What are the ways to create an email on a domain purchased from Namecheap?

Question

Email

There is a domain purchased on Namecheap, now you need mail. Namecheap provides this service for a fee. What are my options? I understand correctly - I need an SMTP server for this (and specify these settings with Namecheap) - my own or third-party?
What free options are there?
1. Suppose I have my own VPS. Theoretically, I can set up an SMTP server and link my Namecheap domain to it? What else do I need for this (it seems I need a DNS server then)? What are the negative aspects of such a solution (IP in black, for example, the complexity of settings)?
2. Some services provide these services for free - i.e. I have a domain from a third company, and they provide an SMTP server service, for example?
3. There are no options like Google Apps used to be now, except for Zoho?
4. What else can you think of? And where am I wrong in what I wrote?

Answer 1

It is strange that no one has answered this question for 3 years.
The domain also needs primary dns. There are no problems with this, I did it on the server that I had at home, in my desk drawer :) Everything works.
But it didn't work that way with mail. Raised the mail server. The reception worked well. And when sending a significant part of the letters did not reach or fell into spam. There is a so-called "reverse zone check". Maybe I didn't remember the exact term. In general, there is a check where the letter comes from - protection from spammers. Perhaps this can be somehow won through the provider, but I was already too lazy. Since it was just a sporting interest. There are simpler ways to use mail on your domain:
1. Many hosters allow you to host a mail server. Many even with a web interface. Everything works, I tried it. pop3/smtp/imap - just works. The web interface is simple, but poor, compared to the usual Yandex or Google.
2. Both Yandex and Google allow you to link your domain. This is the easiest way. You use the usual interface, only the domain is yours. As a rule, it is free if there are few addresses. This is how I use mail now on my domain on Yandex. Many, even large organizations, do this. Simple and convenient. The domain can be unlinked and transferred to another server at any time.