Email Sending Limits for Shared Hosting Plans

This article explains iCoreHosting’s shared hosting email limits, how shared IPs work, and how to maintain good deliverability while complying with Malaysia regulations.

Table of Contents

1. Why Email Sending Limits Are Required
2. Email Sending Limits by Hosting Plan
3. Business Email Hosting Sending Limits
4. Shared IP Infrastructure & Delivery Impact
5. External Receiving Rate Limits
6. Anti-Spam Firewalls & Security Gateways
7. Fair Use & Anti-Abuse Restrictions
8. SLA Enforcement
9. Best Practices to Improve Deliverability
10. External SMTP Relay Recommendations
11. Dedicated Hosting vs Shared Hosting
12. Malaysia Acts & Regulatory Compliance
13. Reliability, Availability & Responsibility
14. Responsibilities (Client & iCoreHosting)
15. Disclaimer
16. Contact Information

1. Why Email Sending Limits Are Required

Shared hosting uses a shared outbound IP. Limits protect server stability, prevent abuse, and ensure fair usage so all customers enjoy reliable email service.

2. Email Sending Limits by Hosting Plan

• GX10GB / GX20GB: 100 emails/hour
• GX100GB: 300 emails/hour
• Biz Unlimited: 500 emails/hour
• Dedicated Hosting: 1000+ emails/hour

Sending 1 email to 20 recipients counts as 20 emails.

3. Business Email Hosting Sending Limits

iCoreHosting Business Email Hosting plans also include hourly sending limits to ensure server stability and fair use across all users.

• Standard Email Hosting: 100 emails/hour
• Premium Email Hosting: 300 emails/hour
• Enterprise Email Hosting: 500 emails/hour

If you require higher hourly sending limits, an upgrade to a higher Business Email Hosting tier, Shared Hosting with larger limits, Dedicated Hosting, or an External SMTP Relay is recommended.

If You Do Not Plan to Upgrade

You can still send to a larger list by spreading out your sending activity. This prevents your account from hitting the hourly limit.

• Split your email list into smaller groups.
• Send every 2 hours to allow the hourly limit to reset.
• Prepare your own list using Excel or Google Sheets.
• Track what has been sent and continue until all recipients are covered.
• Do not send all at once to avoid deferrals or temporary blocks.

For higher reliability or larger lists, please consider External SMTP Relay services such as Amazon SES, MailChannels, SendGrid, or Mailgun.

4. Shared IP Infrastructure & Delivery Impact

All customers on the same server share the same IP. If one domain triggers spam filters, all domains may experience delayed or rejected emails.

5. External Receiving Rate Limits

Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Zoho and many providers impose their own limits on each sending IP. When a shared IP reaches these limits, all users may face temporary delays.

6. Anti-Spam Firewalls & Security Gateways

Incoming and outgoing mail is filtered by systems such as Spamhaus, Barracuda, Proofpoint, Cloudmark, and Microsoft/Google filters. These systems may block or slow email if patterns look suspicious.

7. Fair Use & Anti-Abuse Restrictions

Shared hosting is for normal daily communication only. Bulk newsletters, marketing blasts, purchased lists, or automated CRM sending are not allowed.

8. SLA Enforcement

• Exceeding hourly limits may cause emails to queue or defer.
• Abusive patterns may trigger temporary blocks.
• Compromised accounts may be restricted until secured.

9. Best Practices to Improve Deliverability

• Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly.
• Use clean, opt-in mailing lists.
• Avoid sending large batches at once.
• Do not forward all mail to Gmail/Outlook to avoid spam loops.

10. External SMTP Relay Recommendations

For any high-volume sending, automated notifications, CRM systems, newsletters, membership updates, or marketing-related communication, we strongly recommend using a dedicated external SMTP relay. These services are designed to handle bulk workloads safely and maintain strong IP reputation for better inbox delivery.

• Amazon SES – High deliverability, cost-effective, suitable for bulk and transactional email.
• MailChannels – Specialised in preventing IP blacklisting; excellent for shared hosting users.
• SendGrid – Easy API integration, great for applications, CRM, and marketing automation.
• Mailgun – Developer-friendly, powerful analytics, ideal for system or app-generated email.
• Brevo / Sendinblue – Simple interface with built-in email marketing tools.

External SMTP relays ensure higher reliability, protect shared IP reputation, and provide significantly better deliverability for large or frequent email sending needs.

12. Malaysia Acts & Regulatory Compliance

• CMA 1998: No misuse of network, no spamming.
• PDPA 2010: Recipients must consent to receive emails.
• Content Code: Messaging must be accurate and responsible.

13. Reliability, Availability & Responsibility

iCoreHosting maintains stable servers and monitors shared IP health, but inbox delivery depends on external providers’ rules, global spam filters, and client sending behaviour.

14. Responsibilities (Client & iCoreHosting)

To maintain a stable and reliable shared email environment, both iCoreHosting and clients share certain responsibilities. This ensures fair use, consistent performance, and compliance with industry and Malaysia regulatory standards.

iCoreHosting Responsibilities

• Server Stability: Maintain secure, high-availability hosting infrastructure and monitor email system performance.
• IP Reputation Protection: Continuously monitor and safeguard the shared outbound IP against abuse or suspicious activity.
• Security Filtering: Scan outgoing mail for malware, compromised accounts, and spam-like behaviour.
• Fair Use Enforcement: Apply limits evenly to ensure no single domain disrupts the shared environment.
• Technical Guidance: Provide support for SPF, DKIM, DMARC setup and general deliverability recommendations.
• Normal Business Email Usage Only: All iCoreHosting networks, shared IPs, and hosted email services are strictly intended for standard business or personal communication only. Marketing emails, bulk membership messaging, large notification lists, newsletters, promotional blasts, or any automated high-volume sending are not permitted. Clients requiring such usage are advised to use external SMTP relay services such as Amazon SES, MailChannels, SendGrid, Mailgun, or Brevo.

Client Responsibilities

• Use Email Responsibly: Send normal business or personal communication only. Shared hosting is not designed for bulk newsletters, automated campaigns, or CRM blasts.
• Maintain Recipient Quality: Ensure all recipients are valid and have agreed to receive your emails. Remove bounced or outdated addresses regularly.
• Safeguard Mailbox Security: Use strong passwords, keep devices free from malware, and avoid sharing login credentials to prevent unauthorised sending.
• Follow DNS Authentication Guidelines: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly to help improve inbox placement and reduce spam-related issues.
• Respect Fair Use Policies: Avoid sudden large bursts of emails which may impact other users on the same shared IP.
• Comply With Malaysia Regulations: Ensure email practices follow PDPA consent requirements and CMA guidelines for responsible messaging.

By following these simple guidelines, clients help maintain a healthy and stable email environment for all users on the shared hosting platform.

15. Disclaimer

Email delivery is influenced by external mail systems, spam filters, and rate limits outside iCoreHosting’s control. iCoreHosting cannot guarantee inbox placement but will assist with best practices.

16. Contact Information

• Support Portal
• Knowledge Base
• Billing & Technical Support: Office Hours Only

For assistance with email configuration or deliverability, please contact our support team.