Custom Email Domain for Aliases

How to set up a custom domain for email aliases

Setting up a custom domain (like @yourname.com) for email aliases is a "pro-tier" move for privacy. It gives you complete portability: if you ever decide to leave a service like SimpleLogin or Addy.io, you can just point your domain to a new provider and all your aliases will still work.

Here is how to set it up.

1. Choose Your Alias Provider

Most people choose between SimpleLogin (best if you already use Proton) or Addy.io (excellent open-source option).

SimpleLogin: Included with Proton Mail paid plans, or available standalone.
Addy.io: Very flexible; requires a "Lite" plan (about $1/month) to use a custom domain.

2. The Setup Process

Regardless of the service you choose, the technical steps are nearly identical:

Step A: Buy a Domain

If you don't have one, buy a domain from a reputable registrar like Porkbun, Namecheap, or Cloudflare.

Tip: If you already use your main domain for business email, use a subdomain for your aliases (e.g., s.yourname.com or mail.yourname.com). This ensures your "burner" aliases don't interfere with your primary inbox.

Step B: Add the Domain to the Service

Log in to SimpleLogin or Addy.io.
Go to the "Domains" tab and click "Add Domain."
Enter your domain name.

Step C: Configure DNS Records (The Technical Part)

The service will provide you with a list of records to copy into your domain registrar's DNS settings. You will typically need to add:

TXT Record: For ownership verification (proves you own the domain).
MX Records: Directs the mail to the alias service's servers.
SPF/DKIM/DMARC: These are "authenticity" records that ensure when you reply from an alias, your email doesn't land in the recipient's spam folder.

3. Enable the "Catch-All" Feature

This is the most powerful part of owning the domain. Once "Catch-All" is enabled in your settings:

No pre-setup needed: You don't have to "create" an alias before using it.
On-the-fly: At a checkout counter or on a website, you can just say homedepot@yourdomain.com.
Automatic: The service will automatically create that alias and start forwarding it the moment the first email arrives.

Why this is better for you

Professionalism: contact@jsmith.com looks much better than jsmith.x82ks@passmail.net.
No "Lock-in": If SimpleLogin were to disappear tomorrow, you still own the domain. You just move it to a different provider, and every account you ever signed up for stays linked to you.
Easy Management: You can see exactly who is selling your data. If you get spam at netflix@yourdomain.com but it's coming from a "Travel Deals" company, you know exactly who leaked it.

Next post: a walk through the specific DNS settings for a particular registrar like Cloudflare or Namecheap?

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