Comparison
Jan 7, 2026
CEO and co-founder
Cold Email Infrastructure Costs: 7 Platforms Compared (2025)
Why infrastructure costs kill agency margins
You're probably calculating infrastructure costs wrong. Most agency founders look at the sticker price and stop there. But Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) includes four components:
Platform fee: The monthly subscription or per-inbox charge
Domain costs: Registration and renewal ($10-16/year per domain according to Shopify's domain pricing guide)
Warmup tools: External services to build sender reputation ($15-29/inbox/month based on Warmup Inbox pricing)
Setup labor: Hours spent configuring DNS records and provisioning accounts
High-performing agencies target 20-30% operating margins. When your infrastructure consumes 25-30% of client billings, you cannot hit those numbers.
The core problem is what I call the "Linear Scaling Trap." Google Workspace charges per seat. Add 50 inboxes and you pay 50x the per-inbox rate. Add 200 inboxes and you pay 200x. Your costs scale linearly while your revenue faces natural limits from client acquisition costs, delivery capacity, and team bandwidth.
Flat-rate platforms break this trap. We charge $129/month at Inframail whether you create 50 or 500 inboxes. Your infrastructure cost stays fixed while revenue grows.
Margin impact: Infrastructure cost as percentage of client retainer
Here is how infrastructure costs eat into your margins on a standard $3,000 monthly retainer:
Inbox count | Google Workspace cost | % of retainer | Inframail cost | % of retainer | Monthly savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | $350-420 | 12-14% | $163 | 5.4% | $187-257 |
200 | $1,400-1,680 | 47-56% | $163 | 5.4% | $1,237-1,517 |
500 | $3,500-4,200 | 117-140% | $163 | 5.4% | $3,337-4,037 |
At 200 inboxes, Google Workspace infrastructure alone consumes half your client revenue before warmup tools, domains, or sending platforms. You need margin protection, not incremental cost reduction.
1. Inframail: Flat-rate dedicated IP infrastructure
Position: The margin protector for agencies scaling past 20 clients
Trade-offs you accept: We do not include built-in warmup on monthly plans but we do in our DFY cold email package. We run Microsoft-only infrastructure with no Google Workspace support. If your clients require Google Workspace IPs for specific campaign targeting, we cannot fulfill that requirement.
We built Inframail on a fundamentally different model than per-seat providers. You pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited inboxes under dedicated US-based IPs. Our platform handles SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration automatically, so you never touch a DNS panel.
Pricing breakdown:
Plan | Monthly | Annual (monthly rate) | Dedicated IPs | Daily domain setups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | $129 | $103.20 | 1 | Unlimited |
Agency Pack | $249 | $215.80 | 3 | Unlimited |
Domain costs are separate and transparent:
New domain purchase: $9-$16 each
Domain transfer: $5 each with instant turnaround
You can bypass transfer fees on quarterly and annual plans by registering domains directly through our platform
TCO at 50 inboxes:
Platform: $129/month
Domains (amortized): ~$34/month (assuming 2 inboxes per domain)
Total infrastructure: $163/month
Compare that to Google Workspace at $350-420/month for the same inbox count. Our Google Workspace alternative page shows this delta clearly: $187-257 monthly savings on infrastructure alone.
What you get:
Automated SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration (no DNS panel work)
Microsoft cloud infrastructure with enterprise partnership
Blacklist monitoring with 68.3% auto-delisting success rate
CSV export to Instantly, Smartlead, or Reachinbox
Watch our complete setup demo series showing inbox provisioning in under 10 minutes, step-by-step DNS configuration, and the full export process to Instantly. Users report setting up 10 inboxes in 10 minutes or less.
For agencies running high-volume campaigns, the dedicated IP model means your reputation stays isolated. Our help center explains the warmup process with external tools, and our sending capacity guide helps you calculate the right plan.
2. Mailforge: Shared IP infrastructure for volume senders
Position: Per-mailbox pricing with automated setup, but shared reputation risks
Mailforge uses a "mailbox slot" pricing model that can confuse buyers. You purchase slots (capacity), not individual mailboxes. The Mailforge pricing page explicitly states: "If you purchase 10 slots but only create 5 mailboxes, you are still charged for all 10 slots."
Pricing structure:
Base rate: $3/mailbox/month (confirmed by Dimmo's Mailforge review)
Bulk pricing: Down to $1.67/mailbox/month at volume per Skywork AI analysis
Annual billing: 2 months free discount
TCO at 50 inboxes:
50 mailboxes × $3 = $150/month
Domains are a separate expense
Total: ~$150/month for mailboxes (potentially lower with volume discounts)
Mailforge annual subscriptions can be canceled anytime with no long-term commitment, though their terms require cancellations be filed 7 days before term end.
Infrastructure model:
Mailforge operates on shared IP infrastructure. According to their comparison page, the platform is "a distributed email infrastructure tool, meaning it leverages a shared IP pool, distributing your mailbox accounts among millions of businesses."
Comparison to Inframail:
The core trade-off is IP control. Mailforge's shared pool means one bad actor can impact your deliverability. Our dedicated IPs at Inframail isolate your reputation completely. For agencies where client retention depends on consistent inbox rates, that isolation matters.
3. Google Workspace: The high-cost performance standard
Position: Strong native deliverability, but the "margin killer" at scale
Google Workspace remains a top choice for deliverability. But that quality comes at a price that can destroy agency economics.
Current pricing (effective January 2025):
Plan | Monthly (Flexible) | Annual (Fixed) |
|---|---|---|
Business Starter | $8.40/user | $7.00/user |
Business Standard | $16.80/user | $14.00/user |
Business Plus | $26.40/user | $22.00/user |
Source: Cloudfresh Google Workspace pricing analysis and Google Workspace official pricing
TCO at scale:
Inbox count | Monthly cost (Starter) | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
50 | $350-420 | $4,200-5,040 |
200 | $1,400-1,680 | $16,800-20,160 |
500 | $3,500-4,200 | $42,000-50,400 |
Setup burden:
Google Workspace requires manual DNS configuration for each domain. According to Google's support documentation, DNS record changes can take 1-24 hours to propagate. The Smartreach setup guide documents 15-30 minutes per domain for DNS records, and Mailforge's domain reputation guide confirms tasks like buying domains, setting up DNS records, creating mailboxes, and testing can take 10-30 minutes per domain.
The sending limits cap Workspace accounts at 2,000 emails per day per address, with a maximum of 3,000 unique recipients daily per Cornell IT documentation.
When you should use Google Workspace:
You're running fewer than 20 inboxes and absolute deliverability outweighs cost concerns
Your clients require Google ecosystem integration for CRM or productivity tools
Your campaigns target recipients who heavily filter non-Google senders (rare but possible in certain enterprise verticals)
When it doesn't make sense:
Any operation above 50 inboxes where margin matters
Agencies needing rapid domain provisioning
4. Maildoso: Budget shared IPs with rotation
Position: Low entry price using shared infrastructure with aggressive IP rotation
Maildoso targets cost-conscious buyers with per-inbox pricing. You can add existing domains to their platform or register new ones through them.
Pricing structure:
Base rate: $2.75/inbox/month per GMass infrastructure review
Quarterly packages: $129/3 months (3 domains, 12 accounts) to $2,199/3 months (100 domains, 400 accounts) per Salesforge's Maildoso review
Billing requirement: Quarterly minimum (no month-to-month)
TCO at 50 inboxes:
Based on GMass's calculation: $299/3 months for 40 accounts plus estimated additional accounts at the same rate
Total: approximately $125/month
Infrastructure:
According to GMass's infrastructure review, Maildoso uses shared IPs with heavy IP rotation. The system monitors deliverability in real-time and automatically rotates flagged IPs.
The rotation strategy is a double-edged sword. It prevents long-term blacklisting but means you never fully build your own sender reputation. As GMass notes:
"Ideally you'd be sending from warm IPs with the strongest deliverability in the available pool. The cons: Your reputation isn't your own." - GMass cold email infrastructure review
Trade-offs:
Pro: Low cost, domains can be included, IP rotation prevents permanent blacklisting
Con: Quarterly billing lock-in, shared reputation
5. Zapmail: Automated setup with per-seat costs
Position: Automation-forward but follows per-inbox economics
Zapmail offers both Microsoft Outlook and Google Workspace account provisioning with automated DNS configuration.
Pricing tiers:
Plan | Monthly (annual) | Mailboxes | Per-mailbox cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Starter | $32.50 | 10 | $3.25 |
Growth | $82.50 | 30 | $2.75 |
Pro | $250 | 100 | $2.50 |
Additional mailboxes: $2.50-$3.50 each depending on plan per Outreach Almanac's Zapmail analysis
Source: Zapmail's blog and AffiliateWeapons
TCO at 50 inboxes:
Growth Plan (30 mailboxes) + 20 additional at $3.25 each = $82.50 + $65 = approximately $147.50/month
Alternative calculation at $2.50/mailbox: 50 × $2.50 = $125/month
Key features:
SPF, DKIM, DMARC auto-configuration
Both Outlook and Google Workspace options per SmartReach integration documentation
Pre-warmed account options available
Trade-off: While setup is automated, the per-inbox pricing model still punishes scale. At 200 inboxes, you pay significantly more than flat-rate alternatives.
6. Microsoft 365: Enterprise stability at scale
Position: Alternative to Google Workspace with enterprise-grade infrastructure
Microsoft 365 provides an alternative to Google. Note that Microsoft announced price increases effective July 2026, so current rates apply through mid-2026.
Current pricing:
Plan | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
Business Basic | $6/user |
Business Standard | $12.50/user |
Business Premium | $22/user |
Source: VGM Forbin Microsoft 365 pricing guide and Office Watch 2025 analysis
TCO at scale:
Inbox count | Monthly cost (Basic) | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
50 | $300 | $3,600 |
200 | $1,200 | $14,400 |
500 | $3,000 | $36,000 |
Sending limits:
Microsoft 365 allows up to 10,000 email sends per day, with 500 recipients per single email and 30 messages per minute per Beanstalk Consulting. The non-relationship recipient limit (new contacts) is 1,000 per day.
Trade-off: Microsoft 365 pricing is comparable to Google Workspace at lower tiers, but manual DNS setup remains a significant time burden. The linear scaling economics still make it challenging for 50+ inbox operations focused on margin preservation.
7. Mailscale: Tiered volume pricing
Position: Tiered packages for agencies, middle-ground economics
Mailscale offers fixed-tier pricing that provides volume discounts without going fully flat-rate.
Pricing tiers:
Plan | Monthly | Accounts | Per-account cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Solopreneur | $79 | 15 | $5.26 |
Business | $119 | 50 | $2.38 |
Enterprise | $249 | 200 | $1.24 |
Source: Mailscale Help Center and Affiliate Weapons
TCO at scale:
50 inboxes: $119/month (Business plan)
200 inboxes: $249/month (Enterprise plan)
201+ inboxes: Custom pricing required
Trade-off: Tier limits force upgrades. At 51 inboxes, you jump from $119 to $249. At 201 inboxes, you need custom pricing per Infraforge's Mailscale review. This creates unpredictable cost scaling for growing agencies.
Head-to-head analysis: Setup speed and deliverability
Comparison table
Platform | 50 inbox TCO | Cost per inbox | IP type | DNS automation | Warmup included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inframail | $133/mo | $2.66 | Dedicated | Yes | No |
Mailforge | $150/mo | $3.00 | Shared | Yes | Partial |
Google Workspace | $350-420/mo | $7-8.40 | N/A | No | N/A |
Maildoso | ~$125/mo | $2.50 | Shared (rotating) | Yes | No |
Zapmail | $125-147.50/mo | $2.50-2.95 | Shared | Yes | Optional |
Microsoft 365 | $300/mo | $6.00 | N/A | No | N/A |
Mailscale | $119/mo | $2.38 | Varies | Yes | No |
Setup speed comparison
Automated platforms like Inframail, Mailforge, and Zapmail handle DNS configuration automatically. Our setup demo shows SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration in seconds. Manual Google Workspace configuration takes 15-30 minutes per domain for DNS records alone, with propagation taking 1-24 hours per Google's documentation.
For 50 domains, we see agency founders spending significant time on manual configuration with Google Workspace. Automated platforms reduce this to minutes for the entire batch.
The cold email infrastructure guide walks through the complete Inframail setup workflow.
Dedicated vs. shared IP
Smartlead's analysis explains the trade-off clearly: dedicated IP pools offer reputation isolation for high-volume campaigns, while shared IPs carry pooled reputation risk.
Think of it like traffic lanes. Shared IPs work like carpool lanes where other drivers' behavior affects your commute. Dedicated IPs function like private roads where only your driving record matters.
For you, the difference matters when client retention depends on consistent 75-85% inbox rates. One bad actor in a shared pool can drop your deliverability significantly, triggering client churn.
Break-even analysis: When flat-rate pays off
Flat-rate pricing breaks even at different points depending on your current provider.
Against Google Workspace Business Starter ($7/user):
Inframail breaks even at 14 inboxes ($129 flat-rate vs $98 per-seat)
Against Mailforge at $3/mailbox:
Break-even hits at 33 inboxes per Skywork AI's Mailforge review: "$129 / $3 = 33 mailboxes"
Against Maildoso at $2.75/inbox:
Break-even is 36 inboxes
Below these thresholds, per-seat pricing may cost less. Above them, every additional inbox increases your savings.
At scale, the numbers become dramatic:
At 200 inboxes, you save $1,100+ monthly versus Google Workspace
That delta funds your first $50-60k junior account manager or flows directly to your profit margin
Final verdict: Selecting infrastructure based on agency size
Under 20 inboxes: Google Workspace
At low volume, the deliverability advantage outweighs cost concerns. You're paying $140-170/month for strong inbox rates. Setup time is manageable with few domains.
20-50 inboxes: Mailscale or Maildoso
The transition zone. Per-inbox pricing is not yet crushing margins, and you get DNS automation. Maildoso's IP rotation protects against blacklisting. Mailscale's Business tier ($119 for 50) offers predictable costs.
50+ inboxes: Inframail
We built Inframail specifically for this scale. Flat-rate economics become mandatory for margin protection. At 50 inboxes, you save $187-257/month versus Google Workspace. At 200 inboxes, the savings exceed $1,200/month or $14,400 annually. That delta funds your first $50-60k junior account manager or flows directly to your profit margin.
The agency pricing research from Reachoutly shows boutique agencies charging $2,500-5,000 monthly retainers. When infrastructure consumes 30% of that revenue (Google Workspace at scale), margins collapse. Flat-rate infrastructure at $163/month keeps infrastructure costs under 6% of a $3,000 retainer.
That difference determines whether you can hire your first account manager or stay stuck doing DNS configuration at 2 AM.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main alternatives to Mailforge?
Inframail, Maildoso, Zapmail, and Mailscale all compete in the cold email infrastructure space. Inframail differentiates with flat-rate pricing and dedicated IPs while Maildoso offers aggressive IP rotation and Zapmail provides both Google and Microsoft options.
How does Mailforge pricing compare to Inframail?
Mailforge charges $3/mailbox (down to $1.67 at volume). We charge $129/month for unlimited mailboxes. At 43+ mailboxes, Inframail becomes cheaper. At 100 mailboxes, Inframail costs $129 versus Mailforge at $167-300.
Is dedicated IP better than shared IP for cold email?
Dedicated IPs isolate your sender reputation from other users. With shared IPs, one bad actor can damage deliverability for everyone in the pool. For agencies where client retention depends on consistent inbox rates, dedicated IPs reduce risk.
Do I need an external warmup tool with Inframail?
Yes. We do not include built-in warmup. Budget $15-29/inbox/month for external warmup tools like Warmbox during the initial 2-3 week warmup period.
What is the recommended inbox-to-domain ratio?
Best practice is 2-3 mailboxes per domain for optimal deliverability. A Clay community discussion recommends "2-3 email accounts only" per secondary domain.
How many cold emails can I send per inbox daily?
The safe limit is 50-100 emails per day per inbox after proper warmup. Snov.io recommends about 50 emails per day per email account.
Key terminology glossary
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership): The complete cost of operating email infrastructure including platform fees, domain costs, warmup tools, and setup labor.
Cold email infrastructure: The email accounts, domains, and technical configuration required to send outbound prospecting emails at scale.
DNS configuration: Technical records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) that authenticate your domain as a legitimate email sender.
Deliverability: The percentage of sent emails that reach the primary inbox versus spam folders or bouncing. Measured via tools like Mail-Tester (score out of 10) or GMass inbox testing.
Dedicated IP: An IP address used exclusively by your organization for sending email. Your sender reputation depends only on your own sending behavior.
Shared IP pool: Multiple organizations sending from the same IP addresses. Reputation is pooled, meaning other senders' behavior affects your deliverability
