Best Site for Email Aliases
Summary
The best site for email aliases is SimpleLogin — open source, owned by Proton since 2022, generous free tier, optional self-host. addy.io is the strongest open-source alternative with a stronger self-host story. DuckDuckGo Email Protection is genuinely free with tracker-stripping built in. Firefox Relay is the easiest path for Firefox users. Proton Pass aliases use the SimpleLogin backend, bundled with Proton subscriptions. Distinct from [[temporary-email]] (disposable inboxes) and [[anonymous-email]] (privacy-focused providers like Proton Mail) — aliases are permanent forwarding addresses you keep and revoke per-merchant.
Top 5 at a glance
| # | Site | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SimpleLogin | Open-source email-alias service owned by Proton with generous free tier and self-host option | Free for 10 aliases, $30/yr Premium for unlimited; included in Proton Unlimited |
| 2 | addy.io (formerly AnonAddy) | Open-source alias service with strong self-host story and custom-domain features | Free for 25-50 aliases, paid from ~$1/month |
| 3 | DuckDuckGo Email Protection | Free email-alias service with built-in tracker stripping | Free, unlimited aliases |
| 4 | Firefox Relay | Mozilla-backed aliases tightly integrated with Firefox | 5 aliases free, Premium $0.99/month for unlimited and custom subdomain |
| 5 | Proton Pass aliases | Email aliases bundled with Proton Pass password manager | Limited free, full feature in Pass Plus ($4/mo) or Proton Unlimited |
Detailed rankings
SimpleLogin
Open-source email-alias service owned by Proton with generous free tier and self-host option
The default email-alias service in 2026. Use the free tier to start, upgrade to Premium or bundle with Proton Unlimited once you hit the cap.
Pros
- Open source under MIT license
- Acquired by Proton in 2022 — sustainable backing
- Self-host option using the public Docker image
- Reply-through-alias preserves your real address from the recipient
- PGP encryption support for forwarded mail
- Custom domain support on Premium
Cons
- Free tier capped at 10 aliases — generous but eventually hit
- Self-host requires comfort with Docker and a domain
- Proton acquisition was a positive but consolidation reduces ecosystem diversity
- Some merchants block known SimpleLogin domains
Price: Free for 10 aliases, $30/yr Premium for unlimited; included in Proton Unlimited
Sources: simplelogin.io, github.com
addy.io (formerly AnonAddy)
Open-source alias service with strong self-host story and custom-domain features
The right pick when self-hosting matters or you want more aliases on the free tier. SimpleLogin is the smoother managed experience; addy.io is the more sovereign one.
Pros
- Open source under AGPL
- Self-host is a first-class supported workflow
- Higher free-tier alias count than SimpleLogin
- Custom domains and subdomains on free tier in some configurations
- Bandwidth-based limits on free tier rather than alias count for some flows
- Active maintenance and feature development
Cons
- Smaller user base than SimpleLogin
- Less integrated with a parent ecosystem
- UI is plainer than SimpleLogin
- Recent rebrand from AnonAddy still appears in older docs
Price: Free for 25-50 aliases, paid from ~$1/month
Sources: addy.io
DuckDuckGo Email Protection
Free email-alias service with built-in tracker stripping
The right pick for zero-cost zero-setup aliases with useful tracker stripping. Trust model is weaker than open-source self-host but the price is hard to beat.
Pros
- Genuinely free with no tier limits on alias count
- Strips tracking pixels and trackers from forwarded mail
- Unique @duck.com aliases generated on demand from the browser extension
- Integrated with DuckDuckGo browser and search
- Reply-through-alias supported
Cons
- Closed source — service trust is on DuckDuckGo's reputation
- All mail routes through DuckDuckGo servers in the clear (TLS only, no E2E)
- @duck.com domain is now well-known and some merchants block it
- No custom-domain option
- Long-term commitment to the product depends on DDG's strategy
Price: Free, unlimited aliases
Sources: duckduckgo.com
Firefox Relay
Mozilla-backed aliases tightly integrated with Firefox
The right pick for casual Firefox users who want a few aliases for sign-ups. Power users hit the free cap quickly and should look at SimpleLogin instead.
Pros
- Backed by Mozilla — non-profit operator
- Free tier covers casual use
- Premium tier is cheap by comparison
- Phone-number masking add-on (US/CA) in some plans
- Integrated with Firefox accounts
Cons
- Free tier alias count is the most restrictive of the major services
- Closed source on the server side
- Phone-number masking has been narrowed in availability
- Less feature depth than SimpleLogin or addy.io
Price: 5 aliases free, Premium $0.99/month for unlimited and custom subdomain
Sources: relay.firefox.com
Proton Pass aliases
Email aliases bundled with Proton Pass password manager
The right pick when you already pay for Proton Unlimited and want one subscription to cover Mail, VPN, Pass, and Aliases.
Pros
- Same SimpleLogin backend, integrated into the Pass workflow
- Create alias and password together for new sign-ups
- Bundled with broader Proton services (Mail, VPN, Drive, Calendar)
- Open-source clients (Pass)
Cons
- Pass-Plus or Unlimited subscription needed for full alias features
- Lock-in pressure into the Proton ecosystem
- Free tier alias allowance limited compared to standalone SimpleLogin
- If you only want aliases, standalone SimpleLogin is cheaper
Price: Limited free, full feature in Pass Plus ($4/mo) or Proton Unlimited
Sources: proton.me
How we chose
- Permanent forwarding (not temporary inboxes) — aliases route mail to your real inbox.
- Open source preferred — code public, audits available.
- Self-host option for users who do not trust any provider.
- Reply-through-alias support — replying from the alias without exposing your real address.
- Tracker and pixel stripping where offered.
- Distinct scope from [[temporary-email]] and [[anonymous-email]].
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from temporary email like Mailinator?
Temporary email (covered in [[temporary-email]]) gives you a public throwaway inbox you do not own — useful for one-shot verifications. Email aliases are permanent forwarding addresses you control: when a merchant emails the alias, it forwards to your real inbox; if they spam you or get breached, you delete the alias and the spam stops without affecting your real address. Aliases are long-term identity hygiene; temp mail is one-time.
How is this different from anonymous email providers like Proton Mail?
Anonymous email providers (covered in [[anonymous-email]]) give you a private mailbox at their domain — your full inbox lives there. Email aliases are forwarding addresses that route to whatever mailbox you already use. You can layer both: use Proton Mail as your real inbox, with SimpleLogin aliases in front of it for sign-ups.
Can I reply from the alias?
Yes on SimpleLogin, addy.io, DuckDuckGo, Firefox Relay, and Proton Pass — all support reply-through-alias. You reply to the forwarded mail; the service rewrites the headers so the recipient sees the alias address, not your real one. This is the feature that makes aliases usable for actual conversations, not just receiving.
Why do some merchants block alias domains?
Major alias-service domains (@duck.com, @passmail.net, @anonaddy.me) are well-known. Merchants that want a verified real email — banks, exchanges, some SaaS sign-ups — maintain block lists. Workaround: use a custom domain on SimpleLogin Premium or addy.io. The custom domain is yours and not on any block list.
Should I self-host?
Worth it if you have an existing VPS, comfort with Docker, a domain, and value sovereignty. The catch is email-deliverability: setting up SPF, DKIM, DMARC and getting your IP off shared spam lists is non-trivial. Most users get more reliable mail by trusting SimpleLogin or addy.io's hosted service than by running their own. Self-host is the right answer for users who are already running their own mail server.