substantial step up from the individual plan for readers who need their collaboration or support features.

Alternatives

Email Forwarding Services is a useful starting point for comparing forwarding-focused options.

Forward may suit readers who want a smaller defined free tier: it supports one domain, 25 aliases, 500 forwards per day, seven days of logs, and one team seat.

InboxMail may fit users looking for more than domain forwarding, with a free plan that combines aliases with AI actions, a campaign, and agent inboxes.

ImprovMX is another freemium forwarding option, with a free tier covering one domain, 25 aliases, 500 forwarded emails per day, and seven-day log retention.

MailerZ may be worth comparing if a free plan with a 14-day message store matters; its free tier limits users to one seat and disables send-as, SMTP, and API access.

Mailcast offers a free plan and free trial, but its free tier is limited to one domain and 25 aliases, with no sending from the domain.

Gomailify is a paid option for people who prefer a Gmail-account-focused service; it has no free plan and offers a free trial.

EForw may appeal to users seeking a web-only free forwarding plan with one domain, unlimited catch-all aliases, and SPF, DKIM, and DMARC pass.

Mailwip is a paid alternative with a free trial; its Individual plan supports up to four domains and unlimited aliases.

Verdict

Forward Email is a strong choice for people who want custom-domain forwarding today and the option to move into hosted, encrypted mail with standard protocols and apps. The unlimited-domain plans and security features are compelling, but the Free plan is strictly inbound forwarding, and mailbox storage beyond 10 GB adds cost. Choose it for a path from routing to hosted email; look elsewhere if you need a sending mailbox at no charge or a more narrowly capped forwarding plan.