Use a unique email alias that forwards to your real inbox. The website gets the alias, while you keep control of the inbox that receives the messages. Apple, Mozilla, DuckDuckGo and SimpleLogin all document versions of this approach, but they differ in setup, controls, reply behavior and privacy features.
What an email alias does—and what it does not do
An email alias is a different address you use for a signup. Messages sent to it are forwarded to an inbox you already use. If an address starts attracting unwanted mail, you may be able to disable that alias without changing your primary email address.
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This is a way to limit which address a website learns; it is not anonymous email. Mail still reaches an inbox, and an alias does not guarantee protection from tracking, spam, account compromise or a service’s own data collection. Providers’ claims also differ: for example, DuckDuckGo says it removes hidden email trackers, while Apple describes forwarding.
Which email alias service should you choose?
| Service | What it offers | Best fit | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Hide My Email | Creates random addresses that forward to a personal inbox. Sign in with Apple can hide your address when creating an account with a participating app or website; iCloud+ subscribers can manage Hide My Email addresses in settings. | People already using Apple devices and accounts who want signup integration or settings-based management. | Sign in with Apple relay addresses and addresses created through iCloud+ settings are related but distinct ways to use the feature. See Apple’s Sign in with Apple guidance and iCloud+ Hide My Email guidance. |
| Firefox Relay | Masks forward mail to a real address. Mozilla currently documents up to five free masks; Premium offers unlimited masks and other features. | People who want a dedicated mask dashboard and controls for forwarding. | Some websites reject masks, Premium availability varies by country, and CC or BCC in a reply can expose your original address. Details: Mozilla Relay masks and Premium and Firefox Relay FAQ. |
| DuckDuckGo Email Protection | DuckDuckGo describes it as a free forwarding service with unlimited private addresses and hidden email tracker removal. It says email contents are not saved. | People seeking a free forwarding option with the provider’s stated tracker-removal feature. | These are DuckDuckGo’s published descriptions, not a guarantee against all tracking. Check current browser and account support. See DuckDuckGo Email Protection and its privacy information. |
| SimpleLogin by Proton | A dedicated, open-source email alias service. | People who want a dedicated alias setup and are prepared to manage its configuration. | SimpleLogin warns that chaining forwarding services can interfere with SPF, DKIM or DMARC and can disrupt sending or replies. Check its documentation for current product details and plan limits. |
Choose based on how you use email
- For convenient Apple signups: use Sign in with Apple when the app or site offers it, or manage Hide My Email addresses through iCloud+ if that is part of your setup.
- For a mask dashboard: Firefox Relay is a natural fit if its free allowance is sufficient or Premium is available where you live.
- For tracker removal alongside forwarding: consider DuckDuckGo Email Protection, bearing in mind that the tracker-removal and content-handling details are the provider’s own statements.
- For a dedicated alias service: consider SimpleLogin, but avoid stacking it in front of or behind another forwarding alias unless you understand the compatibility risks.
Use aliases safely for important accounts
- Choose a long-lived address for accounts you may need again. Do not use a disposable or short-lived inbox for banking, shopping accounts, subscriptions or anything you may need to recover.
- Keep access to the alias service. The alias must remain active for password resets and account-recovery messages to reach you.
- Test delivery and replies. After signing up, confirm that a verification message arrives. If you need to reply, check which address appears in the From, CC and BCC fields; Mozilla warns that CC or BCC can reveal your original address when replying through Relay.
- Disable an alias only when you understand the consequences. Turning off forwarding can also block future security notices and recovery messages for the account using that address.
Why not chain forwarding services?
Each forwarding layer adds another point where delivery and reply handling can fail. SimpleLogin warns that multiple forwarding services can interfere with SPF, DKIM or DMARC email authentication, and may break replies or sending from aliases. Prefer one alias provider forwarding directly to the inbox you use.
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Bottom line
A unique forwarding alias is a practical middle ground: websites do not receive your primary address, but their messages can still reach you. Choose the service that fits your devices and workflow, keep important aliases active, and treat each provider’s privacy and tracker statements as specific claims rather than universal guarantees.
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