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Mailing lists, forwarders and newsletters: which one do you need?

Sending to a group can mean three very different things. Using the wrong tool can get your domain blocked. Here is how to tell them apart.

IDX·October 31, 2026·1 min read

"I need to email a group" can mean an internal team list, a shared inbox, or a marketing newsletter to thousands of customers. Each needs a different tool.

Forwarders: one address, a few recipients

A forwarder sends anything addressed to info@ to one or more existing mailboxes. It is ideal for role addresses with one or two people behind them. It does not store mail itself.

Mailing lists: internal groups

A mailing list (team@, branch-cairo@) delivers a message to every member of a group. Members can usually reply to the whole list. Use them for internal communication and small, known groups of partners. Team email plans often include a number of mailing lists for exactly this.

Newsletters and marketing: bulk email services

Sending promotions to hundreds or thousands of customers is a different job. It needs:

  • Permission from recipients, and an unsubscribe link in every message.
  • Handling of bounces and complaints.
  • Sending infrastructure with its own reputation, so marketing does not harm your day-to-day email.

Use a dedicated newsletter or bulk email service for this, authenticated for your domain with SPF and DKIM. Do not send marketing campaigns from your normal mailbox or from shared hosting; hourly limits exist for good reason, and a few complaints can get your domain's normal email filtered as spam.

A quick guide

  • Two people answer info@: forwarder or shared mailbox.
  • The whole office needs announcements: mailing list.
  • Customers receive offers: newsletter service.

At IDX

IDX team email plans include mailing lists, 10 on Grow, 20 on Business and 30 on Enterprise, alongside mailboxes and forwarders. If you are planning email campaigns, read why emails land in spam first.

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