Which IP should you choose for email campaigns? If you're sending over 100,000 emails monthly, a dedicated IP offers better control and deliverability. For smaller volumes, shared IPs are more affordable and easier to manage. Here's a quick breakdown:
Key Differences:
| Feature | Shared IP | Dedicated IP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower, included in plans | Higher, $24.95–$250/month |
| Reputation | Shared with others | Fully controlled |
| Setup | Ready to use | Requires warm-up |
| Best For | Low to moderate senders | High-volume senders |
Quick Tip: If you're scaling email campaigns or need consistent deliverability, a dedicated IP is worth the investment. For smaller operations, shared IPs provide a cost-effective solution.
The cost differences between dedicated and shared IPs go beyond the monthly fees. Each option comes with its own expense structure, which can significantly affect your email marketing budget.
Dedicated IPs come with higher costs since they’re reserved exclusively for one user. In the U.S., prices typically range from $24.95 to $250 per month per IP, depending on the provider and service level. For example:
Additionally, there are indirect costs, such as warming up the IP and ongoing monitoring, which can add to the overall expense. Now, let’s look at how shared IP pricing compares.
Shared IPs are designed with cost efficiency in mind. Most email service providers include shared IPs as part of their basic plans, with no extra charges. By spreading infrastructure and maintenance costs across multiple users, shared IPs keep expenses low.
For instance, Amazon SES illustrates this affordability. A customer sending 250,000 emails per month on shared IPs might pay just $25.77 in total charges. This amount covers outgoing messages, data transfer, and incoming email processing. Shared IPs also avoid additional costs like warm-up procedures, as the provider handles reputation management and deliverability.
Dedicated IPs are significantly pricier than shared IPs, especially at lower email volumes. However, they may become more cost-effective per email at very high volumes, even though the absolute cost remains higher. Some providers offer discounts for annual commitments; for example, Brevo charges $251 per year for a dedicated IP, averaging about $21 per month.
Infraforge provides dedicated IPs at $99 per month, a plan that includes automated DNS setup, pre-warmed domains, and API integration - helping to reduce technical complexities.
The tipping point where dedicated IPs make sense financially is usually around 100,000 to 200,000 emails per month. Below this threshold, the fixed costs of dedicated IPs often result in a higher cost-per-email, making shared IPs the more economical choice for smaller-scale campaigns.
When deciding between dedicated and shared IPs, it's not just about cost - performance and deliverability play a major role. Your choice of IP can directly influence how well your emails reach their intended recipients.
Dedicated IPs give you complete control over your sender reputation, leading to more predictable email deliverability. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) evaluate your emails solely based on your own sending habits and history.
"Dedicated IPs allow full control over sending reputation. Using a dedicated IP puts the customer in the driver's seat because solely their own data, engagement, and sending practices drive the IP's reputation." - Salesforce Help
However, this level of control comes with challenges. Dedicated IPs require consistent email volumes and a warm-up period of 4–6 weeks to establish a solid reputation.
To ease these hurdles, Infraforge offers pre-warmed domains and automated DNS setup, simplifying the process of managing a dedicated IP. Their $99 monthly service includes tools for reputation management, helping businesses maintain consistent deliverability. This isolation also makes it easier to diagnose and resolve deliverability issues.
Shared IPs are a cost-effective option, but they come with shared reputation risks. Your deliverability is influenced not only by your own practices but also by the actions of others using the same IP.
"With a shared IP, your reputation is at the mercy of your sending cohorts. If they follow email best practices, you can reap the benefits of an IP address with a high reputation. But if they don't, there's little you can do to ensure high delivery rates." - Jesse Sumrak, Twilio
While service providers monitor shared IP pools to minimize risks, you have no control over the reputation issues caused by other users. Troubleshooting deliverability problems becomes more complicated, as it’s hard to pinpoint whether issues stem from your campaigns or someone else’s.
Here’s how dedicated and shared IPs stack up across key performance factors:
| Factor | Dedicated IPs | Shared IPs |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation Control | Fully controlled by your practices | Shared with other users |
| Deliverability Consistency | Predictable and based on your actions | Variable due to other users' behavior |
| Blacklisting Risk | Lower risk and easier to resolve | Higher risk and harder to address |
| Performance Monitoring | Clear link between actions and results | Difficult to isolate performance issues |
| Issue Resolution | Faster and more straightforward | Complex and time-consuming |
For businesses sending over 100,000 emails annually, dedicated IPs often deliver superior long-term results by allowing them to build a strong, independent sender reputation. On the other hand, shared IPs are a practical choice for smaller senders, who can benefit from the collective good practices and reputation management provided by their service provider.
As your business grows and email volumes climb, the financial implications of choosing between dedicated and shared IPs become increasingly important. Knowing how these costs evolve with volume - and understanding the infrastructure demands - can help you make smarter decisions about your email strategy. Let’s dive into how costs scale and the role of automation in managing infrastructure.
When it comes to scaling email operations, the financial impact varies significantly between shared and dedicated IPs. Shared IPs typically come with steady costs as your email volume increases since they’re often included in your email service provider’s pricing plans. However, this stability can mask potential risks. Shared IPs expose you to deliverability issues caused by other users on the same IP, which can lead to lost leads and reduced conversions.
Dedicated IPs, on the other hand, require a higher upfront investment - usually between $100 and $250 per month per IP - but they offer more control and predictable costs as your volume grows. According to Netcore research, businesses need to send at least 1 million emails per month to make a dedicated IP worthwhile. Below this threshold, ISPs lack sufficient data to build a strong sender reputation, which can hinder deliverability.
As your email volume surpasses this threshold, you may need to add more dedicated IPs to maintain performance. Each new IP requires a warm-up period to build its reputation, which temporarily adds complexity and cost. However, the long-term benefits - better deliverability and reduced risk of blacklisting - often outweigh these initial hurdles.
For large-scale operations, the hidden costs of shared IPs become evident. While they may seem budget-friendly at first, reputation problems tied to shared usage can erode savings through lost opportunities and lower campaign performance.
Managing a dedicated IP setup has traditionally been a resource-intensive task. Tasks like configuring DNS, warming up IPs, and monitoring reputation demand technical expertise, making dedicated IPs less practical for smaller businesses.
This is where automation changes the game. Infraforge, for example, simplifies email infrastructure management with automation tools that eliminate much of the technical burden. The platform can automate tasks like domain and mailbox setup in just 5 minutes, a process that would otherwise take weeks to complete manually.
Here’s how Infraforge reduces management complexity:
| Management Aspect | Manual Setup | Infraforge Automation |
|---|---|---|
| DNS Configuration | Hours of technical effort | 5-minute automated setup |
| Domain Warm-up | 4–6 weeks of gradual increases | Pre-warmed domains ready now |
| Multi-IP Management | Manual coordination required | Automated provisioning |
| Technical Expertise | High-level administration | Only basic knowledge needed |
Infraforge’s pricing also makes dedicated IPs more accessible. At $17 per month per mailbox slot (minimum of 10 slots) and $99 per IP monthly, businesses can tap into enterprise-grade email infrastructure without the hefty costs of hiring technical staff or consultants.
The platform further reduces ongoing costs with features like bulk DNS updates, automated SSL certificate management, and real-time deliverability monitoring. These tools help catch and resolve issues before they impact your campaigns. As Anton L., a founder using Infraforge, shared:
"The ease of use and simplicity make managing email infrastructure a breeze, and the pricing is spot on - far more reasonable than some of the other options."
In terms of overall cost, Infraforge stands out. For 200 mailboxes, it costs $651 per month, compared to $1,680 for Google Workspace or $1,200 for Microsoft 365. These savings grow as your email operations scale.
Beyond cost, Infraforge’s automated monitoring and alerting systems ensure smooth operations, helping you avoid deliverability issues that could disrupt campaign performance. This balance of affordability and reliability positions Infraforge as a strong option for businesses looking to scale their email infrastructure effectively.
Selecting the right IP strategy - dedicated or shared - depends on factors like your email volume, budget, technical know-how, and overall business objectives. Here’s a breakdown of when each option makes the most sense, helping you strike the right balance between cost, control, and ease of management.
Dedicated IPs are a smart move if you consistently send over 100,000 emails per month. Ideally, high-volume senders - those reaching around 1 million messages monthly - are best positioned to maintain a dedicated IP's reputation and reap the benefits.
This option is particularly valuable for businesses where email deliverability directly affects revenue. For example, e-commerce brands running urgent campaigns, SaaS companies with critical onboarding emails, or agencies managing multiple client campaigns often find the investment in dedicated IPs worthwhile. The improved inbox placement rates alone can justify the cost.
For enterprise-level organizations, dedicated IPs also support more advanced needs. These include custom authentication protocols and compliance with strict regulatory requirements. Additionally, if you have consistent sending practices and want full control over your email reputation, dedicated IPs are the way to go. However, keep in mind that this control comes with responsibility - you’ll need to maintain proper list hygiene, a steady sending pattern, and the resources to monitor performance closely.
If your email volume is lower - fewer than 100,000 emails per month - shared IPs are usually the better choice. At lower volumes, a dedicated IP might appear inactive to mailbox providers, which can hurt your deliverability rather than help it.
Shared IPs are especially practical for businesses with fluctuating email volumes or those just starting out. They’re cost-effective, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere as you grow. For new senders without an established reputation, shared IPs offer the advantage of leveraging the collective good standing of other users.
Choosing between dedicated and shared IPs requires a careful look at four key factors. This systematic approach ensures you align your choice with your goals for performance, cost, and deliverability.
After weighing the costs and performance factors discussed earlier, the choice between a dedicated IP and a shared IP ultimately depends on your business's unique needs and limitations. As one industry expert puts it, "The choice between a dedicated IP and a shared IP is not a one-size-fits-all decision. It requires a thoughtful analysis of your specific needs and constraints".
Your email volume plays a key role in this decision. If you're sending fewer than 100,000 emails per month, shared IPs offer a more budget-friendly option, with prices ranging from $2.49 to $15 per month. However, if you're sending higher volumes, dedicated IPs provide better control and improved deliverability.
It’s important to note that dedicated IPs come with additional setup and maintenance costs. The investment is often worthwhile for businesses where email deliverability directly impacts revenue, such as e-commerce brands running critical campaigns, SaaS companies with essential onboarding sequences, or agencies managing multiple client accounts. On the other hand, businesses with fluctuating email volumes or those just starting out may find shared IPs a more cost-effective choice.
When deciding on the best IP strategy, consider these factors:
Ultimately, your decision should align with your email volume, budget, technical capabilities, and business goals. Whether you choose a shared or dedicated IP, maintaining consistent sending practices and closely monitoring your email performance will be key to your program's success.
When choosing between a dedicated IP and a shared IP for your email campaigns, it boils down to three main factors: control, cost, and email volume.
A dedicated IP offers complete control over your sender reputation, which is crucial for maintaining strong deliverability rates. This option works best for those sending a large volume of emails consistently, as it ensures your reputation isn’t influenced by other users. That level of control, however, comes at a price - dedicated IPs can cost anywhere from $10 to over $100 per month, depending on the provider.
On the other hand, a shared IP is often bundled with hosting or email service plans, making it a more budget-friendly option for smaller campaigns. The trade-off? Since the IP is shared with other users, your email deliverability could suffer if someone else mismanages their account.
Your decision should align with your email volume, budget, and how much control you need over deliverability. For more advanced needs, platforms like Infraforge provide dedicated IPs, pre-warmed domains, and other tools designed to enhance large-scale email campaigns.
Dedicated IPs come with a higher price tag compared to shared IPs, typically costing between $20 and $100 per month, depending on the provider. In contrast, shared IPs are often bundled into hosting plans, making them a budget-friendly option for smaller email campaigns.
That said, dedicated IPs offer significant advantages for those sending high volumes of emails. They give you more control over your sender reputation and email deliverability. However, there are some hidden costs to consider, such as setup fees, ongoing maintenance, and the time and effort needed to properly warm up the IP. Shared IPs, while cheaper, carry the risk of deliverability problems caused by other users on the same IP who may have poor sending practices. This can negatively impact your email campaigns.
For businesses running large-scale email operations, platforms like Infraforge provide valuable tools, including dedicated IPs, automated DNS setup, pre-warmed domains, and multi-IP provisioning. These features can help improve deliverability and simplify the management of your email campaigns.
Email volume is a key factor when it comes to the performance of dedicated IPs. Consistently sending a high volume of emails helps establish a strong sender reputation with Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which, in turn, boosts email deliverability. With dedicated IPs, businesses have complete control over their sender reputation, avoiding the risks that come with shared IPs, where other senders' actions can negatively impact deliverability. This control is especially valuable for large-scale email campaigns, where maintaining a dependable sender reputation is essential to prevent issues like high bounce rates.
Tools like Infraforge make managing dedicated IPs much easier. They handle complex tasks such as automated DNS setup, pre-warmed domains, and real-time monitoring, ensuring that emails are sent from trusted sources. Infraforge also supports effortless scaling, multi-domain management, and advanced email authentication protocols - key features for businesses managing high-volume email outreach. By reducing the technical workload, these tools allow teams to concentrate on crafting effective campaigns while improving deliverability and overall performance.