Inbound email comparison
Backup MX vs mail redirection
Both protect inbound email, but they solve different problems: Backup MX covers outages, while mail redirection works around blocked inbound port 25.
Backup MX
Best when your normal mail server sometimes goes offline.
- Acts as a secondary MX.
- Queues mail during outages.
- Retries delivery when the primary returns.
Mail redirection
Best when your ISP blocks inbound SMTP port 25 but you still want to self-host.
- Acts as the primary MX.
- Receives on port 25 for you.
- Forwards to your server on an alternate port.
Quick comparison
| Need | Backup MX | Mail redirection |
|---|---|---|
| Server outage protection | Yes | Some spooling support |
| Inbound port 25 blocked | No | Yes |
| Primary MX role | No | Yes |
| Best fit | Continuity during downtime | Self-hosting through blocked networks |
How to choose
If mail normally reaches your server and you mainly fear outages, choose Backup MX. If outside servers cannot reach your server on port 25 at all, choose mail redirection.
Need the right inbound protection?
DNSExit covers both continuity during outages and blocked-port self-hosting scenarios.