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Comment by koolba | Hacker News Reader

Free email is fine. Just make sure to own your own domain and MX records. Worst case you switch to somewhere else and keep on mailing.

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I'm using a custom domain and a paid email provider.

My rational is to align my interests with the company running the infrastructure for a fundamental component of my digital life.

Free email is fine most of the time. Until it's not. I want to limit my "until it's not" exposure.

I use my own domain, but now I'm scared I'll miss a payment instead.

I prepay for three years, but it's not like they'll just suspend your account with no warning, they know how important email is.

prepaying doesn't really solve the problem, it merely delays it. you need to set a reminder or something.

It automatically renews, it's not like I need to be reminded, but they email you anyway.

Is it actually possible to own as opposed to renting?

Not if using the regular popular DNS and want a domain name because you are just paying some entity for the right to include you on a list of addresses and nothing more. However you can own IPs and you can run your own DNS. Though you might have a hard time getting your IP routed to if you dont let it be managed by some ISP.

IP addresses are rented too, e.g.:

https://www.arin.net/resources/fees/fee_schedule/#ipv4-ipv6-...

Are there free email providers that let you bring your own domain?

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