Comparison
Jan 18, 2026
CEO and co-founder
Mailreef vs Inframail: Which Cold Email Infrastructure Fits Your Agency?
Quick verdict: The core difference between Mailreef and Inframail
Mailreef is a private server solution built for developers and platforms needing API access. The platform screens and approves every customer before granting access, which protects their network but creates a barrier for agencies moving fast. The application process requires you to describe your company and what types of products you're pitching.
We built Inframail as a flat-rate infrastructure platform on Microsoft's cloud. We focus on speed (setup 10 inboxes in minutes), unlimited inbox provisioning, and predictable costs that don't scale with client growth. We don't require an application process. You sign up, buy domains, and auto-configure DNS in seconds.
Factor | Inframail | Mailreef |
|---|---|---|
Monthly price | $129 (Unlimited Plan) | $249 (Agency Flex) |
Inbox limit | Unlimited | 200 per server |
Domain limit | Unlimited | 50 per server |
Approval required | No | Yes |
Platform base | Microsoft cloud | Private dedicated servers |
Dedicated IPs | 1-3 US-based (plan dependent) | 1 per server |
Pricing comparison: Flat-rate scaling vs. server-based limits
Infrastructure costs are where agencies either protect their margins or watch them erode. Let's run the actual numbers.
Inframail's cost structure
Our Unlimited Plan costs $129/month for unlimited inboxes on 1 dedicated US-based IP. The Agency Pack runs $276/month for 3 dedicated IPs. Domains cost $16.44 per year for .com through our platform. That's the entire cost structure. No per-inbox charges, no overage fees.
For a detailed breakdown of how to match your inbox count to our plans, check our capacity planning guide.
Mailreef's cost structure
Mailreef's Agency Flex plan costs $249/month on a month-to-month basis. The annual Agency plan drops to $240/month but requires a 12-month commitment. Both plans add $0.001 per email sent.
Here's the critical detail: each server caps at 50 domains and 200 mailboxes. Exceed either limit and you need a second server at another $249/month. Domains cost $19/year through Mailreef's platform, which is higher than typical registrar pricing of $8-12/year.
TCO analysis: 100 inboxes across 50 domains
The table below assumes 100 inboxes distributed across 50 domains (a typical setup for agencies managing 15-20 clients with domain rotation):
Cost component | Inframail | Mailreef |
|---|---|---|
Platform fee | $129/month | $249/month |
Domain costs (50 domains) | $68.50/month ($16.44/year × 50, amortized) | $79.17/month ($19/year × 50, amortized) |
Email sending fees (100k/month) | $0 | $100/month |
Monthly total | $197.50 | $428.17 |
Annual total | $2,370 | $5,138 |
That's $2,768 in annual savings. For context, that's enough to cover 3-4 months of a part-time VA or add 2+ percentage points to your net margin.
The gap widens at scale. At 201 mailboxes, Mailreef requires a second server ($498/month base). With Inframail, your platform fee stays at $129.
For a visual walkthrough of how this math plays out, watch our dedicated IP vs shared IP breakdown.
Deliverability infrastructure: Private servers vs. dedicated IPs
Both platforms isolate your sending reputation from other users. The architecture differs, but the outcome is similar: your behavior determines your deliverability, not someone else's spam campaign.
Mailreef's private server model
Mailreef provisions fully dedicated servers with isolated IP addresses. You get one dedicated IP per server. This isolation means no cross-contamination from other users' sending behavior. The trade-off is that you manage the reputation of that specific hardware yourself.
One consideration: Mailreef has limited public reviews on major platforms like G2, Capterra, or Trustpilot. This makes it harder to validate deliverability claims before committing $249/month to test.
Our dedicated IP model
We run on Microsoft's cloud platform with dedicated US-based IPs. Our Unlimited Plan includes 1 dedicated IP. The Agency Pack includes 3 dedicated IPs for agencies needing to distribute sending across multiple IPs.
Think of dedicated IPs like private lanes on a highway. Shared IP pools (used by some competitors) work like carpool lanes where one bad actor gets everyone flagged. With dedicated IPs, your sending behavior alone determines ESP trust.
Monitoring and reputation management
Our deliverability dashboard tracks domain and IP health with blacklist monitoring. When domains get flagged, we auto-submit delisting requests at a 68.3% success rate. Our phantom redirect feature hides domain redirects from ESPs to prevent spam folder placement. Unlike normal redirects that ESPs can detect and flag, phantom redirects mask the redirect chain entirely.
You can also track your own campaign performance using our guide on how to tell if your emails are going to spam.
Setup and automation: Approval gates vs. instant access
Time spent waiting for vendor approval or configuring DNS panels is time not spent on sales calls or client strategy. Here's where the two platforms diverge sharply.
Mailreef's approval process
Before you can provision a single inbox on Mailreef, you must apply and wait for approval. The application asks you to describe your company and the products you're pitching, stating "We need to understand what your company does." This vetting protects their network from bad actors but creates a barrier when you have a client ready to launch Monday.
For agencies signing 2-3 new clients per month, that delay compounds into lost revenue and frustrated onboarding timelines. Once approved, Mailreef does offer automated domain setup with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration, plus a REST API and Zapier integration for programmatic provisioning.
Inframail's instant access
We don't require an application. Sign up, purchase domains through our platform or transfer existing ones, and the system auto-configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records without touching DNS panels. Check our getting started guide for the complete walkthrough.
The workflow is straightforward:
Purchase domains: Buy directly through our platform or transfer existing domains with instant turnaround.
Auto-configure DNS: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records generate automatically. No logging into Namecheap or GoDaddy.
Provision inboxes: Create unlimited Microsoft email inboxes under your dedicated IPs.
Export credentials: Download IMAP/SMTP credentials as CSV, import to Instantly.ai or Smartlead, and start sending.
For real-time demonstrations of this workflow, watch Shivam's step-by-step setup tutorial or our own Inframail 3.5 demo showing how to create unlimited inboxes instantly. Jasper Aiken also documented his full cold email setup strategy combining Inframail with Instantly.
Agency use cases: When to choose Mailreef vs. Inframail
Not every tool fits every operator. Here's how to self-select based on your actual business model.
Choose Mailreef if you:
Build software products needing email APIs: Mailreef's REST API allows you to spin up new sender domains and mailboxes within seconds programmatically.
Need API-first integration for a client platform: The API architecture allows deep customization for agencies building branded sending platforms.
Prefer private server architecture: Some operators want the control and isolation of dedicated hardware rather than cloud-based IPs.
Can wait for approval: If you're not under time pressure, Mailreef's vetting process isn't a dealbreaker.
Choose Inframail if you:
Run a lead gen agency and need to launch clients today: No approval wait means client onboarding happens the same week contracts close.
Want to cap infrastructure spend regardless of inbox count: Flat-rate $129/month whether you run 50 or 500 inboxes. Your margins don't erode as client count scales.
Prefer Microsoft-backed deliverability: Our enterprise partnership with Microsoft (announced January 2024) provides trusted infrastructure that ESPs recognize.
Need automated DNS configuration: Our platform handles SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup in seconds rather than requiring manual configuration across registrar panels.
Several of our users have shared their results. Jackson Williams breaks down how he books 6 calls per day with his cold email setup. Bhavesh Kumar, who runs a lead gen agency, shared how he books 200+ appointments per month on our infrastructure. Daphné Barret detailed how she books 30+ calls monthly with a similar approach.
For a complete cold email infrastructure walkthrough, our Ultimate Cold Email Infrastructure Guide for 2025 covers everything from domain selection to campaign optimization.
The warmup consideration
Neither platform includes built-in email warmup. You'll need an external service like Warmbox or Lemwarm ($15-50/month per inbox) regardless of which infrastructure you choose. Our warmup guide walks through best practices after migrating, and we cover domain warmup fundamentals in our how-to guide.
The bottom line
Mailreef builds for developers and platforms. We build for agencies.
The math is straightforward for growth-focused agencies: $129/month versus $249+/month saves you nearly $2,768 annually at minimum. That's the difference between protecting 20% net margins and watching infrastructure costs push you below 15%. Unlimited inboxes mean you can take on 5 more clients without triggering a second server charge. Instant access means you book new client revenue this week instead of waiting for approval.
If your infrastructure bill already exceeds $400/month or you're projecting it will within 6 months, the flat-rate model pays for itself. If you've lost momentum because client onboarding took too long, the instant-access model solves that.
Sign up to Inframail and set up your first 10 inboxes in under 10 minutes. No approval wait, no per-inbox charges, just flat-rate infrastructure that scales with your agency.
Frequently asked questions
Does Inframail require an application like Mailreef?
No. You sign up and start creating inboxes immediately. There's no vetting process or approval wait.
Can I use my own domains on both platforms?
Yes. Both support BYOD (Bring Your Own Domain). Both platforms auto-configure DNS records for domains purchased or transferred through their systems.
Which is cheaper for 50 inboxes?
Inframail at $129/month versus Mailreef at $249/month. At 201+ inboxes, the gap widens further since Mailreef requires a second server ($498/month total).
Does either platform include email warmup?
Neither platform includes built-in email warmup. You'll need an external service like Warmbox or Lemwarm ($15-50/month per inbox) regardless of which infrastructure you choose.
What sending platforms integrate with Inframail?
Instantly.ai, Smartlead, Reachinbox, and other platforms accepting IMAP/SMTP credentials. Export credentials as CSV and import directly. See our full integration list.
How do I validate deliverability before committing?
We offer month-to-month pricing so you can pilot with 10-20 domains for 30 days and measure real inbox placement rates before scaling. Track your Mail-Tester scores and campaign metrics in your sending platform to verify performance.
Key terminology
Dedicated IP: An IP address used exclusively by one sender. Your sending behavior alone determines reputation. We provide 1-3 dedicated US-based IPs depending on plan.
Private email server: A standalone server dedicated to a single customer (Mailreef's model). Offers hardware-level isolation but comes with mailbox limits per server (200 max).
SPF/DKIM/DMARC: DNS authentication protocols that verify sender identity and prevent spoofing. Required for inbox placement. We auto-configure these records. See our guide to custom domains for details.
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership): The complete cost of a solution including platform fees, domain costs, sending fees, and add-ons like warmup tools. Critical for calculating true infrastructure spend as a percentage of billings.
