Email alias services have evolved from niche privacy tools into essential inbox protection. With data breaches exposing over 14 billion records and spam accounting for nearly 45% of all email, having a layer between your real inbox and the outside world isn’t paranoia — it’s practical hygiene. But with several alias services on the market, choosing the right one can be confusing.
This guide provides a straightforward, feature-by-feature comparison of the most popular email alias services available today. We’ll cover what each service does well, where it falls short, and which one makes sense for different types of users.
Table of Contents
- What to Look for in an Email Alias Service
- Alias Email
- SimpleLogin (by Proton)
- addy.io (formerly AnonAddy)
- Apple Hide My Email
- Firefox Relay
- DuckDuckGo Email Protection
- Quick Comparison Table
- Which One Should You Pick?
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
What to Look for in an Email Alias Service
Before diving into specific services, here are the features that matter most — and why:
- Number of aliases (free and paid) — how many addresses can you create? You’ll want at least one per service you use.
- Custom domains — can you use your own domain (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com)? This matters for professional use and provider independence.
- Anonymous replies — can you respond through the alias without revealing your real email? Essential for maintaining privacy in two-way conversations.
- Tracking protection — does the service strip tracking pixels from forwarded emails? This prevents senders from knowing when and where you read their email.
- Browser extensions — how easy is it to create aliases on-the-fly during web browsing? Extensions should work in your preferred browser.
- Forward to any provider — can you forward to Gmail, Outlook, ProtonMail, or any inbox? Some services lock you into their ecosystem.
- Pricing — what’s genuinely free, and what requires payment?
Alias Email
Alias Email is a focused email aliasing service that prioritizes simplicity, privacy, and broad platform support. It’s been operating since 2020 and has over 35,000 users.
What’s included
- Free plan: 10 aliases, 1 custom domain
- Premium: $3.33/month (annual billing) — unlimited aliases, 2 custom domains
- Anonymous replies: Yes (all plans)
- Tracking protection: Yes (all plans) — strips tracking pixels from forwarded emails
- Browser extensions: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor — the widest browser support of any alias service
- Other features: Send anonymous emails from the dashboard, multiple recipient forwarding, priority email delivery, smart button for quick alias creation
Strengths
The standout feature is that tracking protection and custom domains are included on the free plan — features most competitors charge for. Browser support is the broadest in the market (8 browsers), and the interface is clean and simple. Anonymous replies work on all plans.
Limitations
Not open source. No self-hosting option. The free tier is limited to 10 aliases (generous for casual use but may not be enough for power users who want per-service aliases).
Best for: Users who want the best all-around value with tracking protection and custom domains included free. Particularly strong for users on less common browsers (Opera, Brave, Tor).
SimpleLogin (by Proton)
SimpleLogin is an open-source alias service acquired by Proton (the company behind ProtonMail) in 2022. It’s deeply integrated with the Proton ecosystem.
What’s included
- Free plan: 10 aliases, no custom domains
- Premium: $4/month (annual) — unlimited aliases, custom domains
- Anonymous replies: Yes
- Tracking protection: No (not a built-in feature)
- Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- Other features: PGP encryption for forwarded emails, directory-based aliases (catch-all), API access, open source
Strengths
Open source and auditable. PGP encryption integration is unique among alias services. Tight integration with Proton ecosystem (ProtonMail, ProtonVPN, Proton Drive). If you already use ProtonMail, SimpleLogin is included with some Proton plans.
Limitations
No tracking protection. No custom domains on the free plan. Browser extension support is limited to 3 browsers. Being owned by Proton means your alias service and email provider are the same company — a single point of trust/failure depending on your perspective.
Best for: Proton ecosystem users, open-source advocates, and users who want PGP encryption on forwarded emails.
addy.io (formerly AnonAddy)
addy.io is an open-source alias service with a particularly generous free tier and a self-hosting option for technical users.
What’s included
- Free plan: Unlimited shared-domain aliases (with bandwidth limits), no custom domains
- Premium: From $1/month — custom domains, increased bandwidth, more features
- Anonymous replies: Yes
- Tracking protection: No
- Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox
- Other features: Self-hosting option, full API, open source, GPG/OpenPGP encryption
Strengths
The most affordable paid option (starting at $1/month). Self-hosting option gives technically inclined users full control. Unlimited aliases on the free plan (though with bandwidth caps). Open source and well-documented API.
Limitations
No tracking protection. Limited browser support (2 browsers). Free aliases use shared domains that some services may flag. The interface is functional but less polished than competitors. Self-hosting requires significant technical knowledge.
Best for: Technical users who want self-hosting, budget-conscious users who want the cheapest paid option, and developers who want API access.
Apple Hide My Email
Apple’s built-in alias feature for iCloud+ subscribers. For a detailed comparison, see our full Apple Hide My Email vs. dedicated alias services analysis.
What’s included
- Free: Sign in with Apple aliases only (during app/website signups)
- Paid: Included with iCloud+ ($0.99/month for 50GB plan — also includes iCloud storage and other features)
- Anonymous replies: Yes
- Tracking protection: No (Apple Mail Privacy Protection is a separate, Apple Mail-only feature)
- Browser extensions: Safari only
- Limitations: Random addresses only (no custom names), no custom domains, Apple ecosystem required, iCloud forwarding only
Strengths
Seamlessly integrated into Apple ecosystem. Sign in with Apple makes alias creation effortless for app signups. Apple’s privacy reputation is strong.
Limitations
Random addresses only — no readable alias names. No custom domains. Safari only. Forwards to iCloud only. Useless outside Apple ecosystem.
Best for: Users fully committed to the Apple ecosystem who want basic aliasing as part of their iCloud+ subscription.
Firefox Relay
Mozilla’s alias service, designed for Firefox users.
What’s included
- Free plan: 5 aliases
- Premium: $3.99/month — unlimited aliases, 1 custom domain, phone number masking
- Anonymous replies: Yes
- Tracking protection: Yes (premium only — strips tracking pixels)
- Browser extensions: Firefox only
- Other features: Phone number masking on premium (unique feature)
Strengths
Tight Firefox integration. Phone number masking is a unique feature not offered by other alias services. Backed by Mozilla, a trusted name in internet privacy.
Limitations
Firefox-only browser extension — useless if you use Chrome, Safari, or Edge. Only 5 free aliases (the lowest of any service). Tracking protection is premium-only. No custom domains on the free plan.
Best for: Firefox loyalists who want tight browser integration. The phone masking feature is valuable for people who also want to protect their phone number.
DuckDuckGo Email Protection
DuckDuckGo’s email alias feature, available through the DuckDuckGo browser and apps. For more details, check out our guide on DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
What’s included
- Price: Free (no paid tier)
- Aliases: 1 personal address (@duck.com) + unlimited random aliases
- Anonymous replies: No
- Tracking protection: Yes — strips trackers from forwarded emails
- Browser extensions: DuckDuckGo browser/extension only
- Limitations: No custom domains, no anonymous replies, limited to DuckDuckGo ecosystem
Strengths
Completely free. Good tracking protection. You get a clean personal @duck.com address. Integrated into DuckDuckGo’s browser and extension.
Limitations
No anonymous replies — a major gap for two-way communication. Limited to DuckDuckGo’s ecosystem. No custom domains. Random aliases aren’t customizable.
Best for: DuckDuckGo users who want free tracking protection on forwarded emails and don’t need to reply through aliases.
Quick Comparison Table
| Service | Free Aliases | Paid Price | Custom Domains | Tracking Protection | Anonymous Replies | Browsers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alias Email | 10 | $3.33/mo | Free + paid | All plans | Yes | 8 browsers |
| SimpleLogin | 10 | $4/mo | Paid only | No | Yes | 3 browsers |
| addy.io | Unlimited* | From $1/mo | Paid only | No | Yes | 2 browsers |
| Apple HME | App signups | $0.99/mo† | No | No | Yes | Safari |
| Firefox Relay | 5 | $3.99/mo | Paid only | Paid only | Yes | Firefox |
| DDG Email | Unlimited | Free | No | Yes | No | DDG only |
*addy.io free aliases use shared domains with bandwidth limits. †Apple iCloud+ includes storage and other features beyond aliasing.
Which One Should You Pick?
Here’s a decision framework based on your priorities:
- Best all-around value? Alias Email — tracking protection and custom domains included free, widest browser support.
- Want open source? SimpleLogin or addy.io.
- On a tight budget? addy.io starts at $1/month. DuckDuckGo is completely free.
- All-in on Apple? Hide My Email works fine for basic needs within the ecosystem.
- Firefox devotee? Firefox Relay integrates seamlessly, and phone masking is a unique bonus.
- Already use ProtonMail? SimpleLogin may be included with your Proton plan.
- Want self-hosting? addy.io is the only option with a robust self-hosting path.
- Need tracking protection on free plan? Alias Email or DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
The most important thing isn’t which service you choose — it’s that you start using one. Any alias service is dramatically better than using your real email for everything.
Key Takeaways
- All reviewed services provide the core benefit: forwarding addresses that hide your real email. The differences are in features, ecosystem support, and pricing.
- Alias Email offers the broadest browser support (8 browsers) and includes tracking protection + custom domains on the free plan — features others charge for.
- SimpleLogin and addy.io are open source, appealing to transparency-focused users. SimpleLogin integrates with the Proton ecosystem; addy.io offers self-hosting.
- Apple and Firefox solutions are tightly integrated with their respective ecosystems but limited outside them.
- DuckDuckGo offers free tracking protection but lacks anonymous replies — a dealbreaker for two-way alias usage.
- The best alias service is the one that fits your browser, inbox, and workflow. Try a free tier and see how it integrates into your daily routine.
FAQs
Can I switch between alias services without losing my aliases?
If you’re using the service’s domain (e.g., @alias.email or @simplelogin.com), switching means your old aliases stop working. If you’re using a custom domain, you can point it to a different service — your addresses stay the same, only the backend changes. This is a strong argument for using custom domains from the start.
Are email alias services safe?
Reputable alias services don’t read or store the content of forwarded emails. They process messages in transit and forward them immediately. Open-source services (SimpleLogin, addy.io) can be independently audited. As with any service, review their privacy policy and reputation before committing.
Can I use multiple alias services at the same time?
Yes. Many users use Apple Hide My Email for iOS app signups and a dedicated service for everything else. There’s no conflict between services — each operates independently.
What happens to my aliases if the service shuts down?
If the service closes, aliases on their domain stop working. Aliases on your custom domain can be migrated to another service by updating DNS records. This is why custom domain support is a valuable feature — it makes you portable.
The alias service market offers options for every budget, browser, and privacy requirement. The most important step is picking one and starting — every signup you make with an alias instead of your real email is one less vector for spam, breaches, and data exploitation. Ready to try the service with the broadest browser support and tracking protection included free? Get started with Alias Email.
