Firefox Relay is a clean, well-integrated email-mask tool, and in late May 2026 Mozilla raised the free plan from five masks to 50. That's a real improvement (even if some of Relay's own pages still show the old five-mask figure). But a cap is still a cap, replies still cost extra, and the experience still leans on Firefox. If you want aliases that follow you to any browser, or you'd rather never budget masks at all, this is an honest comparison and a strong alternative.
Mask counts verified 2026-07-26 against Mozilla’s Firefox 150.0.1 release notes, which state: “All Relay users can now create up to 50 email masks, an increase from the previous limit of 5.” Relay’s own marketing pages still show the older figure of 5. We re-check these numbers quarterly.
What Firefox Relay does well
- Native Firefox integration. Relay is built into the browser and your Mozilla account, so creating a mask at a signup form is nearly frictionless.
- A name you already trust. Mozilla has a long privacy track record, and Relay inherits that credibility.
- A much roomier free tier than it used to be. Fifty free masks is ten times the old limit, and enough for lighter use.
- Simple by design. There's very little to configure, generate a mask and mail forwards to your real inbox.
- Phone masking add-on. Higher tiers can mask a phone number too, which alias-only tools don't touch.
The mask ceiling, now 50, still a ceiling
The core friction hasn't changed, only the number has. The entire value of aliases is making a fresh one per service so a leak or sale is contained, one per store, one per newsletter, one per app trial. Live that way and 50 masks goes further than five did, but it still runs out; when it does, going unlimited means Relay Premium. Replying from a mask is also a paid feature, and the experience leans on Firefox, which is awkward if you've switched to another browser.
Firefox Relay vs Emcognito at a glance
| Feature | Firefox Relay | Emcognito |
|---|---|---|
| Aliases on the free tier | 50 masks (as of July 2026; raised from 5 in May 2026) | Unlimited |
| Browser | Best in Firefox | Any browser |
| What you pay for | Unlimited masks (Premium) | Forwarded emails (35/mo free) |
| Reply from an alias | Yes (paid) | Yes, mail app on Plus and Pro; delivery log on every plan until Nov 3, 2026 |
| One-click suspend/delete an alias | Disable per mask | Yes |
| PGP encryption | No | No |
| Sign-in | Mozilla account | Passwordless magic link |
Emcognito charges by the forwarded email instead of by the mask, so unlimited aliases come with every plan; Free (35 forwards a month) is only for accounts opened before October 29, 2026, and new accounts start at $2.50/month for 2,500. See the full pricing breakdown.
Where Emcognito is the better fit
- You don't want a mask budget at all. Even at 50, a one-alias-per-site habit eventually hits the wall. Unlimited aliases on the free tier means you never reuse an address or pay just to make more.
- You don't live in Firefox. Emcognito is browser-agnostic. Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox all work the same way.
- You want to reply from aliases. On Free, Reply securely in the delivery log is included until November 3, 2026; on Plus and Pro you can also hit Reply in your normal mail app and the reply goes out from the alias.
- You want passwordless sign-in. A magic link instead of a password.
Where Firefox Relay still wins
If you live inside Firefox and want masking baked right into the browser chrome, Relay's integration is genuinely smoother, and 50 free masks is honestly enough for many people. If you want to mask a phone number alongside email, Relay's higher tiers cover that. Emcognito is email-only.
How to switch
- Create an Emcognito account with your email and a magic link, then pick a plan.
- Keep existing Relay masks for accounts that already work; create Emcognito aliases for new signups so you stop consuming mask slots.
- Move your highest-spam senders over first, so each one can be suspended independently, then disable the old masks once mail stops arriving on them.
Frequently asked questions
Didn't Firefox Relay raise its free limit?
Yes, as of July 2026 the free tier includes up to 50 email masks, raised from 5 in late May 2026, per Mozilla’s Firefox 150.0.1 release notes. Some of Relay’s own marketing pages still show the older figure of 5; this comparison uses the current 50-mask figure, verified 2026-07-26.
Do I need to use Firefox?
No. Emcognito works in any browser and doesn't depend on a browser extension.
Is it really unlimited aliases?
Yes. Every plan includes unlimited aliases; the Free plan, for accounts opened before October 29, 2026, covers 35 forwarded emails a month.
Can I reply from an alias?
Yes, on every plan, the recipient only ever sees the alias.
Does Emcognito mask phone numbers?
No, it's email-only. If you need phone masking, Firefox Relay's paid tiers offer it.
Questions about moving over from Relay? Email the founder at hello@wm.emcognito.com.