Parhaat sähköpostipalvelintoimittajat vuonna 2025

Introduction

This document provides a comprehensive comparison of VPS providers for hosting mail servers (SMTP servers).

The comparison focuses on key factors relevant to mail server operations, including pricing, features, server locations, and most importantly, mail server specific requirements such as reverse PTR records, IPv6 support, and port 25 restrictions.

1. Self-Hosted Mail Server Projects: We recommend Forward Email as the preferred self-hosted mail server project to use on your server (you can self-host our entire codebase, however our service is cheaper to simply subscribe to than most providers at only $3/mo – and you can set up your custom domain in seconds!). You may find others at https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted and https://github.com/Mindbaz/awesome-opensource-email.

2. Custom Domain Name Requirement: You will need a custom domain name in order to use a self-hosted mail server in combination with a provider listed below. We recommend using https://www.cloudflare.com/products/registrar/, https://tld-list.com/, https://namecheap.com, and https://domainr.com/ as resources and providers for finding your custom domain.

3. VPS/Dedicated Mail Server Provider: See the comparison table below :point_down:

VPS and Dedicated Mail Server Provider Comparison Table

Provider	Lowest Price	RAM Range	vCPU Range	Storage Range	Transfer	Reverse PTR	IPv6	Port 25	Security History
DigitalOcean	$5/mo	1GB-64GB+	1-32+	25GB-1TB+ SSD	1TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Blocked by default, can request	No major breaches
Linode	$5/mo	1GB-64GB+	1-32+	25GB-1TB+ SSD	1TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open by default	Multiple breaches (2013, 2016)
RackNerd	$11/yr	0.75GB-32GB+	1-16+	12GB-500GB+ SSD	1TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open by default	No major incidents
DataPacket	$5/mo	1GB-64GB+	1-32+	25GB-1TB+ SSD	2TB-20TB+	Yes	Yes	Open by default	No major incidents
DartNode	$2.95/mo	1GB-32GB+	1-16+	20GB-500GB+ SSD	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Open by default	No major incidents, newer provider
UltaHost	$3.99/mo	1GB-32GB+	1-16+	20GB-500GB+ SSD	1TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open, 200 emails/hour limit	No major incidents
Contabo	€4.99/mo	4GB-64GB+	2-32+	50GB-1TB+ SSD	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Open, 25 emails/minute limit	No major incidents
Hostinger	$3.99/mo	1GB-32GB+	1-16+	20GB-500GB+ SSD	1TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open, 5 emails/minute limit	2020 breach (shared hosting)
RareCloud	$3.99/mo	1GB-32GB+	1-16+	25GB-500GB+ SSD	2TB-10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open by default	No major incidents, newer provider
OVH	$3.35/mo	2GB-64GB+	1-32+	20GB-1TB+ SSD	10TB+	Yes	Yes	Open by default	2021 data center fire, network outage

Mail Server Specific Features

Reverse PTR Records

Reverse PTR records are critical for mail server operations for the following reasons:

• Authentication and verification of sending servers
• Improved email deliverability
• Spam prevention
• Compliance with email standards

All providers in this comparison support configurable reverse PTR records, which is essential for running a mail server. The process for setting up PTR records varies by provider:

Provider	PTR Record Configuration	Notes
DigitalOcean	Via control panel	Simple interface
Linode	Via control panel	Well-documented process
RackNerd	Via control panel	Quick configuration
DataPacket	Via control panel	Standard process
DartNode	Directly on network manager	Unique direct configuration
UltaHost	Via control panel	User-friendly interface
Contabo	Via control panel	Well-documented
Hostinger	Via control panel	Simple process
RareCloud	Via control panel	Standard configuration
OVH	Via control panel	Comprehensive documentation

IPv6 Support

IPv6 support is becoming increasingly important for mail servers due to:

• Future-proofing as IPv4 addresses become scarce
• Improved routing efficiency
• Enhanced security features
• Compliance with modern standards

All providers in this comparison offer IPv6 support on all their plans, which is beneficial for mail server operations. However, implementation quality may vary:

Provider	IPv6 Implementation	Notes
DigitalOcean	Full support	Available on all droplets
Linode	Full support	Well-integrated
RackNerd	Full support	Standard implementation
DataPacket	Full support	Comprehensive support
DartNode	Full support	Modern implementation
UltaHost	Full support	Standard implementation
Contabo	Full support	Well-documented
Hostinger	Full support	Standard implementation
RareCloud	Full support	Modern implementation
OVH	Full support	Comprehensive support

Port 25 Restrictions

Port 25 is the standard SMTP port used for email transmission. Many providers block or restrict this port to prevent spam. This is a critical consideration for mail server hosting:

Provider	Port 25 Status	Email Sending Limits	Notes
DigitalOcean	Blocked by default	Varies by plan	Can be opened by contacting support with business justification
Linode	Open by default	No specific limits	Subject to anti-spam monitoring
RackNerd	Open by default	Unlimited	No restrictions mentioned
DataPacket	Open by default	No specific limits	Subject to anti-abuse monitoring
DartNode	Open by default	Unlimited	No restrictions mentioned
UltaHost	Open by default	200 emails/hour	Moderate sending limit
Contabo	Open by default	25 emails/minute	Reasonable sending limit
Hostinger	Open by default	5 emails/minute	Very restrictive sending limit
RareCloud	Open by default	No specific limits	No restrictions mentioned
OVH	Open by default	No specific limits	Subject to anti-spam monitoring

Server Locations

Geographic distribution of servers is important for mail delivery speed and compliance with regional data regulations:

Provider	North America	Europe	Asia	Australia	South America	Africa
DigitalOcean	US (3), CA	NL, UK, DE	IN, SG	AU	-	ZA
Linode	US (6), CA	UK, DE, NL, SE, PL, IT	JP, SG, IN	AU	-	ZA
RackNerd	US (6), CA	NL	-	-	-	-
DataPacket	US (3)	NL, DE, UK, CZ, PL	SG, JP	AU	BR	-
DartNode	US (TX)	-	-	-	-	-
UltaHost	US (2)	DE, NL, UK	SG	AU	-	-
Contabo	US (2)	DE (2), UK, ES	SG, JP	AU	-	-
Hostinger	US	UK, NL, LT	SG	-	BR	-
RareCloud	US (2)	DE, NL	SG	-	-	-
OVH	US, CA	FR, UK, DE, PL, ES	SG	AU	-	-

Pricing Tiers

Entry Level Plans

Provider	Entry Price	RAM	vCPU	Storage	Transfer
DigitalOcean	$5/mo	1GB	1	25GB SSD	1TB
Linode	$5/mo	1GB	1	25GB SSD	1TB
RackNerd	$11/yr	0.75GB	1	12GB SSD	1TB
DataPacket	$5/mo	1GB	1	25GB SSD	2TB
DartNode	$2.95/mo	1GB	1	20GB SSD	Unlimited
UltaHost	$3.99/mo	1GB	1	20GB SSD	1TB
Contabo	€4.99/mo	4GB	2	50GB SSD	Unlimited
Hostinger	$3.99/mo	1GB	1	20GB SSD	1TB
RareCloud	$3.99/mo	1GB	1	25GB SSD	2TB
OVH	$3.35/mo	2GB	1	20GB SSD	10TB

Mid-Range Plans

Provider	Mid-Range Price	RAM	vCPU	Storage	Transfer
DigitalOcean	$15/mo	2GB	2	60GB SSD	3TB
Linode	$20/mo	4GB	2	80GB SSD	4TB
RackNerd	$24/yr	2.5GB	3	40GB SSD	6.5TB
DataPacket	$20/mo	4GB	2	80GB SSD	10TB
DartNode	$9.95/mo	4GB	2	80GB SSD	Unlimited
UltaHost	$15.99/mo	4GB	2	80GB SSD	4TB
Contabo	€8.99/mo	8GB	4	200GB SSD	Unlimited
Hostinger	$8.99/mo	4GB	2	80GB SSD	4TB
RareCloud	$15.99/mo	4GB	4	80GB SSD	6TB
OVH	$13.87/mo	8GB	2	80GB SSD	10TB

Security History

Security history is a critical consideration when choosing a VPS provider for mail server hosting:

Provider	Major Security Incidents	Notes
DigitalOcean	None publicly reported	Some reported incidents of account suspensions without warning
Linode	Multiple breaches (2013, 2016)	2013: Credit card and password leak; 2016: User credentials found on external machine; DDoS attacks in 2015/2016
RackNerd	None publicly reported	Relatively newer provider compared to others
DataPacket	None publicly reported	Maintains strong network security practices
DartNode	None publicly reported	Relatively new provider with limited public security history
UltaHost	None publicly reported	Regular security updates and monitoring
Contabo	None publicly reported	Strong reputation for security practices
Hostinger	2020 data breach	Affected shared hosting database, VPS services reportedly not affected
RareCloud	None publicly reported	Relatively new provider with limited public security history
OVH	2021 incidents	Major fire at SBG2 data center; Network misconfiguration causing global outage

Analysis and Recommendations

Best Overall VPS Providers for Mail Servers

1. RackNerd: Offers open port 25 by default with unlimited outbound email, affordable yearly pricing, and good PTR record support.

2. Contabo: Provides exceptional value with generous resources (4GB RAM at entry level), open port 25 with reasonable sending limits, and strong security history.

3. Linode: Despite past security incidents, offers reliable mail server support with open port 25 by default and excellent documentation.

Best Budget Options

1. RackNerd: At $11/year for the entry plan, it's the most cost-effective option with mail server friendly features.

2. DartNode: Starting at $2.95/month with unlimited bandwidth and open port 25, it's an excellent budget choice.

Best for High Volume Email

1. RackNerd: Unlimited outbound email with open port 25 makes it ideal for high volume sending.

2. DartNode: No specific sending limits mentioned and unlimited bandwidth.

3. Contabo: 25 emails/minute limit (1,500/hour) is suitable for moderate to high volume.

Considerations for Mail Server Hosting

When selecting a VPS provider for mail server hosting, consider:

1. Port 25 Status: Providers with open port 25 by default (RackNerd, DartNode, Linode, Contabo) are preferable for easier setup.

2. Email Sending Limits: Consider your expected email volume and choose a provider with appropriate limits.

3. IP Reputation: Some providers like DigitalOcean may have IPs that are more likely to be blacklisted (e.g. on Spamhaus or UCEPROTECT L2/L3) due to historical spam issues. After being allocated an IP address from a provider, you should check its reputation (e.g. on Spamhaus, Barracuda, ... – see our guide here for more insight: https://forwardemail.net/faq#why-are-my-emails-landing-in-spam-and-junk-and-how-can-i-check-my-domain-reputation).

4. Security History: Providers with clean security records are generally preferable for handling sensitive email data.

5. Geographic Distribution: Choose a provider with server locations that match your target audience for better delivery performance.

Conclusion

All providers in this comparison support the essential mail server requirements of configurable reverse PTR records and IPv6. The main differentiating factors are port 25 restrictions, email sending limits, pricing, and security history. You may find that Reddit, LowEndTalk, and other discussion websites contain more information specific to a provider or a topic (e.g. site:lowendtalk.com port 25 might be a good search query for port 25 restrictions).

For most mail server use cases, RackNerd, Contabo, and Linode offer the best balance of features, price, and mail server compatibility. However, specific needs regarding budget, email volume, and geographic distribution may make other providers more suitable for particular use cases.

Our team uses DataPacket and previously used DigitalOcean and Vultr. We operate baremetal servers with custom AMD Ryzen hardware, NVMe SSD drives, LUKS encryption, and more. You can learn more about how and why we chose DataPacket on this Privacy Guides discussion thread: https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/forward-email-new-features/24845/45

References

1. https://github.com/hiddify/awesome-freedom/blob/main/vps-providers.md
2. https://github.com/leogallego/awesome-vps-price-breakdown
3. https://gist.github.com/justjanne/205cc548148829078d4bf2fd394f50ae
4. https://webshanks.com/vps-with-open-port-25/
5. https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-records/dns-ptr-record/
6. https://www.rapidseedbox.com/blog/ipv6-email-infrastructure
7. https://wptavern.com/linode-confirms-data-security-breach-that-matches-recent-wp-engine-attack
8. Provider official websites (pricing and feature information)