Microsoft 365 Email Setup & Office 365 Alternatives for Small Businesses

For Microsoft 365, the MX record should point to the mail protection host shown in your Microsoft admin centre, for example example-com.mail.protection.outlook.com.

Remove old MX records that point to a Plesk, cPanel, or hosting mailbox server unless you are deliberately running a hybrid setup.

For a Microsoft-only setup, SPF should normally be v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all. Use one SPF record only; multiple SPF TXT records can cause failures.

DKIM should be enabled in Microsoft 365 with the two selector CNAME records Microsoft provides. DMARC can then sit on top of SPF and DKIM to tell receivers what to do when authentication fails.

Add a CNAME for autodiscover pointing to autodiscover.outlook.com. Without it, users may still be able to sign in, but Outlook setup and profile repair become less reliable.

If old mail clients still send through mail.yourdomain.com, they will fail SPF once your SPF authorizes only Microsoft 365.

On Plesk, local mail can keep trying to deliver mail for your domain inside the server even after public MX records point to Microsoft 365.

If the same server receives mail for other domains, also check its DNS resolver cache. A stale resolver can reject valid Microsoft 365 messages because it still sees an old SPF record.

Use one Microsoft MX record, one Microsoft SPF TXT record, one autodiscover CNAME, two Microsoft DKIM CNAMEs, and one DMARC TXT record.

Keep the website A record unchanged if the website is still hosted elsewhere. Moving email to Microsoft 365 does not require moving the website.

Looking for an alternative to Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) email? Our Outlook-compatible business email service brings together email, shared calendars and contacts, with synchronisation across supported computers and mobile devices. Keep Outlook and connect your team, with help choosing and setting up the right email service for your business.

This is a separate hosted email option. The Microsoft 365 DNS instructions above apply to Exchange Online. Screenshots and phone synchronisation in the advert are illustrative.

What is an alternative to Office 365 business email?

An Outlook-compatible hosted email service can provide business email, shared calendars and contacts as an alternative to Microsoft 365 email. It is a separate service and does not automatically include Microsoft desktop Office apps, Teams or OneDrive. Compare the features, storage and support your business needs.

Can I keep using Outlook with an Office 365 email alternative?

Yes, with a service that supports your version of Outlook. Our hosted email platform supports native desktop Outlook connections through MAPI/HTTP without an additional connector. Outlook licensing is separate, and we check the exact client and version before migration.

What does Exchange ActiveSync synchronise?

Exchange ActiveSync synchronises email, calendars and contacts between a compatible mobile application and the email server. Supported phone applications can keep appointments and contact details updated across connected devices.

Is ActiveSync the same as EWS or MAPI?

No. ActiveSync is commonly used for mobile synchronisation. Exchange Web Services (EWS) and MAPI/HTTP are different connection protocols used by supported clients and applications. Desktop Outlook support should be checked separately from mobile ActiveSync support.

Can my team share calendars, contacts and mailboxes?

Our hosted email option supports shared calendars, shared contact folders and shared mailboxes. Access permissions determine what each person can see or change. We help configure the appropriate sharing settings for your team.

Can you migrate email from Plesk or Microsoft Exchange?

Existing email can be migrated from an IMAP server, such as a Plesk mail server, or imported from supported Exchange exports. Calendars, contacts, shared folders and permissions require separate planning. We assess the source system, test the migration and agree the switch before changing mail routing.

Should I choose Microsoft 365 or an Outlook-compatible alternative?

Choose based on the complete service you need. Microsoft 365 may suit a business that wants its broader application suite. An Outlook-compatible email alternative may suit a business focused on email, calendars, contacts and a chosen hosting arrangement. Compare total costs, compatibility, security, backups and support.