> If I have a domain from namecheap, and an email address with that domain, can I transfer it to something solid like outlook or gmail? My idea of how email works is really fuzzy.

Yes you can. You'll need to:

- Setup the account with the new provider (note: that most providers including I believe outlook and gmail will charge a monthly fee for using a custom domain). I recommend Fastmail.

- "Add the domain" with the provider (which will mean they're expecting mail from it on their end

- Update a bunch of DNS records to point to your new provider. This will include MX records as well as things like DKIM and SPF. The provider will likely tell you what you need to set in as part of the previous step.

Ultimately a DNS record tells other email servers how to send email to your domain. So you just need to get an email service at another provide, and update your DNS records. Most providers have instructions on how to do this.

I'd recommend having a look at Fastmail as well.

I just wanted to add another note in favor of Fastmail. I switched from Gmail this year as part of an early new year's resolution and have been far happier with their service thus far. Especially with how aliases are handled.

If only their app and spam filtering weren’t garbage. I made the move from gmail a while ago but it’s been kinda meh tbh.

I've never understood this criticism.

You can use any email client you like.

I use and like Fastmail but yes their spam filter both catches legit e-mail and lets some spam through. I’d say overall it’s a bit more of the former than the latter.

1) you will need to point the DNS MX records to office365 or gsuite or fastmail or any other service

2) sign up with that service and input the domain name, do the rest of the configuration.

There is a huge blurry overlap between domain registrar and hosting services these days. It sounds like you are using Namecheap for both. I would highly recommend using domain registrars as ONLY domain registrars and having other things hosted elsewhere.

It's a guided process for Google apps for business and very simple.

yes that is entirely possible, don't know if it will actually prevent this though, as the issue is that they have the domain.