For B2B cold email, Google Workspace mailboxes usually deliver best because inbox providers trust them and they work natively with sequencers. SMTP relays are cheaper but tend to land in spam more often.
comparison
cold email mailbox options, compared.
There are four common ways to get mailboxes for cold email. Here's how they compare on price, set-up work, sequencer connection and deliverability, so you can pick the right one for your volume.
| inboxyGoogle Workspace, managed | Google Workspace yourselfbought direct from Google | SMTP / shared mailboxesrelays and private-label inboxes | warmup-only toolsbring your own mailboxes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mailbox type | Google Workspace | Google Workspace | SMTP relay or shared server | whatever you bring |
| typical price per mailbox | $2.49–$3.90 / month | $7+ / month (Google list price) | often under $2 | warmup only, mailboxes extra |
| SPF, DKIM, DMARC set-up | automatic | you do it | varies | you do it |
| connect to your sequencer | automatic, free | manual, per mailbox | SMTP/IMAP settings | manual |
| time to set up 30 mailboxes | minutes of your time | hours | varies | n/a |
| warmup | separate plan, from $39 / mo | not included | rarely included | included |
| inbox provider trust | high | high | lower | depends on mailbox |
| best for | teams scaling outbound | a handful of mailboxes | very high, low-cost volume | existing mailboxes |
Prices are typical ranges as of October 2026. Google list price refers to Google Workspace Business Starter.
the options
which one fits you?
Google Workspace via inboxy
Google Workspace mailboxes on a plan, with SPF, DKIM and DMARC configured and your sequencer connected automatically. Best for agencies and teams adding mailboxes regularly.
buy mailboxesGoogle Workspace yourself
Fine for a few mailboxes if you're comfortable with DNS. It costs more per mailbox at Google's list price, and every mailbox has to be set up and connected by hand.
SMTP and shared mailboxes
The cheapest per mailbox, but shared infrastructure and lower provider trust often mean more email in spam. Best kept for low-stakes, high-volume sending.
warmup-only tools
Useful when you already have mailboxes. You still need to source, set up and connect the mailboxes yourself. inboxy also offers warmup on its own from $39 a month.
comparison questions.
What is the best type of mailbox for cold email?
Is it cheaper to buy Google Workspace directly from Google?
No. Google's list price for Business Starter is around $7 or more per user per month, and you set up DNS and sequencer connections yourself. inboxy plans work out at $2.49 to $3.90 per mailbox with DNS and sequencer connection done for you.
Are SMTP mailboxes good for cold email?
They can work for high-volume, low-cost sending, but shared IPs and lower provider trust often mean worse inbox placement than Google Workspace.
Do I still need warmup with Google Workspace mailboxes?
Yes. New mailboxes have no sending reputation. Warm them up before you send, for example with an inboxy warmup plan from $39 a month for 10 inboxes.
Can I mix mailbox types?
Yes. Many teams use Google Workspace mailboxes for their most important campaigns and keep other mailboxes for lower-stakes volume. inboxy warmup works with Gmail, Microsoft 365 and SMTP inboxes.
try the managed option.
10 Google Workspace mailboxes from $39 a month, set up and connected for you.