Email aliases and temporary addresses both hide your real address. But they solve different problems.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Email Alias | Temp Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Receives mail | Yes, forwarded | Yes, in browser |
| Sends mail | Usually yes | No |
| Lifetime | Until you delete | Minutes to days |
| Password recovery | Yes | No |
| Anyone can read | No | Yes |
| Setup time | Minutes, once | None |
| Best for | Long-term relationships | One-off sign-ups |
Choose an Alias When
- You want a long-term relationship with the sender.
- You may need password recovery months later.
- You want to track who leaked your address.
- You need to reply from that address.
Choose Temp Mail When
- The relationship ends at the confirmation code.
- You don't trust the sender.
- You're testing a sign-up flow.
- You want zero setup, zero accounts.
The Three-Tier Setup
Tier 1 — Real email: Banking, government, important accounts.
Tier 2 — Aliases: Shopping, newsletters, services you keep.
Tier 3 — Temp mail: Free trials, verification codes, one-off sign-ups.
This setup keeps your real inbox clean while keeping access to important accounts.
For more details, see Temp Mail vs. Email Aliases.