As the founder of VolServer.com, I’ve spent over a decade setting up and managing email systems for small businesses — from solopreneurs to growing teams of 50+. Email isn’t just a communication tool; it’s often your first brand impression.
In this article, I’ll compare two standout email hosting providers tailored to small businesses. These insights come straight from real deployments, migration projects, and client support cases we’ve handled at VolServer.com.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links below may be affiliate links, but we only recommend services we’ve rigorously tested with real clients.
1. Quick Comparison: Workspace by Google vs. Titan Email
We tested Google Workspace and Titan Email — two top contenders for small business email hosting — across four key factors:
- Pricing & Value
- Reliability & Deliverability
- Ease of Use & Features
- Support Quality
TL;DR:
- For growing teams and Google app users, Google Workspace is the all-in-one powerhouse.
- For solopreneurs or budget-conscious teams, Titan Email punches above its weight in value and usability.
👉 At VolServer.com, Titan Email is our top recommendation for most budget-conscious SMBs, while Google Workspace wins for scalability and productivity integration.
2. Pricing & Plans
Google Workspace
- Business Starter: $6/user/month — 30GB mailbox, full Google apps suite.
- Business Standard: $12/user/month — 2TB storage, enhanced Meet & Drive.
- Business Plus: $18/user/month — eDiscovery, Vault, more admin controls.
Includes Gmail, Docs, Meet, Calendar, Drive — ideal for teams using Google tools.
Titan Email
- Starter: $1.50/user/month — 10GB mailbox, basic features.
- Business: $2.45/user/month — 30GB mailbox, calendar, templates.
- Pro: $3.95/user/month — 50GB, priority support, advanced search.
Usually bundled free with hosting (e.g., Hostinger), or sold standalone.
Cost Comparison
Provider | Entry Plan | Storage | Collaboration Tools | True Cost for 5 Users |
---|---|---|---|---|
Google Workspace | $6/user | 30GB | Full suite | $30/month |
Titan Email | $2.45/user | 30GB | Basic | $12.25/month |
💡 Watch for: Google’s pricing scales with users. Titan offers better per-user savings but less suite integration.
3. Deliverability & Reliability
Google Workspace
- Uptime Guarantee: 99.9% SLA
- Deliverability: Near-perfect inbox placement in tests
- Anti-Spam/Phishing: Advanced AI filtering (same engine as Gmail)
- Global Data Centers: Multiple U.S., EU, Asia regions
Titan Email
- Uptime Guarantee: 99.9%
- Deliverability: ~98% inbox placement in our tests (excellent for price)
- Spam Control: Solid filters, plus SPF/DKIM/DMARC by default
- Data Centers: Hosted via AWS or hosting partners
At VolServer.com, Titan’s deliverability has improved drastically in recent years. Still, Google leads slightly in spam filtering accuracy and inbox targeting — especially for marketing-heavy businesses.
4. Features & Usability
Feature | Google Workspace | Titan Email |
---|---|---|
Mailbox Storage | 30GB–2TB/user | 10–50GB/user |
Webmail UI | Gmail (fast, modern) | Clean, user-friendly |
Mobile & Desktop | Native apps & IMAP | Mobile app + IMAP support |
Calendars/Contacts | Seamless across devices | Yes, with sharing options |
Collaboration Tools | Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat | Shared contacts, templates |
Security | 2FA, encryption at rest | 2FA, TLS encryption |
Titan’s interface is beginner-friendly, while Gmail’s deep integrations win for team productivity.
5. Customer Support
Google Workspace
- 24/7 phone, email, and chat support
- Fast response, but tiered
- Knowledgeable, but some cases routed via bots
Titan Email
- Email + live chat (8 AM–8 PM EST)
- Ticket-based outside those hours
- Support team understands SMB needs well
At VolServer.com, Titan support has been more hands-on and faster for small teams needing urgent mailbox fixes.
6. Migration & Onboarding
Google Workspace
- Free tools for IMAP/POP migration
- Google Admin panel for MX setup
- Migration tool is reliable but may need IT help
Titan Email
- Free migration tool from Gmail, Outlook, Zoho
- DNS setup wizard via hosting panel
- VolServer has seen <15 minutes of downtime during migrations
VolServer Pro Tip: We walk small business clients through DNS, MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup step by step — regardless of provider. Titan’s guided migration tool is ideal for non-technical users.
7. Pros & Cons
✅ Titan Email:
Pros
- Very affordable for startups
- Easy setup with most web hosts
- Clean webmail interface
- Good deliverability for price
- Free or low-cost migration tools
Cons
- Limited productivity tools
- Business-hour support only
- No drive or real-time docs
✅ Google Workspace:
Pros
- Best-in-class Gmail experience
- Seamless integration with Docs, Drive, Meet
- Excellent spam and phishing protection
- Scales well as teams grow
- Top-tier uptime and SLA
Cons
- Higher cost per user
- Complex Admin panel for new users
- Some support tiers can be frustrating
8. Use Cases: Which Email Host Fits Your Small Business?
👤 Solopreneurs
Choose Titan Email for low-cost, no-frills email with reliable performance.
Client example: A freelance designer used Titan via Hostinger and never needed IT help.
👥 Micro-Teams (2–10 users)
Google Workspace shines with collaborative tools like shared docs and calendars.
Client example: A digital agency scaled from 3 to 12 users with Google Docs and Meet at the core.
🏢 Growing SMBs (10–50 users)
Google Workspace again — better admin controls, data loss protection, and security compliance.
Client example: A boutique law firm moved to Workspace for Vault and compliance auditing.
9. Final Recommendation
After years of helping small businesses get their email sorted, here’s our take at VolServer.com:
- ✅ Best for Most Small Teams on a Budget: Titan Email (via Hostinger or standalone)
- ✅ Best for Growing SMBs & Collaboration: Google Workspace
Each serves a purpose — and your use case matters most.
At VolServer.com, we offer 1:1 consultation for small businesses choosing and setting up email hosting. From DNS configuration to data migration, we’ve got your back.
Ready to simplify your business email? Get started with Titan or Google Workspace — and let us guide you.