You **can** get a **free** Google account **with** a custom domain **without** Google Apps.

In order to do this, you need to run a SMTP server on your domain (to receive verification mails) and create a Google account for an address at this domain.

1. Set up the (temporary) SMTP server.
   * Anything that listens on port 25 and acts like a SMTP server will do (e.g. [simplesmtp][1] in Node.js). Something as simple as netcat might also work.
   * Set up the MX records to point to your own server. Choose a minimal TTL for your DNS settings, to prevent your records from being cached for too much time.
2. Create a new Google account for your custom domain. 
   1. **Google Homepage -> Sign In -> Create an Account -> "I prefer to use my current email address"** -> https://accounts.google.com/SignUpWithoutGmail?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

   2. Now, put your desired address in the box.
     [![][2]](https://accounts.google.com/SignUpWithoutGmail?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)

   3. Click on "Next step".

   4. A verification email will be sent to your (temporary) SMTP server. Paste the link from the email in your browser.

   5. You now have a (free) **Google account for a custom domain**.

3. Log in to your Gmail account (**different from the account you just created**). Take care to not "accidentally" create a new Gmail account for your current account, because otherwise your custom domain will become an alias, and the new Gmail account will be your primary address ([more info][3]). If you don't have an existing Gmail account, register a new Google account.

4. Go to Settings -> Accounts -> **Add another email address.** and follow the steps to register an account (see [**Sending** mail from a different address][4] at Gmail Help for more details).

5. You will receive another mail at your (temporary) SMTP server. Use the code or link in this email to activate your account.

6. Change your the MX records at your DNS settings to make sure that all mails to your address at your custom domain name will be **received** by Google's mail servers (see [MX record values][5]).

7. When the TTL of your old MX records expire, your mail for your custom address will be sent to Gmail.

8. At this point, your (temporary) SMTP server is redundant. Feel free to stop the SMTP server.

From now on, at your primary Gmail account you will have the option to send mail from your custom domain:

![][6]

If you wish, you can set this domain as your default at (Gmail) Settings -> Accounts.

  [1]: https://github.com/andris9/simplesmtp
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/YeoqB.png
  [3]: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/176347
  [4]: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/22370
  [5]: https://support.google.com/a/answer/174125
  [6]: https://i.sstatic.net/xVSNh.png