Google Workspace (Gmail with your domain)
A real mailbox: you send and receive as hello@yourstore.com.au in normal Gmail. Paid per user, with free aliases and team features. The right choice for most shops.
How to set up a Gmail business email for your shop
To get a Gmail business email like hello@yourstore.com.au, sign up for Google Workspace and use the domain your shop already has (or buy one during sign-up). Prove you own the domain by adding a TXT record, then add Google's MX record (smtp.google.com, priority 1) where your domain is managed and click Activate Gmail. A free @gmail.com account can't send as your own domain. Google Workspace has a 14-day free trial and is priced per user per month, and each person can have up to 30 extra addresses (aliases), like orders@ or wholesale@, at no extra cost. Below are the steps, what to do if Shopify manages your domain, the records that keep your emails out of spam, and how to set up support@ for a small team.
Updated 30 October 2026
Your options for a shop email address
Shopify email forwarding plus free Gmail
Free if Shopify manages your domain. Email to info@yourstore.com arrives in your Gmail, but your replies come from your @gmail.com address. Fine for a brand-new shop.
A free @gmail.com address
yourstore@gmail.com costs nothing and works, but it looks less trustworthy to customers and can't send as your own domain.
Gmail's 'Check mail from other accounts' (avoid)
Pulling a mailbox from another email host into Gmail with POP. Google is removing it: no new users after the first quarter of 2026, and existing users can keep it until January 2027. Don't build your shop's email on it.
Free Gmail vs Google Workspace vs Shopify forwarding
| What you get | Free @gmail.com | Google Workspace | Shopify forwarding + Gmail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address customers see | yourstore@gmail.com | hello@yourstore.com.au | hello@yourstore.com.au |
| Replies come from | yourstore@gmail.com | hello@yourstore.com.au | Your @gmail.com address |
| Cost | Free | Per user per month, 14-day free trial | Free with a Shopify-managed domain |
| Extra addresses | None | Up to 30 aliases per user, free | Unlimited forwarding addresses |
| Team access | Delegation, up to 10 people | Users, aliases, groups and shared mailboxes | Each address forwards to one inbox |
How to set up a business email with Gmail (Google Workspace)
- Go to Google Workspace's website and start the free trial. Business Starter, Business Standard and Business Plus all include business email; Starter covers email for most shops.
- Enter your business details. When asked about a domain, choose to use the domain your store already uses, or buy a new one.
- Create your first user, for example your own name at your domain, and a password. This account is your admin.
- Verify you own the domain: Google gives you a TXT record to add where your domain is managed. Do this within the first 9 days of the trial, or Google deletes the account within 21 days of sign-up (unless you've set up billing).
- Add Google's MX record where your domain is managed (values below) and delete any other MX records.
- In the Google Admin console, go to Account, Domains, Manage domains, and click Activate Gmail.
- Add your team as users, and add aliases like orders@ for anyone who needs them (Directory, Users, click the person, Add Alternate Emails).
The MX record to add
Add one record with these values. Some providers want a full stop at the end (smtp.google.com.), and some have a preset option for Google. Google says new MX records can take up to 72 hours to work.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | MX |
| Name / Host | @ (or leave blank) |
| Priority | 1 |
| Value / Points to | smtp.google.com |
| TTL | Your provider's default, or 1 |
If Shopify manages your domain
Shopify doesn't host email. It forwards email for domains you bought through or transferred to Shopify, and you can connect another email host such as Google Workspace. Add Google's records in your Shopify admin:
- In Shopify admin, go to Settings, then Domains, and click your domain.
- In the DNS settings section, click Manage, then Add custom record.
- Add the TXT record Google gives you to verify the domain.
- Add the MX record (smtp.google.com, priority 1) and remove any other MX records.
- Update your store's sender email so order notifications come from your new address.
Good to know if you used Shopify forwarding
- Once Google's MX record is live, email for your domain goes to Google Workspace, not Shopify forwarding. Set up the addresses you used (info@, hello@) in Google Workspace as users, aliases or groups before you switch.
- If you bought your domain somewhere else, for example a .com.au from an Australian registrar, add the records there instead. Shopify can't forward email for third-party domains.
- To register a .com.au you need an Australian presence, most commonly an active ABN or ACN.
Stop your shop's emails landing in spam
Google requires everyone sending to Gmail addresses to use SPF or DKIM, and anyone sending more than 5,000 emails a day to Gmail to use SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Set up all three so your replies to customers are less likely to land in spam.
- SPF: add a TXT record (name @) that lists every service sending as your domain. Google's value for Google Workspace and Shopify together is v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:shops.shopify.com ~all. If your domain already has an SPF record, edit it rather than adding a second one, and include your email marketing tool if it sends as your domain.
- DKIM: wait 24 to 72 hours after activating Gmail, then in the Admin console go to Apps, Google Workspace, Gmail, Authenticate email, and click Generate new record (2048-bit if your provider supports it). Add the TXT record it shows, then come back and click Start authentication.
- DMARC: add a DMARC TXT record so receiving servers know what to do with emails that fail SPF or DKIM. Google accepts a policy of none, which is a fine place to start.
Setting up support@ for a small team
- Use one public address for customers, like hello@ or support@, and put the same one on your website, in Shopify notifications and on your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok profiles.
- Just you? Make support@ an alias on your own account. It's free, but only one person can receive an alias.
- Two or more people? Use a Google Group with Collaborative Inbox or a shared mailbox so everyone can see and answer support@. See how to set up a shared inbox in Gmail.
- Turn on an auto reply so customers know you've got their email. See how to set up a Gmail auto reply.
- Save your common answers as templates. See our customer service email templates.
Answering store email with everything else
Your support email is one of four places customers ask questions, alongside Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Paperflower connects to Gmail or Google Workspace and puts support email in one list with your comments and DMs. On Standard, it sorts every message, puts buying questions first and drafts each reply with the customer's Shopify order, tracking and your shipping policy. For email and DMs you press Send; nothing goes out on its own unless you switch that on. Free plans get every message in one list, unsorted, and you write the replies. See how email support works.
How Paperflower is different
Comments are a sales channel, not a chore
Most tools treat comments as noise. Paperflower reads every one, spots buying questions like “do you ship to NZ?” and makes sure they get answered before the customer moves on.
Buying Intent and Opportunity Score
Every conversation gets a score so the people ready to buy come first. You see who to reply to now, and who can wait.
Shopify context in every draft
Order status, shipping and product details are pulled in automatically, so drafts are right the first time and private order details never go out in public.
You stay in control
AI drafts are on and auto-send is off by default. Complaints are escalated to you. Refunds and cancellations always need a human.
Simple pricing
Paperflower starts free with 100 customer interactions a month, no card needed: every message in one list, and you write the replies. AI sorting, reply drafts and spam hiding come with Standard, which is A$47 a month for 3,000 customer interactions, with a 7-day free trial. Human replies are always free. See all plans.
Built for AU and NZ brands
Local time zones, local shipping questions, and support from people who know the market.
Frequently asked questions
Not to send from it. A free Gmail account can receive email forwarded from your domain (Shopify does this free for domains it manages), but your replies come from your @gmail.com address. To send and receive as you@yourstore.com.au in Gmail you need Google Workspace, which has a 14-day free trial.
Google Workspace is priced per user per month, and Business Starter is the cheapest Business plan with custom email. Prices and introductory offers change, so check Google's pricing page for Australia or New Zealand. Aliases like orders@ are free, up to 30 per user.
Adding Google's verification record takes about 10 minutes, and Google says it can take up to an hour to confirm. New MX records can take up to 72 hours to work, and you need to wait 24 to 72 hours after activating Gmail before you can turn on DKIM.
No. Once your MX record points to Google, email for your domain goes to Google Workspace. Set up the same addresses there as users, aliases or groups.
No, any domain works. Many Australian shops use .com.au because local customers recognise it. To register one you need an Australian presence, most commonly an active ABN or ACN.
Not unless you turn that on. By default it drafts a reply and you approve it. You can switch on auto-send for simple, safe questions once you trust the drafts.
Instagram, Facebook and TikTok comments and DMs, support email through Gmail or Google Workspace, and Shopify for order details.
Yes. The Free plan is the basics: 100 customer interactions a month in one list, no card needed, and you write each reply. Standard adds AI sorting, reply drafts and spam hiding, and comes with a 7-day free trial. You can cancel any time. Compare plans.
Start Paperflower free
Connect Instagram, Facebook, email and Shopify in a few minutes. On Standard, AI sorts every message and drafts every reply, you stay in control, and nothing is sent without your say-so unless you switch that on. Free puts every message in one list for you to answer.