People often say they "bought a website", but a working site with email is built from three separate services. They can come from one company or from several, as long as DNS connects them correctly.
In short
| Service | What it is | Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Your address on the internet, registered yearly. | The street address |
| Web hosting | A server that stores your site's files and databases and sends them to visitors. | The building |
| Email hosting | Mail servers that receive, store and send mail for you@yourdomain. | The mailbox |
How DNS ties them together
- The A record of the domain points to the web hosting server.
- The MX records point to the email servers, which can be the same hosting or a separate provider.
- TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) tell other mail servers which senders are allowed.
See DNS record types explained.
One provider or several?
- All with MdmHost: cPanel hosting includes email accounts and webmail, and domains can be registered in the same dashboard. One bill, one support team, DNS set up automatically.
- Split: for example domain at MdmHost, website on MdmHost hosting and mail at Microsoft 365. This works fine; you just add the provider's MX and TXT records in cPanel.
Warning: Each service renews separately. If the domain expires, both website and email stop, even if hosting is paid.
Common questions
Can I move my hosting without changing my domain? Yes. Point the domain to the new host by changing its nameservers or A record; the domain registration stays where it is.
Do I need hosting just for email? You need some email hosting. cPanel hosting includes mailboxes, or you can use a dedicated email provider and only set MX records.