This article explains the differences between SmarterMail Aliases, Disposable Addresses, and Plus Addressing. These features are often confused, however they serve very different purposes.
Understanding Aliases, Disposable Addresses & Plus Addressing in SmarterMail
SmarterMail includes several advanced email routing and organisation features designed to improve productivity, reduce spam, simplify administration, and help users better manage incoming email.
The three most commonly confused features are:
- Email Aliases
- Disposable Addresses
- Plus Addressing
While these features may appear similar at first glance, they are designed for completely different use cases.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary
| Feature | Main Purpose | Creates Separate Mailbox? | Temporary? | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alias | Forwarding email to existing users | No | No | Departments, teams, shared addresses |
| Disposable Address | Temporary anti-spam address | No | Yes | Trials, signups, temporary use |
| Plus Addressing | Email organisation and tagging | No | No | Inbox organisation and spam tracking |
What Is an Alias?
An Alias is an email address that forwards messages to one or more existing mailbox users.
Example
sales@yourdomain.com
forwards email to:
joe@yourdomain.com sarah@yourdomain.com
Main Characteristics
- No separate mailbox login
- No separate storage quota
- Used mainly for department or role-based addresses
- Can deliver to multiple users simultaneously
Best suited for: info@, sales@, support@, billing@, accounts@ and similar business addresses.
What Is a Disposable Address?
A Disposable Address is a temporary email address that forwards mail into your mailbox for a limited amount of time.
Example
x8d92s@yourdomain.com
The address expires automatically after the selected time period.
Main Characteristics
- Randomly generated temporary address
- Designed primarily for anti-spam protection
- Automatically expires
- Messages are delivered into a selected folder
- Only one active disposable address is normally allowed per mailbox
Best suited for: Temporary signups, downloads, free trials, and situations where you do not want to expose your real email address.
What Is Plus Addressing?
Plus Addressing allows you to add tags to your existing email address using the + symbol.
Example
joe+amazon@yourdomain.com joe+newsletters@yourdomain.com
Both still deliver into:
joe@yourdomain.com
Main Characteristics
- Uses your existing mailbox
- Creates tagged variations of your email address
- Can automatically sort messages into folders
- Useful for organisation and tracking spam sources
- Unlimited variations can normally be used
Best suited for: Organising newsletters, online shopping, support tickets, client projects, and identifying which websites share your email address.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Alias | Disposable Address | Plus Addressing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate mailbox login | No | No | No |
| Temporary | No | Yes | No |
| Spam protection | Limited | Excellent | Good |
| Inbox organisation | Limited | Moderate | Excellent |
| Department/team use | Excellent | No | No |
| Can auto-create folders | No | Yes | Yes |
| Uses mailbox storage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Designed for long-term use | Yes | No | Yes |
When Should You Use Each One?
Use an Alias When...
- You need a shared business address
- Multiple staff should receive the same emails
- You want addresses like support@ or sales@
Use a Disposable Address When...
- You want temporary anti-spam protection
- You are signing up to unknown websites
- You only need the address briefly
Use Plus Addressing When...
- You want better inbox organisation
- You want to track where spam comes from
- You want to categorise emails automatically
Common Misunderstandings
- Aliases are not separate mailbox accounts
- Disposable Addresses are not intended for long-term communication
- Plus Addresses are not hidden or private identities
- None of these features replace proper mailbox backups or archiving
- All three still ultimately deliver into a real mailbox
Final Thoughts
SmarterMail provides several advanced email management tools, each designed for a different purpose.
Understanding the differences between Aliases, Disposable Addresses, and Plus Addressing can help improve productivity, reduce spam, simplify mailbox organisation, and support better business communication workflows.
In simple terms:
Aliases are for forwarding email.
Disposable Addresses are for temporary privacy protection.
Plus Addressing is for organisation and tagging.
