Alternatives
Jan 14, 2026
CEO and co-founder
Mailreef Alternatives: Top 5 Platforms for Cold Email Agencies (2026)
Why agencies switch from Mailreef
Cost efficiency at scale
Mailreef's Agency plan starts at $240-249 per month with annual billing required. The platform also charges $0.001 per email sent, which adds up quickly at volume. For an agency sending 100,000 emails monthly, that's an extra $100 on top of the base subscription.
The real cost problem appears when you scale. Mailreef limits you to 50 domains and 200 inboxes per server. Need more? You pay $249/month for each additional server. An agency managing 15 clients with 10 domains each hits that ceiling fast and faces a $498/month infrastructure bill before domain costs.
Compare that to flat-rate alternatives. Inframail charges $129/month whether you create 50 or 500 inboxes. For agencies where infrastructure costs already consume 25-30% of client billings, that pricing model protects margins as you grow.
Application friction slows client onboarding
Mailreef states they "screen and approve every customer" to maintain deliverability standards. The application form requires you to describe what your company does and what types of products you pitch. Affiliate program reviews take 2-3 business days, and standard customer applications follow a similar timeline.
That approval process creates a bottleneck. When you close a new client on Monday and need campaigns live by Friday, waiting for platform approval burns days you can't afford. Your client doesn't care about vendor gatekeeping. They care about meetings booked.
For a detailed breakdown of Mailreef's approach compared to faster alternatives, our Mailreef alternatives guide covers 23 options ranked by setup speed and cost.
Private servers vs. dedicated IPs
Mailreef markets "private servers" as a premium feature. But for cold email deliverability, the practical question is simpler: is your sending reputation isolated from other users?
A dedicated IP means your IP address is used only by you. Your sending behavior alone shapes the reputation. A private server provides dedicated resources (CPU, memory, storage) in addition to IP isolation. For email deliverability specifically, both deliver the same core benefit: nobody else's traffic affects your sender reputation.
The Mailgun deliverability guide confirms this distinction. You need IP isolation to control your reputation. You don't necessarily need dedicated server hardware. Inframail offers 1-3 dedicated US-based IPs (depending on plan) built on Microsoft's cloud platform. That provides the deliverability isolation agencies need without the private server premium.
For a visual comparison of how dedicated and shared IPs differ for cold email, watch our dedicated IP vs shared IP breakdown.
Top 5 Mailreef alternatives ranked by agency value
1. Inframail: Best for flat-rate scaling on dedicated IPs
Best for: Cost-conscious agencies running 50-200 Microsoft email domains who need predictable infrastructure costs.
Infrastructure type: Dedicated IP (1 IP on Unlimited Plan, 3 IPs on Agency Pack)
Inframail charges $129/month for unlimited inboxes with no per-seat fees. The platform automates SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration, eliminating the DNS panel work that burns 12+ hours monthly for agencies managing 50+ domains. According to user testimonials, you can set up 10 inboxes in under 10 minutes. Our reliability is further proven by our 38 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.
The Microsoft enterprise partnership announced in January 2024 provides infrastructure credibility. CEO Kidous Mahtme stated the partnership is "a leap forward in our mission to revolutionize digital communication."
Pros:
Flat-rate $129/month for unlimited inboxes (no per-seat charges)
Dedicated US-based IPs (1-3 depending on plan)
Automated DNS setup (SPF/DKIM/DMARC in seconds)
No application or approval required
Domains cost $5-16 each through the platform
Cons:
Microsoft inboxes only (no Google Workspace support)
External warmup tool required ($15-50/month per inbox)
US-based infrastructure only (no EU/APAC data residency)
Verdict: Inframail delivers the IP isolation agencies need at half Mailreef's cost. If you're comfortable with Microsoft infrastructure and want predictable pricing as you scale, this is the straightforward choice.
For a complete walkthrough, watch the Inframail setup tutorial covering domain purchase through inbox provisioning. You can also see the 2-minute SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup process for 10+ inboxes.
2. Maildoso: Best for Google Workspace resellers
Best for: Agencies specifically needing Google Workspace accounts who accept shared IP risks.
Infrastructure type: Shared IP with IP rotation
Maildoso starts at $100/month for 32 mailboxes ($3.10 per mailbox) and scales down to $1.80 per mailbox at higher volumes. The platform charges approximately $4/month per domain and $3/month per email account.
The key differentiator is Google Workspace support. If your clients specifically require Gmail-based infrastructure for perceived trust, Maildoso provides that option. However, Maildoso relies on shared IP infrastructure and uses IP rotation to distribute sending across multiple addresses.
Pros:
Google Workspace support (not just Microsoft)
Lower per-inbox cost at scale ($1.80-3.10/inbox)
IP rotation spreads risk across addresses
Quarterly billing available
Cons:
Shared IP infrastructure (other users affect your reputation)
No built-in warmup tool (contrary to some marketing claims)
Per-inbox pricing means costs scale linearly with growth
Verdict: Choose Maildoso if Google Workspace is non-negotiable for your client base. Accept that shared IPs mean less control over sender reputation.
3. Mailforge: Best for shared IP volume
Best for: High-volume senders prioritizing cost over IP isolation.
Infrastructure type: Shared IP pool
Mailforge offers pricing as low as $1.67-3 per mailbox for bulk users, making it the cheapest option for pure volume. The platform distributes mailbox accounts across a shared IP pool similar to Gmail or Outlook infrastructure.
The built-in warmup feature distinguishes Mailforge from competitors. You don't need a separate $15-50/month warmup tool per inbox. According to Declom's August 2025 review, setup takes approximately 3 minutes per account.
Pros:
Lowest per-mailbox cost ($1.67-3/mailbox)
Built-in warmup tool included
Fast automated setup (3 minutes)
Minimum 10 mailbox purchase keeps barrier low
Cons:
Shared IP pool (bad neighbor effects possible)
Slots charged whether mailboxes are created or not
Less reputation control than dedicated IP alternatives
Verdict: Mailforge works for agencies testing campaigns or needing high volume on tight budgets. Don't expect the deliverability consistency of dedicated IP infrastructure.
4. Superwave: Best for high-volume experienced senders
Best for: Experienced cold email operators needing 5,000+ daily sends per domain.
Infrastructure type: Dedicated infrastructure with automated IP rotation
Superwave AI focuses on high-volume sending, claiming up to 5,000 emails per day per domain without extended warmup periods. The platform automates IP rotation and provides real-time deliverability tracking.
However, Superwave requires custom quotes based on domains, inbox volume, and sending needs. Annual billing is mandatory with no monthly option. Multiple reviews mention slow support and onboarding delays stretching into weeks.
Pros:
High daily send capacity (5,000 emails/domain)
Automated IP rotation
Real-time deliverability monitoring
Built for experienced operators
Cons:
Custom pricing only (no transparent rates)
Annual billing required (no monthly trial)
Reported support and onboarding delays
Not suited for beginners
Verdict: Superwave targets sophisticated cold email operations already sending at scale. The lack of transparent pricing and mandatory annual commitment makes it risky for agencies still validating their infrastructure needs.
5. Google Workspace: Best for low-volume manual setups
Best for: Small operations managing under 20 inboxes who value native Google trust.
Infrastructure type: Native Google infrastructure
Google Workspace remains the baseline comparison. Business Starter costs $7.20-8.40 per user per month, with annual commitments dropping to $6-7/user. The platform provides native Gmail infrastructure with high inherent trust from receiving mail servers.
The catch: DNS setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is fully manual and requires technical knowledge. For 50 domains, you're looking at 12+ hours of configuration work across DNS panels, plus 24-48 hours waiting for propagation before campaigns launch.
Pros:
Native Google trust (highest baseline deliverability)
Enterprise-grade security and compliance
Familiar interface for most users
G2 shows 46,881 reviews (proven at scale)
Cons:
Per-seat pricing explodes at scale ($420/month for 50 inboxes)
Manual DNS configuration required
No cold email-specific features
Not designed for high-volume outbound
Verdict: Google Workspace works for agencies managing 10-20 inboxes who prioritize deliverability over cost. At 50+ inboxes, the per-seat pricing model breaks agency economics.
Comparison: Feature and cost breakdown
Feature | Mailreef + domains | Inframail + domains | Maildoso + domains | Mailforge + domains | Google Workspace + domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly cost | $249/mo + $0.001/email | $129/mo flat | $100/mo (32 inboxes) | $2-3/mailbox | $7-8.40/user |
Note on Scalability: Inframail's $129/mo flat rate remains the same whether you have 50 or 400+ inboxes. You only pay for the additional domains. All other providers charge per inbox or per server, meaning your costs explode as you scale. | Cost at 50 inboxes | $249+ | $129 | ~$155 | $100-150 | $350-420 | | IP type | Dedicated/Private | Dedicated | Shared | Shared | Native Google | | Setup time | Minutes (after approval) | 5-10 min | 10-15 min | 3 min | 12+ hours manual | | Warmup included | No | No | No | Yes | N/A | | Application required | Yes | No | No | No | No | | Google support | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Native | | Microsoft support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
The "Application Required" row matters most for agency velocity. Mailreef screens every customer. The other four platforms let you sign up and provision inboxes immediately. For our complete infrastructure guide, watch the 2025 breakdown covering all components.
How to choose the right infrastructure for your agency
Dedicated IPs vs. shared IPs
Think of IP infrastructure like highway lanes. Shared IP pools work like carpool lanes where you're affected by other drivers. One bad actor spamming gets the whole IP range flagged, and your campaigns suffer even with perfect sending practices.
Dedicated IPs work like private lanes. Your behavior alone determines reputation. If you maintain clean lists and smart sending limits, your deliverability stays consistent regardless of what other senders do on the platform.
However, dedicated IPs aren't a magic solution. You need sufficient volume to build reputation (minimum 50,000+ emails monthly) and excellent list hygiene. A dedicated IP with poor practices performs worse than a well-managed shared pool.
For agencies managing 50+ domains with multiple clients, dedicated IPs provide the control needed to troubleshoot deliverability issues. You can isolate problems to specific campaigns rather than blaming unknown platform neighbors.
The Litmus guide on IP types provides deeper technical context for this decision.
Setup automation and time-to-value
Manual DNS configuration burns 12-15 hours monthly for agencies managing 50+ domains. That's logging into Namecheap or GoDaddy, creating SPF records, generating DKIM keys, configuring DMARC policies, waiting 24-48 hours for propagation, then testing with Mail-Tester before campaigns can launch.
Automated platforms eliminate that bottleneck. Inframail's automated DNS setup provisions SPF/DKIM/DMARC automatically when you add domains. The video demonstrates buying 5 domains and setting up 10 inboxes in 4 minutes total.
Time-to-value matters for client onboarding. When you close a deal Friday and need campaigns running Monday, waiting on DNS propagation or platform approval costs revenue days. Our help documentation on sending capacity covers how to plan infrastructure around client timelines.
Cost per inbox and margin impact
Here's the TCO calculation for 100 inboxes across providers:
Mailreef:
Base platform: $249/month (hits 200 inbox limit)
Domains (~100): $800-1,200/year amortized
Warmup: $1,500-5,000/month (external tool)
Monthly total: $400-500+
Inframail:
Base platform: $129/month (unlimited inboxes)
Domains (~100): $500-1,600/year amortized
Warmup: $1,500-5,000/month (external tool)
Monthly total: $280-400+
Google Workspace:
Inboxes (100): $700-840/month
Domains (~100): $800-1,200/year amortized
Manual DNS: 15+ hours monthly (your time)
Monthly total: $770-910+
At 100 inboxes, Inframail saves $120-250/month versus Mailreef and $490-510/month versus Google Workspace. Over 12 months, that's $1,440-3,000 in infrastructure savings before accounting for the hours recovered from automated DNS setup.
For agencies targeting 25-30% net margins, infrastructure costs consuming 25%+ of billings break unit economics. The email capacity calculator helps model these costs against your specific client portfolio.
Verdict: The best Mailreef alternative for scaling agencies
Mailreef built quality infrastructure with legitimate deliverability results. But the $249/month price tag, mandatory application process, and per-server limits create friction that growing agencies can't afford.
If you need Mailreef's dedicated IP benefits but want to save approximately $1,500/year and skip the application queue, Inframail is the logical choice. You get:
Unlimited inboxes at $129/month flat (no per-seat charges as you scale)
Dedicated US-based IPs (1-3 depending on plan) for reputation isolation
Automated DNS configuration (SPF/DKIM/DMARC in seconds, not hours)
Instant access (no application or approval delays)
Microsoft partnership credibility (enterprise infrastructure backing)
The tradeoff is Microsoft-only infrastructure and requiring external warmup tools. If your clients specifically need Google Workspace, consider Maildoso despite the shared IP risks. If you're optimizing purely for cost and accepting shared infrastructure, Mailforge offers the lowest per-mailbox pricing with built-in warmup.
For agencies booking 200+ appointments monthly or closing $50,000 whale clients, infrastructure choice directly impacts campaign velocity and profit margins. The platform that lets you launch faster and scale cheaper compounds returns over time.
Sign up to Inframail and get started today.
Frequently asked questions
Does Inframail require an application like Mailreef?
No. Inframail provides instant access after signup with no screening process. You can provision unlimited inboxes immediately.
What is the difference between a private server and a dedicated IP?
A private server dedicates physical/virtual hardware resources to one client. A dedicated IP assigns a unique IP address exclusively to your account. For email deliverability, both provide IP isolation. The practical difference is private servers cost more without improving deliverability outcomes.
Can I bring my own domains to these platforms?
Yes. Inframail charges $5 per domain transfer. Mailreef, Maildoso, and Mailforge all support domain migration with varying fees.
Which platform works best with Instantly or Smartlead?
All five alternatives integrate with major sending platforms. Inframail exports IMAP/SMTP credentials to CSV for direct import. Our integration guide covers supported platforms.
Do I need a separate warmup tool?
With Inframail, Maildoso, and Mailreef: yes. Mailforge includes built-in warmup. Our warmup migration guide covers the process for external tools.
Key terminology glossary
Dedicated IP: An IP address used exclusively by your account. Your sending behavior alone determines reputation. Inframail provides 1-3 dedicated IPs depending on plan.
Shared IP: An IP address used by multiple senders on the same platform. Other users' behavior affects your deliverability. Used by Maildoso and Mailforge.
DNS propagation: The time required (typically 24-48 hours) for DNS record changes to spread across global nameservers. Automated platforms handle this in the background.
SPF/DKIM/DMARC: Email authentication protocols that verify sender identity. SPF defines authorized sending servers. DKIM adds cryptographic signatures. DMARC specifies how receiving servers handle authentication failures.
Flat-rate pricing: A fixed monthly fee regardless of usage volume. Inframail charges $129/month whether you create 50 or 500 inboxes.
Per-seat pricing: Charges that scale with each user or inbox added. Google Workspace charges $7-8.40 per inbox monthly.
