SimpleLogin vs Addy.io: Which Email Alias Service Is Better

SimpleLogin and addy.io (formerly AnonAddy) are the two names that come up in every email alias discussion. Both are open-source, both let you create aliases to hide your real email address, and both have been around long enough to have proven track records.

But they are not interchangeable. The differences matter once you start using aliases seriously — for signups, for different identities, for business, or for long-term privacy. This comparison covers what actually differs between them and which is the better choice in 2026.

Quick comparison

Free tier

addy.io is more generous on the free tier. You get unlimited aliases on shared domains (like @anonaddy.me). SimpleLogin limits you to 10 aliases total on free. For someone just testing the concept or using aliases casually, addy.io’s free tier goes further.

The catch: addy.io’s unlimited free aliases are on shared domains that are increasingly recognized as alias services. Some websites block signups from known alias domains. SimpleLogin’s 10 aliases are on fewer, less-blocked domains.

Custom domains

Both services support custom domains on paid plans, which is where aliases become truly useful — your aliases look like regular email addresses on your own domain.

addy.io’s paid plans start lower ($12/year for Lite), but the Lite plan only allows one custom domain with limited features. SimpleLogin’s Premium ($30/year) includes unlimited custom domains, unlimited aliases, and all features. If you only need one domain, addy.io is cheaper. If you need multiple domains or want everything included, SimpleLogin’s flat pricing is simpler.

The Proton factor

SimpleLogin was acquired by Proton AG in 2022. This has pros and cons:

Pros: Deep integration with the Proton ecosystem (Proton Mail, Proton Pass, Proton VPN). If you already use Proton, SimpleLogin is bundled with Proton Unlimited plans. The Proton brand adds credibility and resources for long-term development.

Cons: Proton is a large company with its own priorities. SimpleLogin’s development pace has slowed since the acquisition. Some users worry about vendor lock-in with the Proton ecosystem. And if Proton ever changes direction, SimpleLogin’s future depends on corporate decisions, not community ones. For more on Proton’s approach to aliases, see Proton Mail vs Email Aliases.

addy.io remains independent, which means smaller team and fewer resources, but also full control over its own roadmap.

Sending and replying

Both services support sending and replying from your aliases. When someone emails your alias, you reply through the alias and the recipient never sees your real address. This is essential for aliases to be usable for real communication, not just receiving.

In practice, both work reliably for replies. SimpleLogin has a slight edge in reply handling with its Proton Mail integration (replies are seamless within the Proton ecosystem). For other email providers, the experience is comparable.

Privacy and encryption

Both services offer PGP encryption for forwarded emails, meaning your email provider cannot read the content. Both are open-source and auditable. Both support self-hosting for maximum control.

SimpleLogin benefits from being part of Proton’s security infrastructure (Swiss jurisdiction, no-logs policy). addy.io is hosted in the Netherlands (also strong privacy jurisdiction) and operates independently.

For most users, the privacy difference is negligible. Both are far better than using your real address everywhere.

What neither offers

Both SimpleLogin and addy.io are alias services. They create addresses, forward email, and let you reply. That is what they do, and they do it well. But they do not do several things that matter for comprehensive email protection:

• No spam filtering: Both forward whatever they receive, including spam. Your destination provider (Gmail, Outlook) does the filtering. If spam gets past your destination’s filter, it reaches your inbox. Neither service scans for AI-generated spam, checks DNSBL blocklists, or runs AI content classification.
• No quarantine: When your destination provider flags something as spam, it goes to a spam folder you probably never check. There is no dedicated quarantine with explanations of why a message was flagged.
• No MX relay: For custom domain owners who want their domain’s email protected at the MX level, neither service acts as a filtering gateway. They are forwarding services, not security gateways.
• No contact management: Neither tracks sender reputation or lets you categorize contacts as trusted, blocked, or gatekeeper-held. Every email from every sender is treated the same.
• No team features: Both are designed for individual use. Shared domains, team inboxes, and role-based access are not part of their model.

The verdict

Choose SimpleLogin if you already use Proton services, want tight password manager integration (especially with Proton Pass), and value the backing of an established privacy company.

Choose addy.io if you want the most generous free tier, prefer an independent service, or need the cheapest possible custom domain support.

Choose Cleanbox if aliases are only part of what you need. Cleanbox combines email aliasing with multi-layer spam filtering (Rspamd, DNSBL, AI classification, ClamAV), quarantine with detailed spam reports, per-alias spam thresholds, contact management, and MX relay protection for custom domains. Instead of stacking an alias service on top of a spam filter on top of your email provider, Cleanbox handles all three. For a similar comparison with another alias-focused service, see Cleanbox vs addy.io.