The Best Email Alias Services Compared (2026)
Email aliasing has gone mainstream. What used to be a niche privacy trick is now offered by Apple, Mozilla, and a growing number of dedicated services. But they are not all the same. Some offer basic forwarding with zero filtering. Others give you a full email management platform.
This article compares the five most popular alias services as of 2026, based on features, pricing, privacy, and what type of user each one is best for.
The contenders
| Feature | Cleanbox | SimpleLogin | AnonAddy | Apple Hide My Email | Firefox Relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free aliases | 3 | 10 | 20 | Unlimited* | 5 |
| Paid aliases | Up to unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited* | Unlimited |
| Custom domains | Yes (Premium+) | Yes (Premium) | Yes (Lite+) | No | No |
| Spam filtering | Full (Rspamd + ML) | Basic | Basic | Via iCloud | No |
| Per-alias spam threshold | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Filter rules | Yes (advanced) | No | No | No | No |
| Contact management | Yes (categories, states) | No | No | No | No |
| Newsletter unsubscribe | One-click | No | No | No | No |
| Rate limiting / Shield | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Relay / MX protection | Yes (Advanced+) | No | No | No | No |
| Cloud storage | Yes (1–200 GB) | No | No | Via iCloud | No |
| Team support | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Reply from alias | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Starting price | Free / $5/mo | Free / $4/mo | Free / $1/mo | Requires iCloud+ | Free / $2/mo |
* Apple Hide My Email requires an iCloud+ subscription ($0.99/mo) and only works within the Apple ecosystem.
Cleanbox
Cleanbox is not just an alias service — it is a full email management platform. Aliases are one feature alongside spam filtering, contact management, filter rules, Shield protection (rate limiting, delivery scheduling, gatekeeper), newsletter unsubscription, cloud storage, and MX relay protection.
Best for: Users who want aliases and comprehensive inbox management in one tool. Business users who need team collaboration, custom domains, and relay protection.
Trade-off: No reply-from-alias. Aliases are receive-only. If you need to send outbound email through an alias, look at SimpleLogin or AnonAddy.
SimpleLogin (by Proton)
Acquired by Proton (the company behind ProtonMail) in 2022. SimpleLogin is the most popular dedicated alias service. It is open source, privacy-focused, and integrates tightly with the Proton ecosystem.
Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want a straightforward alias service with reply support. Proton users who want tight integration.
Trade-off: No spam filtering, no filter rules, no contact management. It forwards email — that is it. You rely on your email provider for spam handling.
AnonAddy (addy.io)
Open source and self-hostable. AnonAddy (rebranded to addy.io) is the most flexible option for technical users. It supports catch-all aliases, regex-based aliases, and username-based addressing.
Best for: Technical users who want maximum alias flexibility, potentially self-hosted. Budget-conscious users (cheapest paid plan).
Trade-off: Minimal UI. No spam filtering. No advanced features beyond aliasing. Self-hosting requires server administration knowledge.
Apple Hide My Email
Built into iOS, macOS, and Safari. Generates random aliases automatically when you encounter a sign-up form. Seamless if you are in the Apple ecosystem.
Best for: Apple users who want zero-effort alias generation integrated into their devices and browser.
Trade-off: Apple-only. No custom domains. No management dashboard to speak of. Cannot use aliases outside Apple devices. No filtering or rules.
Firefox Relay
Mozilla's alias service, integrated into Firefox. Simple browser extension generates aliases on the fly. Premium tier adds a phone number mask.
Best for: Firefox users who want quick, low-effort aliases without leaving the browser.
Trade-off: Only 5 free aliases. No spam filtering. No custom domains. Limited management options.
Which should you choose?
| Your priority | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Full inbox management + aliases + spam protection | Cleanbox |
| Privacy-first aliasing with reply support | SimpleLogin |
| Maximum flexibility + self-hosting | AnonAddy |
| Zero-effort, Apple ecosystem | Apple Hide My Email |
| Quick browser-based aliases | Firefox Relay |
| Business / team use with domains and relay | Cleanbox |
There is no single "best" service — it depends on what you need. If you just want aliases and nothing else, SimpleLogin or AnonAddy are excellent. If you want aliases as part of a broader email management system with spam filtering, contact rules, and domain protection, Cleanbox is the only option that does it all in one place.
