PuzzleInbox vs Instantly Email Infrastructure
Dedicated inbox provider vs sending platform add-on. PuzzleInbox works with any tool — not just Instantly.
Should You Buy Inboxes from Your Sending Platform?
Instantly (instantly.ai) is primarily a sending platform that also sells inboxes as an add-on. This raises a strategic question: should you buy inboxes from the same company that provides your sending platform?
The Platform Lock-In Problem
Inboxes purchased through Instantly are tied to the Instantly ecosystem. If you switch platforms, your inboxes may not come with you.
Puzzle Inbox inboxes are standard Google Workspace and Outlook 365 accounts that connect to any sending platform via OAuth or SMTP/IMAP.
| Feature | Puzzle Inbox | Instantly Inboxes |
|---|---|---|
| Provider type | Dedicated infrastructure | Platform add-on |
| Platform flexibility | Any tool (OAuth/SMTP) | Tied to Instantly |
| Quality consistency | Uniform | Varies by source |
| Google Workspace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outlook 365 | ✓ | Limited |
| Pre-warmed | ✓ | Some options |
| DNS control | Full visibility | Limited visibility |
Verdict: Separate your infrastructure from your sending platform. Buy inboxes from a dedicated provider like Puzzle Inbox and connect them to whichever sending tool fits your workflow.