Email alias services compared
Emcognito vs SimpleLogin, addy.io, Firefox Relay, DuckDuckGo & Apple Hide My Email
Emcognito, SimpleLogin, addy.io, Firefox Relay, DuckDuckGo Email, and Apple Hide My Email all forward mail to your real inbox while hiding your address. They differ on what the free tier caps: SimpleLogin allows 10 aliases and Firefox Relay 5, while DuckDuckGo and Emcognito allow unlimited aliases. Emcognito meters forwarded emails instead of aliases and adds per-alias suspend on its free plan, with reply-from-alias on the Plus and Pro plans.
Verified— prices and limits drift; we re-check quarterly.
| Service | Free tier | Aliases on free | Reply from alias | Custom domain | Jurisdiction | Open source | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emcognito | 100 forwards/mo | Unlimited | Plus & Pro | Pro subdomain (Q3) | USA | No | $2/mo |
| SimpleLogin | 10 aliases | 10 | Yes | Paid | Switzerland | Yes | $4/mo |
| addy.io | Unlimited + 10 shared | Unlimited (subdomain) | Paid only | Paid | Netherlands | Yes | $1/mo |
| Firefox Relay | 5 masks | 5 | Premium | Premium | USA | Partial | $0.99/mo |
| DuckDuckGo Email | Unlimited @duck.com | Unlimited | Yes | No | USA | Partial | Free only |
| Apple Hide My Email | iCloud+ required | — | Yes | iCloud Mail | USA | No | $0.99/mo |
The numbers that matter most differ by category. Most services cap the number of aliases you can make on the free tier; Emcognito instead caps forwarded emails (100/month free) and lets you create unlimited aliases on every plan. Which model is "more" depends entirely on how you use it.
When a competitor is the better pick
- SimpleLogin — best if you want PGP encryption, an open-source codebase, and Proton-backed infrastructure under Swiss jurisdiction.
- addy.io — best for power users — GPG, an API, rules/webhooks, and the cheapest custom-domain support, all open source.
- Firefox Relay — best if you live in Firefox and want the tightest browser integration, plus phone-number masking on Premium (US/CA).
- DuckDuckGo Email — best for the quickest zero-config free start and built-in tracker removal — if a @duck.com address and no custom domains are fine.
- Apple Hide My Email — best if you're all-in on the Apple ecosystem and already pay for iCloud+; it's seamless on iOS and macOS.
When Emcognito is the better pick
Choose Emcognito when you want unlimited aliases without an alias cap, reply from any alias on Plus and Pro, passwordless sign-in (magic link or passkey), and one-click suspend or delete so a leaked address has an instant shut-off — all forwarding to your real inbox, with no email bodies stored.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free email alias service?
It depends on the cap that limits you. DuckDuckGo and Emcognito both allow unlimited aliases free, while SimpleLogin (10) and Firefox Relay (5) cap aliases. Emcognito differs by metering forwarded emails (100/month free) instead of aliases, and adds per-alias suspend on the free tier (reply-from-alias is a Plus and Pro feature).
Which alias services let you reply from the alias on the free plan?
SimpleLogin, DuckDuckGo Email, and Apple Hide My Email support replies on their free tiers that keep your real address hidden. Emcognito, addy.io, and Firefox Relay reserve reply support for paid tiers (Emcognito unlocks it on Plus and Pro).
Do any of these store my email content?
Most forward without persisting message bodies after delivery. Emcognito forwards and keeps no copies of your messages. Always confirm the current privacy policy of any provider, since retention practices change.
What makes Emcognito different from the others?
Emcognito meters forwarded emails rather than capping aliases, so every plan — including free — allows unlimited aliases. It's passwordless by default (magic link or passkey), supports reply from any alias on Plus and Pro, and stores no email bodies.
Sources: each provider's official pricing and documentation, plus the community-maintained email-aliasing-comparison and Privacy Guides. Last verified 2026-05-28.