Google Workspace vs SMTP: which should I choose?
If you're setting up a new domain and aren't sure which provider to pick, here's the short version:
Choose SMTP if you want the widest sequencer compatibility, the largest available mailbox capacity (new/additional Google Workspace allotment isn't currently purchasable — see below), and you don't need a real Gmail/Google inbox UI or Google-specific tooling.
Choose Google Workspace only if you already have unused Google Workspace slots on your plan and specifically need a genuine Google inbox — for example, a native Gmail interface, Google's own apps, or a sequencer integration that authenticates via Google OAuth rather than SMTP/IMAP credentials.
Both providers send and warm up the same way from your sequencer's perspective (SMTP credentials or OAuth, depending on provider), go through the same Maildoso deliverability infrastructure, and cost the same per mailbox — the difference is the mailbox's underlying inbox provider, not sending quality.
The choice is made per domain at setup time and isn't easy to undo later — a domain assigned to one provider has to be switched (see below), which means a fresh warmup for any mailboxes recreated under the new provider. If you're unsure, SMTP is the safer default to start with.
A single domain serves either Google Workspace or Maildoso SMTP — not both. Google and SMTP use different DNS/MX configurations, so each domain has to be assigned to one of them, and the split is not automatic.
On combo plans (for example 150 Google + 150 SMTP), if all of your domains were connected to Google Workspace during setup, the SMTP half of your plan has no domains to land on yet — even though your SMTP allotment is intact. This is why you may see "all my domains show Google, I can't use my SMTP."
What to do:
Decide how many domains you want on Google vs SMTP.
Contact support — we set up the SMTP-side domains for you on the backend (switching some domains from Google to SMTP, or adding SMTP domains).
Alternatively, you can use a new domain that hasn't been configured with SMTP mailboxes if you prefer not to remove the existing setup.
If you created SMTP mailboxes by mistake and want Google Workspace on the eligible domains (or vice versa), let support know — see the note below on current Google Workspace availability. Not every domain qualifies for Google Workspace in the first place — see Why are some of my domains not eligible for Google Workspace?
Can I switch an existing domain/mailbox's provider (SMTP ↔ Google Workspace)?
SMTP → Google Workspace: this is only possible if you already have unused Google Workspace slots on your plan. Google Workspace availability (current status): Google Workspace mailboxes are still supported on plans that already include Google Workspace allotment; new or additional Google Workspace allotment is not currently available to purchase, so we can't create extra Google Workspace slots to convert a domain that has no spare allotment. Contact support and we'll check whether you have unused slots available, or tell us how many Google Workspace mailboxes you need and we'll confirm the options. See Google Workspace mailboxes: availability, deleting, changing the address, and the Admin mailbox.
Google Workspace → SMTP: unaffected, still fully supported — contact support with the domain(s) you want switched and we'll make the change on the backend.
Note that unlinking the domain from Google Workspace is sufficient to enable SMTP configuration, and there is no need to delete or re-add the domain.
The switch itself is free — we don't charge extra just to convert a domain's provider.
Once the subscription reflects the correct mix, mailboxes on the affected domain are recreated under the new provider. Since this is a new mailbox on the new provider, treat it like any other new mailbox: a fresh warmup is needed.
This is a manual, staff-performed change — not something you do yourself in the dashboard. Contact support with your account email, the domain(s), and the direction you want to switch, and we'll take care of the rest. If you need a broader custom SMTP + domains mix rather than a single switch, see Changing or switching your plan (custom Google Workspace and domain setups).