G Suite Legacy Free Edition Alternative

Google discontinued the legacy G Suite free edition, forcing users to migrate to paid Google Workspace plans. ImprovMX provides a free alternative for using custom domain email addresses, with email forwarding to your existing Gmail or other email accounts.

Important: Existing G Suite history, subscriptions, calendar invites, and Play purchases cannot be transferred to new accounts. Export any important data before migrating.

Step 1: Create Free Google Accounts

Set up individual free Google accounts (regular @gmail.com accounts) for each user who was previously on G Suite legacy. These will be the destination addresses for your forwarded emails.

Step 2: Create an ImprovMX Account

1. Go to improvmx.com and create a free account
2. Add your domain name
3. Specify a primary forwarding email for account management
4. Additional aliases can be configured later

Step 3: Access Your Domain Registrar

Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider to configure your DNS records. ImprovMX provides detailed documentation for popular registrars in the DNS setup guides.

Step 4: Remove Previous Google MX Records

Delete all existing MX records associated with your G Suite legacy configuration. These typically look like:

• aspmx.l.google.com
• alt1.aspmx.l.google.com
• alt2.aspmx.l.google.com
• And similar Google mail servers

Step 5: Add ImprovMX MX Records

Add the following MX records for your domain:

Type	Host	Value	Priority
MX	@	mx1.improvmx.com	10
MX	@	mx2.improvmx.com	20

Step 6: Add ImprovMX SPF Record

Add a TXT record for SPF authentication:

• Type: TXT
• Host: @
• Value: v=spf1 include:spf.improvmx.com ~all

Step 7: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Before generating an app password, ensure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on your Google account:

1. Go to Google Account Security
2. Enable 2-Step Verification if not already active

Step 8: Generate an App Password

Create an app password to use with Gmail's "Send mail as" feature:

1. Go to Google App Passwords
2. Select Other (Custom name) as the app type
3. Enter a name like ImprovMX alias
4. Click Generate and save the password for the next step

Step 9: Add Your Domain Email to Gmail

Configure Gmail to send emails from your custom domain address:

1. Open Gmail and go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings
2. Navigate to the Accounts and Import tab
3. Under Send mail as, click Add another email address

Step 10: Configure Sender Information

1. Enter your name and your custom domain email address (e.g., you@yourdomain.com)
2. Ensure Treat as an alias is unchecked
3. Click Next Step

Step 11: Enter SMTP Configuration

Configure the SMTP settings to send through Gmail:

• SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 587
• Username: Your full Gmail address (e.g., yourname@gmail.com)
• Password: The app password generated in Step 8
• Secured connection: TLS (enabled by default)

Click Add Account.

Step 12: Confirm Ownership

1. Gmail will send a confirmation email to your custom domain address
2. Since ImprovMX is now forwarding your emails, this will arrive in your Gmail inbox
3. Click the confirmation link or enter the verification code

Step 13: Send Emails from Your Custom Domain

You're all set! When composing a new email in Gmail:

1. Click the From field
2. Select your custom domain email address from the dropdown
3. Send your email — it will appear to come from your custom domain

Tip: In Gmail settings, you can set your custom domain address as the default "Send mail as" address.

What You Get with ImprovMX

• Free tier: Email forwarding at no cost for basic usage
• Premium features: SMTP sending, webhooks, and higher forwarding limits on paid plans
• Privacy: ImprovMX does not sell your data; emails are deleted immediately after forwarding

Need Help?

If you need assistance with your migration, contact support@improvmx.com — we're happy to help!