Quick answer
Alias Email - Alias Email wins for most builders because its free tier keeps more of the core workflow intact, while addy.io is better only if you need many aliases and can live with a much tighter free recipient and bandwidth cap.
How the free tiers compare
These are both email aliasing tools, but the free tiers behave differently. addy.io gives you unlimited standard aliases, which is useful if you want lots of throwaway addresses, but the free plan is constrained by just 1 recipient, 2 alias domains, 10 active shared-domain aliases, and a 10MB monthly bandwidth limit. Alias Email is more restrictive on alias count at the free level, with 10 aliases and 1 custom domain, but it preserves a broader slice of the everyday workflow: sending, anonymous replies, PGP encryption, multiple forwarding recipients, and support-oriented features are part of the product story, and its paid step is only a small jump from free. For builders choosing a free tier, Alias Email is the better fit if you want a simpler, more complete aliasing setup. addy.io is the pick when alias volume matters more than everything else.
addy.io vs Alias Email free tier, side by side
| addy.ioFTV 44 | Alias EmailFTV 54 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free aliasesaddy.io's unlimited count is for standard aliases; its shared-domain aliases are capped. | Unlimited standard aliases | 10 email aliases |
| Free recipientsOnly addy.io provides an explicit free recipient cap in the input. | 1 recipient | Not specified in provided free-tier data |
| Free custom domainsaddy.io free includes 2 available alias domains, but not a custom-domain quota. | Not included on free | 1 custom domain |
| Free shared-domain aliasesThis is a distinctive free-tier cap for addy.io. | 10 active shared domain aliases | Not specified in provided free-tier data |
| Monthly bandwidthOnly addy.io lists a bandwidth limit in the provided data. | 10MB | Not specified |
| No credit card requiredBoth inputs explicitly say ftv_no_cc_required is true. | Yes | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat pricing after free. addy.io starts at Lite for $1/month billed yearly, then Pro at $3/month billed yearly or $4 billed monthly. Alias Email starts at Premium for $3.33/month billed annually. The main difference is that addy.io has a cheaper first paid step, while Alias Email keeps the plan structure simpler but at a higher entry price. For small teams or solo builders, addy.io is the cheaper upgrade path; Alias Email costs a bit more but offers unlimited aliases on its first paid tier.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | addy.io | Alias Email |
|---|---|---|
| Basic solo use beyond free limitsAssumes upgrading to the first paid tier on each service. | $1/mo | $3.33/mo |
| Need more than 1 recipient and more than 10 shared-domain aliasesaddy.io Lite includes 5 recipients and 50 active shared domain aliases. | $1/mo | $3.33/mo |
| Need unlimited aliases on the paid planaddy.io Pro includes unlimited active shared-domain aliases; Alias Email Premium includes unlimited email aliases. | $3/mo billed yearly or $4/mo billed monthly | $3.33/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick addy.io when…
- You need unlimited standard aliases for many signups, tests, or one-off addresses.
- You only need one real inbox recipient and do not expect much forwarded volume.
- You want a very cheap entry point to paid usage, since Lite starts at $1/month billed yearly.
- You are okay staying within 10 active shared-domain aliases and a 10MB monthly bandwidth cap on free.
Pick Alias Email when…
- You want the free tier to cover the core alias workflow without hitting alias-count limits as quickly.
- You care about sending mail from aliases, anonymous replies, and PGP encryption being part of the setup.
- You want a plan that starts with 10 aliases and 1 custom domain, then scales to unlimited aliases on the first paid tier.
- You prefer a free plan with a higher feature-parity feel before paying.
Bottom line
For most builders, Alias Email is the better free-tier choice because it preserves more of the everyday alias workflow and feels less boxed in at the start. addy.io is the better bargain if your main need is alias volume and you are comfortable with a very tight free recipient and bandwidth limit. If you expect to upgrade soon and want the cheapest next step, addy.io also has the lower paid entry point. If you want the free plan to stay useful longer, Alias Email is the safer pick.
Read the full listings: addy.io and Alias Email. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.