Comparison
Feb 10, 2026
CEO and co-founder
Inframail vs Competitors: Cold Email Infrastructure Feature & Price Comparison
The agency margin trap: When infrastructure forces a switch
Most agencies hit a painful realization around the 50-inbox mark. Every new client you sign increases your Google Workspace bill by $35-42/month (assuming 5 inboxes per client). Land 10 clients and you're looking at $350-420/month just for email infrastructure before domains, warmup tools, or sending platforms enter the equation.
This creates what I call the "Growth Paradox." Your revenue grows linearly with clients, but your infrastructure costs grow at the same rate. If you're running 15-20% net margins (typical for lead gen and call center agencies), that infrastructure line item can consume 25-30% of client billings.
The switching point typically hits when:
Google Workspace bills cross $400/month and you realize you're paying enterprise rates for cold email-only inboxes
Manual DNS setup consumes hours per client onboarding as you configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC across Namecheap or GoDaddy
Per-inbox costs make new clients feel like a penalty rather than growth
We became the first private cold email infrastructure company, registering our domain in November 2022. Since then, competitors like Maildoso, Mailforge, and Mailscale have entered the market with their own approaches to solving setup and cost problems.
At a glance: Inframail vs Maildoso vs Mailforge vs Google Workspace
Before diving into detailed analysis, here's the high-level comparison across the four platforms most agencies evaluate:
Factor | Inframail | Maildoso | Mailforge | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price Model | Flat-rate ($129/mo unlimited) | Per-inbox ($1.80-3.10/inbox) | Per-mailbox ($1.67-3/mailbox) | Per-user ($7-8.40/user) |
Cost for 50 Inboxes | $129/mo | $91-138/mo | $84-150/mo | $350-420/mo |
IP Type | Dedicated (1-3 IPs) | Shared pool | Shared/distributed pool | N/A (native platform) |
Setup Automation | Full DNS automation | Auto SPF/DKIM/DMARC | Auto SPF/DKIM/DMARC | Manual configuration |
Warmup Included | No (external required) | No | Partial | N/A |
Contract Terms | Monthly available | Monthly and quarterly | Monthly available | Monthly or annual |
Platform Base | Microsoft infrastructure | Custom | Distributed network |
Quick verdict: Google Workspace works for agencies with under 20 inboxes who need native Google deliverability and don't mind manual DNS work. Maildoso and Mailforge suit budget-conscious operators starting out, but shared IP risks increase as you scale. We win for agencies at 50+ inboxes who need cost predictability and dedicated IP protection.
Our video on dedicated IPs vs shared IP pools breaks down the infrastructure differences in detail.
1. Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
The sticker price for any infrastructure platform tells only part of the story. True TCO includes platform fees, domain costs, warmup tools (if not included), and your sending platform subscription.
The hidden costs of "cheap" per-inbox plans
Maildoso pricing starts at $100/mo for 32 mailboxes, which works out to $3.10 per mailbox. At higher volumes, per-inbox costs decrease. According to Salesforge's analysis, 50 mailboxes cost approximately $91.50-$137.50 on Maildoso's shared IP infrastructure.
Several hidden costs exist with per-inbox providers:
Shared IP exposure: Maildoso uses a shared IP system. If another user on the same IP doesn't follow best practices, your deliverability suffers
Domain quality issues: Reviews mention burned domains (.xyz, .click replacements) and SURBL blocklisting problems
Billing options: While Maildoso offers both monthly and quarterly billing, you commit before validating deliverability
Mailforge pricing starts at approximately $1.67-3.00 per mailbox depending on volume. The platform offers monthly billing options starting at $30/month for 10 mailbox slots, providing flexibility. However, Mailforge uses a distributed email infrastructure with shared IP pools distributed across millions of businesses.
Cost comparison: 50 vs 100 vs 200 inboxes
Here's the math that matters for protecting your margin. This table shows monthly platform costs across three scaling scenarios:
Inbox Count | Inframail | Maildoso | Mailforge | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
50 Inboxes | $129/mo | $91-138/mo | $84-150/mo | $350-420/mo |
100 Inboxes | $129/mo | $166-275/mo | $167-300/mo | $700-840/mo |
200 Inboxes | $129/mo | $458-550/mo | $334-600/mo | $1,400-1,680/mo |
At 200 inboxes on Google Workspace, infrastructure consumes $1,400-1,680/month. If you're running 20 clients at $3,000/month average MRR ($60k total monthly revenue), that's over 25% of billings going to infrastructure alone.
This table doesn't include domain costs (typically $10-20/year per domain) or warmup tools. For warmup, Instantly's Growth Plan starts at $37/month with unlimited warmup accounts, and Smartlead starts at $39/month.
Adding warmup costs ($37-94/month depending on tool) and domain costs (~$12/year per domain, amortized monthly), here's how our costs compare to competitors when you add domains and warmup:
Cost Component | Inframail | Maildoso | Mailforge | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Platform | $129 | $91-138 | $84-150 | $350-420 |
Domains (50 @ $12/yr) | $68.50 | Often included | Often included | $50 |
Warmup Tool | $39 | $39 | Partial included | $39 |
Monthly Total | ~$236.50 | ~$130-177 | ~$123-189 | ~$439-509 |
Per-inbox platforms can win at 50 inboxes. But watch what happens at 200 inboxes:
Cost Component | Inframail | Maildoso | Mailforge | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Platform | $129 | $458-550 | $334-600 | $1,400-1,680 |
Domains (200 @ $12/yr) | $274 | Often included | Often included | $200 |
Warmup Tool | $39 | $39 | Partial included | $39 |
Monthly Total | ~$442 | ~$497-589 | ~$373-639 | ~$1,639-1,919 |
At scale, we save $129-221/month versus per-inbox competitors and $2,652-3,492/year versus Google Workspace annually. That's money that stays in your agency's margin.
The math gets worse for per-inbox pricing as you scale. Sign up for Inframail and lock in flat-rate pricing.
2. Setup speed and DNS automation
Time spent configuring DNS records is time not spent on sales calls or client strategy. The automation differences between platforms directly impact how quickly you can onboard new clients.
Manual configuration vs automated provisioning
Traditional setup (Google Workspace + manual DNS) follows this workflow:
Purchase domain at Namecheap ($8-12)
Log into DNS panel and navigate to records
Create SPF record (v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all)
Generate and add DKIM record from Google Admin
Configure DMARC record with policy settings
Wait 24-48 hours for DNS propagation
Test with Mail-Tester to verify configuration
Create inbox in Google Admin console
Configure forwarding and settings
Export credentials to sending platform
For 50 domains, this process requires significant time investment. One of our users described the contrast:
Our workflow compresses this to minutes. Our video showing how to send 1000+ cold emails per day demonstrates the 4-minute setup process:
Purchase domains through the platform ($10-20 each)
DNS auto-configures in under 2 minutes (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
Create inboxes in bulk with one click
Export credentials via CSV to Instantly or Smartlead
Another user confirmed the time savings:
"I've been using Inframail for a couple of months and the experience has been really good. I can set-up inboxes in 5mins while saving money on Google Workspace subscriptions and benefit from great deliverability." - Verified user review of Inframail (Inframail now has [38 5-star reviews on Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/inframail.io).)
Our Cold Email Setup tutorial walks through SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration with 2-minute setup for 10+ inboxes.
Competitor automation capabilities
Maildoso auto-configures SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX records with mailboxes ready within 15 minutes. Mailforge offers automatic setup of DKIM, DMARC, and SPF according to best practices.
Both competitors auto-configure DNS, but automation doesn't solve the shared IP problem. Your carefully configured domains still depend on other users' behavior for reputation. One spammer on your shared pool can tank your campaigns even if your setup is perfect.
3. Deliverability and IP strategy
Deliverability determines whether your campaigns generate meetings or get buried in spam folders. The infrastructure choice directly impacts inbox placement rates.
Dedicated IPs vs shared pools
Think of shared IP pools like carpool lanes. You're affected by every other driver. One bad actor spamming gets the whole IP range flagged, and your campaigns suffer even if you follow best practices.
Maildoso uses a shared IP system. If another user on the same IP doesn't follow best practices, it could drag down your deliverability. Mailforge operates as a distributed email infrastructure, leveraging a shared IP pool distributed across millions of businesses.
Mailforge acknowledges the risk: shared IPs can be risky if you have "noisy neighbors" who are spamming. They claim to manage the pool aggressively, but you're still dependent on their policing of other users.
We take the opposite approach with dedicated US-based IPs (1 on Unlimited Plan, 3 on Agency Pack). Your sending behavior alone determines ESP trust. There's no contamination from spammers sharing your IP range.
One long-term user highlighted this stability:
Our Help Center FAQ covers the technical details of how dedicated IP isolation works.
Platform stability and vendor risk
Maildoso reviews mention blacklisted emails and burned domains. Users report issues with .xyz and .click domain replacements, plus SURBL block listing problems.
We're built on Microsoft's cloud platform with an enterprise partnership announced in January 2024. This provides infrastructure credibility that standalone providers can't match.
We also include a Phantom redirect feature that hides domain redirects from ESPs, preventing link-triggered spam filtering.
Deep dive: Inframail vs Maildoso
Maildoso positions itself as a budget option with pricing starting at $100/month for 32 mailboxes. At first glance, this looks cheaper than our $129/month. But the math changes quickly at scale.
Cost comparison:
32 inboxes: Maildoso $100 vs Inframail $129 (Maildoso wins by $29)
100 inboxes: Maildoso $166-275 vs Inframail $129 (We win by $37-146)
200 inboxes: Maildoso $458-550 vs Inframail $129 (We win by $329-421)
IP infrastructure: Maildoso relies on a shared IP network, meaning your sender reputation depends on other users' behavior. We provide dedicated IPs where your behavior alone determines reputation.
Contract flexibility: Both platforms offer monthly billing options. We let you test with real campaigns before committing long-term.
Support response: Our users consistently report fast support:
"One of the best mailbox infra vendors I have ever used super easy and quick setup and support is practically 24/7 with at max a 2min wait to get a question answered." - Verified user review of Inframail
Bottom line: Choose Maildoso if you're testing with under 32 inboxes and can accept shared IP risks. Choose us if you're scaling past 50 inboxes and need cost predictability plus dedicated IP protection.
For a video breakdown of infrastructure differences, watch Mailreef vs Mailscale vs Inframail comparing dedicated servers vs shared pools.
Deep dive: Inframail vs Mailforge
Mailforge offers arguably the lowest entry price in the market. Pricing starts at $1.67-3 per mailbox depending on volume, with monthly billing available starting at $30/month for 10 slots.
Cost comparison:
50 inboxes: Mailforge $84-150 vs Inframail $129 (varies by volume tier)
100 inboxes: Mailforge $167-300 vs Inframail $129 (We win by $38-171)
200 inboxes: Mailforge $334-600 vs Inframail $129 (We win by $205-471)
Infrastructure approach: Mailforge uses a distributed network with shared IP pools across millions of businesses. They compare this to Gmail or Outlook's massive infrastructure. The theory is that distributing across many IPs reduces individual risk. The reality is you're still sharing reputation with unknown senders.
Setup automation: Both platforms auto-configure DNS records. Mailforge claims setup in minutes, similar to our experience.
Warmup: Mailforge includes partial warmup features. We require external warmup tools like Instantly or Smartlead. This is a trade-off: warmup costs extra, but our dedicated IPs may provide better long-term deliverability than warmed-up shared pools.
Bottom line: Mailforge works for budget-conscious operators who accept shared IP risks and want integrated warmup. We win for agencies prioritizing long-term deliverability through dedicated IP isolation.
Deep dive: Inframail vs Google Workspace
Google Workspace is the familiar option. Business Starter costs $7-8.40 per user per month depending on billing cycle, with prices increasing 17-22% in January 2025.
Cost reality:
50 inboxes: Google $350-420/mo vs Inframail $129/mo
100 inboxes: Google $700-840/mo vs Inframail $129/mo
200 inboxes: Google $1,400-1,680/mo vs Inframail $129/mo
Annual savings at 50 inboxes: $2,652-3,492
Google's advantage is native platform deliverability. You're sending from actual Google infrastructure, which can help with inbox placement to Gmail recipients. The disadvantage is the math above plus manual DNS configuration for every domain.
Setup burden: Google requires manual SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration for each domain. There's no bulk automation. Scale to 50 domains and you're looking at significant DNS panel work plus waiting for propagation.
Who should stay with Google: Agencies running under 20 inboxes where per-inbox costs don't yet hurt margins, or teams specifically needing Google infrastructure for recipient deliverability reasons.
Who should switch: Any agency where Google Workspace bills exceed $350/month and manual DNS work consumes founder time that should go toward sales.
One user who made the switch reported:
"I've been an Inframail customer since early 2024 and am very pleased with Kidous and his team. They are trustworthy and reliable. Their customer support is excellent." - Verified user review of Inframail
For a complete walkthrough of the setup process, watch our Ultimate Cold Email Infrastructure Guide for 2025.
Decision criteria: How to choose the right infrastructure
Not every agency has the same priorities. Here's how we stack up on the criteria that matter most:
Criterion | Weight | Inframail | Maildoso | Mailforge | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost at 100+ inboxes | 30% | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Dedicated IP protection | 25% | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | N/A |
Setup automation | 20% | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Contract flexibility | 15% | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
Native platform trust | 10% | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
Choose us when:
You're running or planning 50+ inboxes
Dedicated IP reputation control matters
You need cost predictability as you scale
Monthly billing flexibility is important
Choose Maildoso when:
You're starting with under 32 inboxes
Shared IP risk is acceptable for your use case
Budget is the primary initial constraint
Choose Mailforge when:
Budget is the primary constraint
You want integrated warmup features
Shared distributed infrastructure is acceptable
Choose Google Workspace when:
You're running under 20 inboxes
Native Google deliverability is critical
You have time for manual DNS configuration
The warmup trade-off
We don't include built-in warmup. You'll need an external tool like Instantly ($37/month) or Smartlead ($39/month). This adds $37-94/month to your stack.
Is this trade-off worth it? At 100 inboxes, our platform plus warmup costs approximately $168-223/month total. Per-inbox competitors cost $200-300/month at similar scale. The math still favors us, and you get dedicated IP protection that shared pool providers can't match.
Our Help Center warmup guide walks through the 3-step process after migration.
Protecting your margins at scale
Your infrastructure decision comes down to unit economics. Per-inbox pricing forces you to choose between growth and margin. Flat-rate pricing decouples the two.
Competitors who tried multiple providers describe the difference:
"We spent months hunting for a reliable cold-emailing stack. After repeated failures with another provider, we trialled two options—Inframail and a competitor. We chose the competitor. A month later, we switched back to Inframail. Zero issues since. Rock-solid infrastructure, sharp support, genuinely dependable." - Verified user review of Inframail
If you're at 50+ inboxes, the $2,652-3,492 annual savings alone justify switching. If you're planning to scale, flat-rate infrastructure is the only way to maintain 25-30% net margins as client count grows from 8 to 20+ accounts.
Sign up for Inframail and get started today. Stop paying per-seat for infrastructure that should be operationally invisible.
For a complete video walkthrough of the setup process, watch How to Create Unlimited Cold Email Inboxes INSTANTLY.
Frequently asked questions
Does Inframail include email warmup?
No. We require external warmup tools like Instantly ($37/month) or Smartlead ($39/month). Even with warmup costs added, total cost stays below per-inbox competitors at 50+ inbox scale.
Can I use my own domains?
Yes. You can purchase domains through our platform or transfer existing domains. DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) configure automatically regardless of source.
What's the difference between dedicated and shared IPs?
Dedicated IPs mean your sending behavior alone determines reputation. Shared IPs pool your reputation with other users. One bad actor on a shared pool can tank deliverability for everyone.
How long does setup take?
Our users report 5-10 minutes for full infrastructure setup. Our videos show 5 domains and 10 inboxes configured in 4 minutes.
What sending platforms work with us?
We export credentials in CSV format compatible with Instantly, Smartlead, and Reachinbox.
Is there a minimum contract commitment?
No. We offer monthly billing. You can test with real campaigns before making longer commitments.
Key terminology
Dedicated IP: An IP address used exclusively by your sending domains. Your reputation depends only on your behavior, not other users.
Shared IP pool: Multiple senders share the same IP addresses. Reputation is collective, meaning other users' spam can affect your deliverability.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): DNS record specifying which servers can send email for your domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Cryptographic signature proving email authenticity and preventing tampering.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication): Policy telling receiving servers how to handle emails failing SPF or DKIM checks.
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership): Complete cost including platform fees, domains, warmup tools, and sending platform subscriptions.
Flat-rate pricing: Fixed monthly cost regardless of inbox count. We charge $129/month whether you run 50 or 500 inboxes.
