Tired of using a plain @gmail.com for business, newsletters, portfolios, or professional emails? You can set up unlimited custom email addresses (like [email protected] or [email protected]) completely free β€” no monthly fees for Google Workspace or similar services.

This guide became super popular after a viral X (Twitter) thread, but many people get stuck because they don't have a domain yet, or they try the wrong SMTP settings for sending emails.

This complete beginner-friendly tutorial covers everything from getting your first domain (free or very cheap) β†’ setting up incoming mail with Cloudflare β†’ sending from Gmail. No tech experience needed β€” follow along step by step.

Why This Setup Is Awesome (and What to Know)

Pros

  • Totally free after you get the domain (domain can cost $0–$12/year)
  • Unlimited email addresses/aliases (e.g., info@, support@, yourname@)
  • Emails arrive in your regular Gmail inbox
  • Send emails from your custom address directly in Gmail (web, mobile app, etc.)
  • Perfect for creators, freelancers, students, indie hackers, or side projects

Limitations

  • Cloudflare handles receiving only β€” we use Gmail to send
  • Outgoing emails use Gmail's servers β†’ good deliverability, but not perfect for massive cold emailing (may hit spam folders sometimes)
  • Gmail free account limit: ~500 emails/day
  • For super high volume or perfect branding, you could add a cheap SMTP service later

If you're just starting β€” this is one of the best zero-cost setups in 2026.

Step 0: Get Your Domain Name (Free or Super Cheap Options)

You need a domain name first (like yourname.com). Here's how to get one easily:

Option 1: Free for Students (Best if Eligible)

If you're a student (university, college, bootcamp, etc.):

  1. Go to education.github.com/pack
  2. Sign up or log in with your GitHub account β†’ verify student status (usually with school email or ID)
  3. Once approved (usually instant or 1–2 days), scroll to the "Domains" section
  4. Choose an offer:
  • Namecheap: Free 1-year .me domain (great for personal sites/emails)
  • Name.com: Free 1-year on extensions like .dev, .app, .live, .studio, .rocks, etc.
  1. Redeem the offer β†’ follow their instructions to register the domain
  2. Done! You get a real domain for free for 1 year (renewal is usually cheap afterward).

Option 2: Very Cheap for Anyone (~$1–$10 First Year)

Popular beginner-friendly registrars with promos (as of February 2026):

  • Namecheap (recommended for simplicity): Often $0.99–$6.49 for first-year .com, .site, .online, etc. Use promo codes like 99SPECIAL for 99Β’ domains or check current deals at namecheap.com/promos. Free WHOIS privacy included.
  • Porkbun: At-cost pricing, beginner dashboard, often $5–$10 for .com.
  • Cloudflare Registrar (if you plan to use Cloudflare anyway): At-cost renewals, no markup (~$10–$11/year for .com).
  • Hostinger or Wix: Sometimes bundle a free domain for 1 year with cheap hosting (but you don't need hosting here β€” just the domain).

Steps to register (example with Namecheap):

  1. Go to namecheap.com
  2. Search for your desired name (e.g., rdjarbeng.com or mybrand.online)
  3. Add to cart β†’ apply any promo code at checkout
  4. Create account β†’ pay (credit card, PayPal, etc.)
  5. After purchase, you'll get login access to manage the domain

Tip: Choose .com, .me, .dev, or .app β€” they look professional and are widely accepted.

Step 1: Add Your Domain to Cloudflare & Enable Email Routing (Incoming Mail)

Cloudflare is free and secure β€” it will handle receiving emails and forward them to your Gmail.

  1. Go to dash.cloudflare.com and sign up for a free account (email + password).
  2. After logging in, click Add a site (or Onboard a domain).
  3. Enter your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) β†’ Continue.
  4. Cloudflare scans your existing DNS (if any) β†’ select the Free plan β†’ Continue.
  5. Cloudflare gives you two nameservers (something like ns1.cloudflare.com and ns2.cloudflare.com).
  6. Go back to your domain registrar (Namecheap, Porkbun, etc.):
  • Find "Nameservers" or "DNS" settings
  • Change from default to Custom β†’ paste the two Cloudflare nameservers
  • Save

  1. Wait 5–60 minutes (sometimes up to 24 hours) for changes to propagate β†’ refresh Cloudflare dashboard until it says "Active".

  2. In Cloudflare dashboard β†’ select your domain β†’ go to Email β†’ Email Routing.

  3. Click Get started or Enable β†’ Cloudflare adds the needed MX records automatically.

  4. Go to Email β†’ Routes or Custom addresses β†’ Create address.

  5. Test: Send an email to your new custom address β†’ it should appear in Gmail within seconds!

Note: You can create unlimited addresses β€” all forward to the same Gmail (or different ones).

Step 2: Prepare Gmail to Send (Must-Do: App Password)

Gmail needs extra security for sending from custom addresses.

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com/security
  2. Turn on 2-Step Verification if not already enabled (use your phone).
  3. Search for App passwords β†’ click it.
  4. Select app: Mail Select device: Other (name it e.g., "Custom Email")
  5. Generate β†’ copy the 16-character password (save it somewhere safe β€” no spaces).

Step 3: Add Your Custom Email to Gmail (Send From It!)

Important: Do not use Cloudflare's server for sending β€” use Gmail's.

  1. Open Gmail β†’ click the gear icon β†’ See all settings β†’ Accounts and Import tab.
  2. Under Send mail as β†’ click Add another email address.
  3. Fill in:
  • Name: Your name or brand
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Uncheck "Treat as an alias" β†’ Next
  1. SMTP settings:
  • SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
  • Port: 587
  • Username: Your full Gmail (e.g., [email protected])
  • Password: The App Password from Step 2
  • Use TLS: Yes (usually default)
  1. Click Add Account.
  2. Gmail sends a verification code to your custom email β†’ it forwards to Gmail inbox.
  3. Find the code β†’ enter it β†’ verified!

Now compose emails in Gmail β†’ click the "From" dropdown β†’ choose your custom address.

Step 4: Boost Deliverability (Optional but Helpful DNS)

In Cloudflare DNS β†’ add/update these TXT records:

  • SPF (prevents spam flags):
  v=spf1 include:_spf.mx.cloudflare.net include:_spf.google.com ~all

(Name/Host: @)

  • DMARC (monitor reports):
  v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]

(Name/Host: _dmarc)

No DKIM from this free setup β€” that's normal.

Testing & Tips

  • Send test emails to friends β†’ check inbox/spam.
  • Set your custom address as default in Gmail if you want.
  • Mobile: Works perfectly in Gmail app.
  • Stuck on verification? Regenerate App Password (common issue).
  • Propagation slow? Wait and refresh β€” normal for new domains.

Alternatives If You Need More

  • Zoho Mail free tier: Full features + DKIM (limited storage)
  • Paid SMTP (e.g., SMTP2GO free tier) for better sending reputation
  • Self-hosted if advanced

This Cloudflare + Gmail trick is still one of the top free email hacks in 2026. Got it working? Share your custom email or any questions below!

Happy emailing!

Media mentions:

Also posted on dev.to for Richard Djarbeng

PS: Got this email, 5th March, 2026:

Screenshot of an email titled: Note of Appreciation on Insightful Email Setup Tutorial Made Available on rdjarbeng.com

Glad to know this post helped someone πŸ™‚