this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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Self hosting email is impractical. The tech titans already ruined that.
There are much better and cheaper email hosts than Proton, and they give you better control.
But you're not entirely right. Self hosting email is very possible, there are a few details to learn, but its not dead.
They have a point, you have one chance to get your self-hosted emails config correct. If you fail or mess up somewhere your domain will get added to a bunch of anti-spam lists that major providors use and cross-reference. If that happens your domain will just be branded as spam and will never be able to effectivly use your fancy service email.
That's true, but getting the config right is not that hard nowadays. At least not harder than setting up a Jellyfin server for the first time.
I used to do custom email solutions for outreach agencies, people who needed to send 500 emails a day without getting flagged as spam. That's was difficult. Your personal email? Not even an afternoon and its done and warmed.
Honestly, something I would like to take a crack at, but fearing getting my domain black-listed has prevented me from attempting it.
If the wizard wishes to share their wisdom, im all ears.
Ill add it to the goals for 2026.
…when was that memo released? Looking back at the last quarter-century-plus of self-hosting, and it’s damn obvious I missed it.
E-mail providers and companies providing online services whitelist domains anymore.
Cory Doctorow has a writeup:
https://doctorow.medium.com/dead-letters-73924aa19f9d
I’m not experiencing any of that, mainly because I don’t run eMail lists.
Depressing reading.
Agreed.