How to Use Gmail with your Custom Email Domain?

A custom email address is a must for any serious business establishment. 

If you already have a custom domain but want to use Gmail as your message platform, you’re in the right place.

Here’s how to use Gmail with your custom email domain and why that’s a good idea.

How to use Gmail with your own custom domain name for free?

The process of creating a Gmail account and hooking it up with a custom domain is easy and can take several minutes.

1. Go to gmail.com to create a free Gmail account.

2. Click on Quick Settings on the right-hand side of the screen.

3. Go to the “Accounts and Import” tab, scroll down to find “Check mail from other accounts”, and click on “Add a mail account.”

4. You’ll be taken to a page, where you can add the email account with a custom domain, your username, password, and POP server.

5. Click on “Add Account.” Gmail will send you a verification email with a code that you’ll have to enter before logging into the address.  

How to use Gmail with your own domain name via Google Workspace?

Gmail users that haven’t registered a domain name on a web hosting platform yet, can create a business email address with a custom domain via one of Google Workspace’s paid plans. 

You will also get access to all Google Workspace’s tools available in that plan, like Google Meet, Chat, Calendar, Google Drive, Apps Script, Cloud Search, and Jamboard.

1.  Pick a Google Workspace plan. Google’s Business plans range from £4.14 for the Business Starter plan to £13.80 for the Business Plus plan per user per month. They all come with a custom email address.

2. Add your business’s name, the number of employees, your first and last name, and your current email address.

3. If you haven’t registered a domain yet, Google will show you a list of available domain names for your business and their corresponding price. 

4. Once you enter your business information and phone number, you can set up the username and password for your new email address. 

5. You can then activate your Google Workspace in the setup wizard.

To add a user, sign in from your Google Admin console as an administrator. Go to “Users,” fill out the details to invite a team member. 

6. Finally, you will have to verify your domain by setting up your MX records. You can start to use your own domain with Gmail within 48 hours. 

To do so, sign in to your domain account on your host website. You’ll find a tab to update your MX records under “DNS Management,” “Mail Settings”, or “Advanced Settings.”

Delete any existing MX records, add Google Workspace MX records, and save the changes. 

You can find more specific instructions on Google’s host list.

Go back to the Admin console, scroll down, and copy the verification code. Paste the value on the Value/Answer/Destination/Target field, set record priority to Low or to 15 or greater.

You can skip this step if you’ve already verified your domain via TXT or CNAME records.

Return to the Admin console and click on “Active.” You’ll be taken to a welcome page, where you’ll have to click on “Activate Gmail” so you can start receiving messages in the inbox of your new Gmail domain email.

Bottom Line

Knowing how to use Gmail with your custom email domain is crucial for any business that uses email marketing and wants to let customers know that they’re dealing with a reputable company. 

Gmail offers its services for free, as long as you already have a domain name, but in case you want access to Google Workplace, you can set up a business email address during the signup process.