Advice Request Lycos 404

[Cleo]

My dad is barely over losing his Excite email account, and now it seems his old Lycos account is defunct.
Are there any suggestions for a non-cookie-cutter modern email provider?

I've tried Ctemplar and Skiff myself, so I'm not the one to choose a stable email for him. He doesn't like Gmail and needs SMTP and IMAP.

C.

 

[Marko :)]

My dad is barely over losing his Excite email account, and now it seems his old Lycos account is defunct.
Are there any suggestions for a non-cookie-cutter modern email provider?

I've tried Ctemplar and Skiff myself, so I'm not the one to choose a stable email for him. He doesn't like Gmail and needs SMTP and IMAP.

C.

Outlook.com is simple to use and supports IMAP and SMTP.

 

[Parkinsond]

It's a surprise Lycose and Excite are still alive!

 

[Bot]

My dad is barely over losing his Excite email account, and now it seems his old Lycos account is defunct.
Are there any suggestions for a non-cookie-cutter modern email provider?

I've tried Ctemplar and Skiff myself, so I'm not the one to choose a stable email for him. He doesn't like Gmail and needs SMTP and IMAP.

C.

Hello,

If he wants something modern that is not Big Tech, still supports real IMAP and SMTP, and is likely to be around for the long haul, the safest move is usually a paid provider plus a custom domain. Paid email tends to be the “boring but reliable” path, and a domain keeps you from being stranded again if a provider shuts down.

Providers worth looking at (all support IMAP and SMTP)​

Fastmail (my top “just works” pick)

• Full IMAP/SMTP support for any mail client. (Fastmail)
• Very strong option if he wants to use Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook, etc.
• Great if you buy a domain (example: dad@lastname.com) and host it there. Fastmail supports domains and aliases. (Fastmail)

Mailbox.org (privacy-focused, Germany)

• Straightforward IMAP/SMTP setup and works well with standard clients. (Mailbox Knowledge Base)
• Supports using your own domain on plans that include it. (Mailbox Knowledge Base)

Runbox (long-running, Norway)

• IMAP and SMTP are first-class, and they explicitly support email hosting for your own domain. (Runbox Help)

iCloud Mail (if he is ok with an Apple ID)

• Apple documents IMAP and SMTP support for iCloud Mail (no POP). (Apple Support)
• It is not “niche,” but it is stable and plays nicely with mail clients.

“Good but with a catch” option​

Proton Mail

• Excellent privacy, but traditional mail clients use IMAP/SMTP through Proton Mail Bridge (a local app that bridges the connection). (Proton)
• Custom domain support requires a paid plan. (Proton)
  If he wants simple IMAP/SMTP without extra software, Proton may annoy him.

Options to avoid given your constraints​

• Tuta (formerly Tutanota): does not support IMAP/POP/SMTP by design. (Tuta)
• Zoho Mail Free: IMAP is not available for newly signed-up free users, so it can turn into a surprise limitation. (Zoho)
• Also, your Skiff experience is exactly the risk with smaller providers: Skiff sunset and forwarding deadlines are a real-world example. (skiff.com)

The “never lose it again” setup (highly recommended)​

1. Buy a custom domain (cheap yearly cost) and create an address like dad@lastname.com.
2. Host that domain with Fastmail, Mailbox.org, or Runbox. If you ever switch providers, you keep the address and just update DNS.
3. Use an email client he already likes (Thunderbird is usually easiest for non-technical users) via IMAP/SMTP.
4. Turn on 2FA and save recovery codes somewhere safe.

Quick picks depending on what matters most​

• Most painless everyday experience: Fastmail (Fastmail)
• More privacy-focused, still conventional: Mailbox.org (Mailbox Knowledge Base)
• Domain hosting with a smaller, long-running provider: Runbox (Runbox Help)
• Stable “set it and forget it” if Apple is fine: iCloud Mail (Apple Support)

If you want one clean recommendation for a dad who misses the “old internet” email vibe but needs modern reliability and standard protocols: Fastmail + a custom domain is hard to beat.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

My dad is barely over losing his Excite email account, and now it seems his old Lycos account is defunct.
Are there any suggestions for a non-cookie-cutter modern email provider?

I've tried Ctemplar and Skiff myself, so I'm not the one to choose a stable email for him. He doesn't like Gmail and needs SMTP and IMAP.

C.

If you want a free provider then it is Outlook. If paid then Fastmail and Startmail. Fastmail basic plan does not support IMAP (only works with Fastmail app).

Startmail relies heavily on Imap as they do not have a dedicated Android app as they see no need for it.

Now I am using Startmail with Thunderbird on both desktop and mobile.