If you've bumped into SimpleLogin's free-tier alias limit, or you'd rather not tie your aliases to a Proton account, you have solid options in 2026. This guide compares SimpleLogin honestly, where it genuinely excels and where it pinches, and shows where Emcognito's unlimited-alias pricing is the better fit.
What SimpleLogin does well
SimpleLogin, owned by Proton and based in Switzerland, is one of the most respected alias services available, and deservedly so:
- Open source and audited. The client and server code are public, so you don't have to take its privacy claims on faith.
- PGP encryption. Add your PGP public key and forwarded mail is encrypted before it reaches your inbox, something most alias services, Emcognito included, don't offer.
- Proton ecosystem. If you already use Proton Mail, SimpleLogin slots in cleanly and shares the same Swiss jurisdiction and privacy posture.
- Custom domains. Bring your own domain and create aliases on it.
Where SimpleLogin pinches
The friction shows up mostly on the free tier and in account portability:
- Alias caps on free. The free plan limits how many aliases you can create. If you spin up a fresh alias for every signup, the whole point of the exercise, you hit the ceiling fast and have to upgrade.
- Tied to a Proton account. The richer features live inside a Proton paid bundle, so you're buying into an ecosystem instead of a standalone alias tool.
SimpleLogin vs Emcognito at a glance
| Feature | SimpleLogin | Emcognito |
|---|---|---|
| Aliases on the free tier | Limited | Unlimited |
| What you pay for | Number of aliases | Forwarded emails (35/mo free) |
| Reply from an alias | Yes, free and premium | Yes, mail app on Plus and Pro; delivery log on every plan until Nov 3, 2026 |
| PGP encryption | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Custom domain | Yes | Custom subdomain on the Pro roadmap, no date |
| One-click suspend/delete an alias | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-in | Proton account | Passwordless magic link |
The headline difference is the billing model. SimpleLogin meters addresses; Emcognito meters forwards. Emcognito's pricing gives you unlimited aliases on every plan, including Free and charges only for forwarded mail: Free accounts opened before October 29, 2026 get 35 messages a month, and paid plans start at $2.50/month for 2,500. If you create a lot of aliases but most see little traffic, that math works in your favor.
Where Emcognito is the better fit
- You want genuinely unlimited aliases without paying. Make one per service, per newsletter, per merchant, there's no address cap to ration.
- You don't want another account to manage. Sign-in is passwordless: a one-time magic link, no password to set, remember, or leak.
- You reply from aliases. On Plus and Pro you can hit Reply in your own mail app and Emcognito sends the reply from the alias, as long as it comes from the mailbox you sign in with. On Free, reply from the delivery log with Reply securely until November 3, 2026; from then on Reply securely is Plus and Pro only.
- You want to kill a leaked alias instantly. One click suspends or deletes the address the moment it starts attracting spam.
Where SimpleLogin still wins
Be honest about your priorities. If PGP encryption or an independently audited, open-source codebase is non-negotiable, SimpleLogin is the stronger choice today. Emcognito offers neither yet. And if you're already deep in the Proton ecosystem, the integration is hard to beat.
How to switch
- Create an Emcognito account, just an email and a magic link, then pick a plan.
- Generate a new alias for the services you use most and update those signups.
- Let your old SimpleLogin aliases run in parallel until traffic dries up, then retire them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emcognito open source?
Not at the moment. If a public, auditable codebase is a hard requirement, SimpleLogin is the better pick today.
Does Emcognito support PGP?
No. Forwarded mail is delivered over standard transport encryption, but there's no end-to-end PGP option yet.
Can I reply from an alias?
Yes. On Plus and Pro you can reply from your own mail app or from the delivery log; on Free, from the delivery log until November 3, 2026. Replies go out from the alias, never your real address.
Is the free tier really unlimited aliases?
Yes. Every plan includes unlimited aliases on the emcognito.com domain; the Free plan, for accounts opened before October 29, 2026, covers 35 forwarded emails per month at no cost.
Migrating and have a question? You can reach the founder directly at hello@wm.emcognito.com.