The 7 Best Email Alias Services in 2026: Complete Comparison

Email aliases protect your real address from spam, data breaches, and unwanted tracking. But with dozens of services available in 2026, which one should you choose? We compared 7 of the best options in depth.

What to look for in an email alias service

Before diving into the comparison, here are the key criteria:

• Custom domain support: Can you use your own domain (e.g. @yourdomain.com)?
• Web inbox: Can you read and reply to emails without exposing your real address?
• Privacy: Where is data hosted? Is the code open source?
• Free plan generosity: What do you get without paying?
• API & automation: Can developers create aliases programmatically?

1. SMTPy — Best for Custom Domains & Full Inbox

Best for: Privacy-conscious users, developers, freelancers, small teams

SMTPy is an open-source, self-hostable email alias service that goes beyond simple forwarding — it includes a full web inbox for reading and replying to emails, advanced analytics, webhooks, and a complete REST API.

• ✅ Custom domain from the free plan (1 domain, 5 aliases)
• ✅ Full web inbox (read, reply, compose)
• ✅ Self-hosted or managed (data in France)
• ✅ REST API + webhooks + MCP Server for AI integration
• 💰 Pro: €9/month (unlimited aliases, 5 domains)

Compare SMTPy vs SimpleLogin →

2. SimpleLogin — Best for Proton Mail Users

Best for: Proton Mail users, those wanting shared domain aliases

SimpleLogin (acquired by Proton in 2022) is one of the most popular alias services. It's open source and integrates natively with Proton Mail.

• ✅ Free plan with 10 aliases on shared domains
• ⚠️ Custom domain requires paid plan (€4/month)
• ✅ Open source (MIT license)
• ❌ No full web inbox (reply-via-alias only)
• 💰 Premium: €4/month (30 aliases + custom domain)

Full SMTPy vs SimpleLogin comparison →

3. AnonAddy (addy.io) — Best Free Plan

Best for: Maximum free aliases, ultra-budget users

AnonAddy (now addy.io) offers the most generous free plan: unlimited aliases on their shared domain at no cost.

• ✅ Unlimited free aliases on shared domain
• ⚠️ Custom domain from $1/month
• ✅ Open source, self-hostable
• ❌ No web inbox
• 💰 Lite: $1/month (custom domain + more bandwidth)

Full SMTPy vs AnonAddy comparison →

4. ImprovMX — Best for Quick Setup

Best for: Non-technical users who want the simplest possible setup

ImprovMX focuses on simplicity — you can set up email forwarding for your custom domain in under 2 minutes.

• ✅ Extremely fast setup (2 DNS records)
• ⚠️ Free plan limited to 25 aliases per domain
• ❌ Not open source
• ❌ No web inbox
• 💰 Premium: €9/month

Full SMTPy vs ImprovMX comparison →

5. Forward Email — Best Open Source Alternative

Best for: Developers who want maximum free features with open source

Forward Email is fully open source (MIT) with a very generous free plan — unlimited aliases and domains.

• ✅ Unlimited free aliases and domains
• ✅ Open source, self-hostable (Node.js)
• ✅ Advanced PGP encryption
• ❌ No web inbox interface
• 💰 Enhanced: $3/month (IMAP/SMTP storage)

Full SMTPy vs Forward Email comparison →

6. Firefox Relay — Best for Firefox Users

Best for: Firefox users who want browser-integrated alias creation

Firefox Relay (by Mozilla) integrates directly into Firefox with a browser extension that creates aliases with one click while browsing.

• ✅ Native Firefox extension
• ✅ Free plan (5 aliases)
• ⚠️ Custom domain only on Premium ($1.99/month)
• ❌ No API or webhooks
• 💰 Premium: $1.99/month

Full SMTPy vs Firefox Relay comparison →

7. Apple Hide My Email — Best iOS/macOS Integration

Best for: Apple ecosystem users with iCloud+

Apple's Hide My Email generates random @icloud.com aliases directly in Safari and iOS apps. It's seamless if you're in the Apple ecosystem.

• ✅ Native iOS/macOS/Safari integration
• ✅ Included with iCloud+ ($0.99/month)
• ❌ No custom domain support
• ❌ No API, no web interface beyond Apple devices
• ❌ Locked into Apple ecosystem

How to choose

If you want...	Choose
Custom domain + full inbox + API	SMTPy
Proton Mail integration	SimpleLogin
Maximum free aliases	AnonAddy
Simplest possible setup	ImprovMX
Open source + advanced PGP	Forward Email
Firefox browser extension	Firefox Relay
iOS/Mac native integration	Apple Hide My Email

For most users who want a custom domain and a proper web interface, SMTPy offers the best combination of features, privacy, and price. Start free →