Self-Hosted vs Cloud Email: Making the Right Choice

The Email Hosting Dilemma

Choosing between self-hosted and cloud email is a critical decision that affects your organization's security, compliance, and operational costs.

Cloud Email: The Convenient Choice

Providers: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho

Advantages

• Quick setup and deployment
• No infrastructure management
• Regular feature updates
• Built-in collaboration tools

Disadvantages

• Data stored on third-party servers
• Limited customization
• Vendor lock-in
• Pricing scales with users

Self-Hosted Email: Maximum Control

Solutions: Postfix, Dovecot, Mail-in-a-Box

Advantages

• Complete data sovereignty
• Full customization
• No per-user costs
• Privacy by default

Disadvantages

• Requires technical expertise
• Infrastructure maintenance
• Security responsibility
• Deliverability challenges

The CalimaticMail Approach: Best of Both Worlds

We combine the convenience of cloud with the control of self-hosting:

| Feature | Cloud | Self-Hosted | CalimaticMail | |---------|-------|-------------|---------------| | Setup Time | Minutes | Days | Minutes | | Data Control | Limited | Full | Full | | Maintenance | None | High | Managed | | Customization | Limited | Full | High | | Deliverability | Good | Variable | Excellent | | Compliance | Depends | You control | Built-in |

Decision Framework

Choose Cloud Email If:

• You need quick deployment
• IT resources are limited
• Collaboration features are priority
• Compliance requirements are standard

Choose Self-Hosted If:

• Data sovereignty is critical
• You have dedicated IT staff
• Custom integrations are needed
• Regulatory requirements demand it

Choose CalimaticMail If:

• You want control without complexity
• Deliverability is important
• You need professional features
• Budget efficiency matters

Migration Considerations

From Cloud to CalimaticMail:

1. Export existing emails (IMAP sync)
2. Update DNS records
3. Configure authentication
4. Verify delivery

Typical Migration Time: 2-4 hours with zero downtime

Cost Comparison

| Solution | 50 Users/Month | 500 Users/Month | |----------|----------------|-----------------| | Google Workspace | $300 | $3,000 | | Microsoft 365 | $300 | $3,000 | | Self-Hosted | $100* | $200* | | CalimaticMail | $150 | $1,250 |

*Self-hosted costs exclude IT labor

Making the Switch

Ready to experience email hosting that puts you in control?

Start your free trial and migrate your existing emails in minutes.