addy.io

Overview

addy.io creates email aliases that forward messages to a real inbox, giving individuals and teams a way to keep their primary address private. It suits people who want fine-grained alias control, custom-domain support, or the option to reply and send without exposing their real address. Its free tier is capable for light use, but modest recipient and bandwidth caps make paid plans the practical choice for sustained use.

Aliases can be deactivated to silently discard incoming mail or deleted so future senders receive a bounce. That gives users a choice between quietly stopping unwanted mail and clearly retiring an address. Users can also use a domain they control and set catch-all behavior for each domain. For more services in this category, see Email Alias Services.

Key features

Alias control, replies, and custom domains

Forwarding keeps a real inbox address out of sign-up forms and correspondence. Paid plans extend that privacy to outgoing messages: users can reply to forwarded mail or initiate messages from an alias. That makes addy.io more useful for ongoing conversations than a service limited to inbound forwarding, though the feature is not part of the free plan.

Users can bring their own domain and create aliases on it, with catch-all controls for each domain. This is valuable for people who want aliases under a domain they manage, but custom-domain capacity depends on plan: Lite includes one, while Pro includes 20. Shared-domain alias allowances also differ, from 10 active aliases on Free to unlimited on Pro.

Encryption, security, and integrations

Users can add GPG/OpenPGP public keys for individual recipients to encrypt forwarded messages, and can optionally hide and encrypt the subject. The maker also says sensitive database data, including recipient addresses, is encrypted using OpenSSL and AES-256-CBC with a message authentication code. Account protections include two-factor authentication through authenticator apps or hardware devices such as YubiKey.

For mail transport, the maker describes opportunistic DANE TLS, MTA-STS on shared domains, TLS reporting, DNSSEC, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Securitum conducted an independent security audit in September 2023 and reported no significant vulnerabilities. These measures make security a meaningful part of the service's proposition, though no system can guarantee that every message or account is risk-free.

Free open-source mobile apps are offered for iOS and Android, alongside extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Chromium-based browsers including Brave and Vivaldi. The API can automate aliases, recipients, domains, additional usernames, and other account resources. Bitwarden can also create addy.io aliases from its generator in the desktop app, browser extensions, and web vault. Self-hosting instructions are provided for people who want to run the service themselves.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and includes unlimited standard aliases, 10 active shared-domain aliases, one recipient, two available alias domains, and a 10MB monthly bandwidth limit. That is enough to try the workflow or keep a small set of aliases, but one recipient and 10MB leave little room for multiple destinations or heavier mail use.

Lite costs $1 a month, billed yearly. It raises the limits to 50 active shared-domain aliases, five recipients, six available alias domains, five additional usernames, and five rules; it adds one custom domain and 50 anonymous replies or sends per day, with a 100MB monthly bandwidth limit. It is the lowest-cost route to custom-domain aliases and anonymous sending, but its bandwidth and daily sending quota still impose boundaries.

Pro costs $3 a month billed yearly or $4 billed monthly. It includes unlimited standard and active shared-domain aliases, 30 recipients, seven available alias domains, 20 custom domains, 20 additional usernames, 20 rules, and 200 anonymous replies or sends per day. Monthly bandwidth is unlimited. Pro fits heavier personal use or small operations that need substantial domain and recipient capacity; choosing monthly billing costs more than the yearly rate.

Duo costs $4.50 a month billed yearly or $6 billed monthly for two members total. Each gets Pro, with independent accounts, optional shared custom domains, and one subscription. Family applies the same structure to five members for $7.50 a month billed yearly or $10 billed monthly. These plans suit households or small groups that want separate accounts under a single subscription rather than sharing one login.

Platforms

addy.io supports web, Android, iOS, browser extensions, an API, and self-hosted use. That range accommodates browser-based alias creation, mobile access, automation, and users who prefer to host the service themselves.

Who it's for

Choose addy.io if you want aliases that can be selectively retired, need replies or outgoing messages from aliases, or plan to use your own domain. It is also a good fit for people who value API automation, Bitwarden alias creation, or self-hosting. Readers who only need occasional inbound forwarding may find the free plan sufficient; those with multiple recipients, heavier traffic, or team use should weigh the paid tiers against their caps and annual billing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Alias deactivation and deletion behave differently, giving users control over whether unwanted mail disappears silently or senders receive a bounce.
• Pros: Paid plans support anonymous replies and sending, extending address privacy to outgoing mail.
• Pros: Custom domains, OpenPGP encryption options, two-factor authentication, API automation, and self-hosting provide meaningful control for privacy-conscious users.
• Cons: The free plan has one recipient and only 10MB monthly bandwidth, limiting its usefulness for multi-inbox or sustained use.
• Cons: Anonymous replies and sending require a paid plan, and Lite caps them at 50 per day.
• Cons: Lite's $1 rate is billed yearly; users who need more capacity face a higher monthly Pro price or a larger annual commitment.

Alternatives

DuckDuckGo Email Protection is a free option for readers who want email forwarding and tracker removal, with personal and private Duck Addresses across mobile, desktop, web, and browser extensions. Its stated free plan makes it a straightforward choice when paid alias replies or custom-domain controls are not the priority.

Firefox Relay is another freemium option for readers who prefer an alternative from Mozilla.

MailPal is worth considering if a free, self-hostable option with code the project describes as fully auditable better suits your needs.

SimpleLogin is a freemium alternative with a free plan, a trial, open-source components, and self-hosting support; consider it if those attributes are central to your choice.

AliasVault offers a free plan spanning aliases, password management, a built-in two-factor authenticator, and full offline mode, making it an alternative for readers seeking those functions together.

Alias Email has a free tier with 10 aliases and one custom domain, so it may fit users whose needs stay within those bounds.

EmailAlias.io charges $4 a month billed monthly for Premium, which includes unlimited aliases, up to five custom domains, unlimited forwarding inboxes, and anonymous sending and replies. Consider it if those allowances suit you and monthly billing is preferable.

GridInbox has a free tier with monthly inbound and outbound quotas, five aliases, and REST API access; it may suit readers who want a quota-based free option with API access.

Verdict

addy.io is a strong choice for people who want flexible email aliases, control over a domain they own, and the option to keep their real address private in both incoming and outgoing mail. Its security options, automation, and self-hosting broaden its appeal, while the free plan is constrained by a single recipient and 10MB monthly bandwidth. Look elsewhere if you need only simple forwarding or want to avoid paid limits and annual billing; choose addy.io when control over aliases and the ability to reply or send anonymously matter enough to pay for them.