SmartXHosting's Business Email on your domain is built on the Axigen mail platform and offered in three account types: Business, Premium and VIP. Each tier carries a distinct feature set — from straightforward mailbox access for most staff, through integrated calendars and task lists for knowledge workers, to full mobile push sync and shared folders for executives. This reference walks through each tier, the decision logic UK SMEs apply when mixing them across a headcount, and the technical limits that matter most in everyday use.
All three account types share the fundamentals: your own domain (yourcompany.co.uk), unlimited mailbox storage, server-side authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), TLS transport, integrated anti-spam and anti-malware, UK data residency, and webmail access from any modern browser. They differ in productivity features, mobile sync, send limits and concurrent-connection allowances.
Account types can be mixed freely on the same domain — your finance team might use Business, your knowledge workers Premium, and your directors VIP, all under a single Client Area subscription.
Who it is for: Staff who need reliable, secure email without extra organiser tooling — retail floor staff, warehouse teams, driver supervisors, front-desk administrators, volunteer coordinators in a charity.
Feature set:
Send and size limits:
Good fit when the mailbox is primarily a communication tool. Not a good fit when the user needs to schedule meetings with colleagues via shared calendars or requires mobile push sync.
Who it is for: Knowledge workers, project managers, sales staff, accountants — anyone whose day is structured around meetings, deadlines and tasks. The majority of UK SME headcount typically lands on Premium.
Feature set — everything in Business, plus:
Raised limits:
Who it is for: Senior management, field sales, executive assistants, mobile workers who live out of their phone and need sub-minute mail delivery without opening the mail app.
Feature set — everything in Premium, plus:
Top-tier limits:
| Feature | Business | Premium | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailbox storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Webmail (desktop & mobile) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IMAP / POP3 / SMTP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SPF / DKIM / DMARC / MTA-STS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-spam & anti-malware (Bitdefender) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA / MFA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar / Tasks / Notes (Organiser) | No | Yes | Yes |
| CalDAV / CardDAV | No | Yes | Yes |
| Shared free/busy within domain | No | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange ActiveSync push | No | No | Yes |
| Shared folders | No | No | Yes |
| Max attachment size | 15 MB | 35 MB | 70 MB |
| Recipients per hour | 150 | 300 | 600 |
| Concurrent IMAP/POP3 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| UK data residency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Most UK businesses do not put everyone on the same tier. A typical allocation:
| Business type | Headcount | Typical split |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting practice | 12 | 2 VIP (partners), 8 Premium (accountants), 2 Business (admin) |
| Retail with 3 shops | 20 | 3 VIP (owner + managers), 2 Premium (HR + finance), 15 Business (shop staff) |
| Law firm | 8 | 3 VIP (partners), 4 Premium (solicitors), 1 Business (reception) |
| Marketing agency | 15 | 2 VIP (directors), 12 Premium (account team + creatives), 1 Business (office manager) |
| Parish council | 3 | 1 VIP (clerk), 2 Premium (councillors using calendars) |
| Small contractor | 5 | 1 VIP (owner), 4 Business (trade staff) |
Tier changes are non-disruptive. From your SmartXHosting Client Area:
Downgrading removes access to tier-specific features (calendar data stays in place when moving VIP→Premium but EAS push stops; moving Premium→Business hides calendar from the webmail UI, though the underlying events are retained until you request deletion).
For UK SMEs weighing Business/Premium/VIP against Microsoft 365:
| Aspect | SmartXHosting tiers | Microsoft 365 licences |
|---|---|---|
| Email-only entry tier | Business — simplest | Exchange Online Plan 1 |
| With calendar & office integration | Premium | M365 Business Basic / Standard |
| With mobile push sync | VIP | All M365 tiers (included) |
| UK data residency | Included, UK-based | Configurable; default routes vary |
| Includes Office apps | No (separate eM Client licence available) | Business Standard / Premium |
| CLOUD Act exposure | None | Yes (US parent) |
| Typical monthly cost per user | £1.25–£7 | £4.20–£19.70 (post-July 2026 UK pricing) |
Q: Can I try before I commit?
A: SmartXHosting offers a 14-day trial on new Business Email subscriptions. Create a mailbox, send and receive real mail, test eM Client sync — full refund if it does not work for you.
Q: Does "unlimited storage" mean truly unlimited?
A: Yes, within fair-use policy. Individual mailboxes routinely run at 50-200 GB; 1 TB+ mailboxes are supported with no additional charge. The technology is not the constraint.
Q: What if I outgrow 70 MB attachments on VIP?
A: Use a file-share link. Most UK receivers cap inbound at 25-35 MB anyway; a 70 MB attachment may be rejected by the receiver even if you can send it.
Q: Are there discounts for non-profits or charities?
A: Yes. UK registered charities, educational institutions and parish councils receive tiered discounts. Contact SmartXHosting's UK sales team via your Client Area.
Q: What happens at year-end renewal?
A: Subscriptions renew at the same price you paid on the previous term — no surprise increases. You can change tier or cancel at any time.
Q: Do I get a free trial migration from Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
A: Yes. SmartXHosting's UK support runs IMAP migrations for up to 10 mailboxes free of charge on new sign-ups; larger migrations handled as a paid project.