Every online form, every service registration, every newsletter represents a risk for your business. A data breach at a vendor exposes your professional email address to spammers, phishing attacks, and worse.
Email aliasing services offer an elegant solution: instead of giving your real address, you create disposable aliases that forward to your main inbox. A service gets compromised? Disable the alias, your real address stays protected.
Two services dominate this market: SimpleLogin (acquired by Proton) and anon.li. This comparison helps you choose the right tool to protect your SME's communications.
Why Email Aliases Are Essential for Businesses
The Data Breach Problem
In 2025, over 3 billion records were exposed in data breaches. Among this data, email addresses are the most frequently compromised. Once your address lands in a spammer database, the flow of junk mail and phishing attempts never stops.
For a business, the risks are multiple:
- Targeted phishing: Attackers know your domain and signup patterns
- Identity theft: Your address can be used to send fraudulent emails
- Lost productivity: Sorting spam consumes precious time
- Reputation: A professional email circulating in dubious databases hurts your image
The Solution: Email Aliasing
An email alias works as an intermediary:
- You create a unique alias for each service (e.g.,
newsletter-techcrunch@alias.yourdomain.com) - Emails sent to this alias forward to your real inbox
- You can reply from the alias without revealing your real address
- If the alias is compromised, you disable it without impacting the rest
This approach compartmentalizes your digital identity. A vendor that leaks data only compromises one alias, not your entire email infrastructure.
SimpleLogin: The Proton Ecosystem Option
SimpleLogin was acquired by Proton (ProtonMail, ProtonVPN) in 2022. This integration makes it a natural choice for businesses already using the Proton ecosystem.
Key Features
- Unlimited aliases on paid plans
- Custom domains: Use
alias@yourcompany.com - Anonymous replies: Respond without revealing your real address
- Automatic PGP: Encryption of incoming emails
- Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- Mobile apps: iOS and Android
- Proton Pass integration: Direct alias generation from the password manager
SimpleLogin Pricing
| Plan | Price | Aliases | Domains | Target Mailboxes | |------|-------|---------|---------|------------------| | Free | $0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | | Premium | $4/month | Unlimited | 5 | 10 | | Proton Unlimited | $10/month | Unlimited | + Proton Mail | + Proton VPN |
For an SME, the Premium plan at $4/month per user covers most needs. The Proton Unlimited integration becomes relevant if you also want to migrate to ProtonMail.
SimpleLogin Strengths
- Maturity: Established service since 2019, acquired by a trusted player
- Complete ecosystem: Integrates with other Proton products
- Open source: Auditable code, increased trust
- European infrastructure: Servers in Switzerland, GDPR compliant
SimpleLogin Limitations
- Proton dependence: Service evolution depends on Proton priorities
- Dated interface: The dashboard could be more modern
- Limited support: No dedicated enterprise support on Premium plan
anon.li: The Developer-Oriented Challenger
anon.li is a newer service particularly targeting developers and technical users. Its minimalist approach appeals to those wanting a simple tool without frills.
Key Features
- Complete API: Automate alias creation
- Automatic subdomains: Format
anything@myaccount.anon.li - Catch-all: Receive emails sent to any alias on your subdomain
- Custom domains: Enterprise domain support
- Webhooks: Programmable notifications for incoming emails
- CLI: Command-line management
anon.li Pricing
| Plan | Price | Aliases | Domains | Features | |------|-------|---------|---------|----------| | Free | $0 | 5 | 0 | Basic | | Pro | $3/month | Unlimited | 3 | API, Webhooks | | Business | $8/month | Unlimited | 10 | Priority support |
The Pro plan at $3/month is slightly cheaper than SimpleLogin, with the major advantage of webhooks and complete API.
anon.li Strengths
- API-first: Perfect for automation and workflow integration
- Native catch-all: Create aliases on the fly without prior configuration
- Competitive pricing: Pro plan cheaper than SimpleLogin Premium
- Simplicity: Clean interface, minimal learning curve
anon.li Limitations
- Young service: Less track record than SimpleLogin
- Limited ecosystem: No integration with other security services
- Hosting: Less transparent infrastructure than Proton
Detailed Comparison
Security and Privacy
| Criterion | SimpleLogin | anon.li | |-----------|-------------|---------| | PGP encryption | Yes | No | | Open source | Yes | No | | Jurisdiction | Switzerland (Proton) | EU | | Security audits | Yes (Proton) | Not published | | 2FA | Yes | Yes |
SimpleLogin wins on security thanks to its Proton heritage. Automatic PGP encryption and regular audits provide additional guarantee.
Enterprise Features
| Criterion | SimpleLogin | anon.li | |-----------|-------------|---------| | Custom domains | 5 (Premium) | 3 (Pro), 10 (Business) | | Target mailboxes | 10 | Unlimited | | API | Basic | Complete | | Webhooks | No | Yes | | SSO | Via Proton | No | | Enterprise support | Proton Business | Business Plan |
anon.li takes the advantage on API and webhooks. For technical teams wanting to automate alias management, this is a decisive criterion.
Use Cases by Profile
Traditional SME (retail, services) → SimpleLogin Premium: Easy to deploy, Proton Pass integration for passwords, mainstream support.
Technical startup / Dev team → anon.li Pro: Complete API, catch-all for test environments, webhooks for automation.
Company with compliance requirements → SimpleLogin with Proton Business: Swiss infrastructure, security audits, easier GDPR compliance.
Team Deployment
SimpleLogin Deployment
- Create a SimpleLogin account and upgrade to Premium
- Add your custom domain and configure DNS
- Install Proton Pass for the team (integrated alias generation)
- Train teams: one alias per external service
anon.li Deployment
- Create an anon.li account and activate the Pro plan
- Configure your subdomain or custom domain
- Integrate the API into your workflows (scripts, CI/CD, etc.)
- Configure webhooks for notifications
For both services, plan a 30-minute training session to explain the concept and best practices.
Integration with Your Cybersecurity Strategy
Email aliases fit into a broader security strategy. They complement:
- Password manager: One unique password + one unique alias per service
- Anti-phishing training: Aliases reduce exposure but don't replace vigilance
- Data policy: Document which aliases are used for which services
If you're looking to strengthen your SME's cybersecurity, email aliasing is a fundamental building block but not sufficient. A global approach covering authentication, encryption, and training remains necessary.
Costs and ROI for a 10-Person SME
SimpleLogin Scenario
- 10 Premium licenses: $40/month
- Domain configuration: 2h (one-time)
- Team training: 1h
- Annual cost: ~$500
anon.li Scenario
- 10 Pro licenses: $30/month
- Domain configuration: 2h (one-time)
- Team training: 1h
- Annual cost: ~$360
Benefits
- Spam reduction: ~30 minutes/week/person saved
- Reduced phishing risk: Avoided cost of successful attack (potentially thousands of dollars)
- GDPR compliance: Better control of shared data
ROI is difficult to quantify precisely, but the cost is low enough that the question barely matters. At under $50/month for a team of 10, the protection offered is well worth the investment.
Recommendations Based on Your Context
Choose SimpleLogin if:
- You already use ProtonMail or Proton Pass
- Compliance and security audits are priorities
- You prefer an integrated ecosystem
- Your team isn't particularly technical
Choose anon.li if:
- You need to automate alias management via API
- Catch-all is essential for your workflows
- Your team is comfortable with technical tools
- Budget is tight and every dollar counts
Alternative: Both
For some organizations, using both services makes sense:
- SimpleLogin for sensitive external communications (clients, partners)
- anon.li for test signups, dev environments, and automation
Your company's digital transformation also involves these security tool choices. Take time to test both services in free versions before committing.
Migration from an Existing Situation
If you currently use your real email addresses everywhere, migration to aliasing happens progressively:
- Audit: List all services where your email is registered
- Prioritization: Start with the riskiest services (social networks, e-commerce)
- Creation: One alias per service, consistent naming
- Update: Change the email in each service's settings
- Monitoring: Identify leaks when an alias receives spam
This process takes time, but once in place, each new signup automatically uses an alias.
The Broader Context of Email Security
Email remains the primary attack vector for businesses. According to industry reports, 91% of cyberattacks start with email. Phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and malware delivery all rely on email as the entry point.
Aliasing addresses one dimension of this problem: reducing exposure and compartmentalizing risk. But it's part of a larger picture:
- DMARC/DKIM/SPF: Protect your domain from spoofing
- Email filtering: Block malicious attachments and links
- User training: The human layer remains the weakest link
- Incident response: Know what to do when a breach happens
For Moroccan and African businesses, the stakes are similar to global enterprises. Cybercriminals don't discriminate by geography. A well-protected SME in Casablanca faces the same threats as one in Paris or New York.
Future of Email Aliasing
The email aliasing market is evolving rapidly:
- Browser integration: Firefox and Safari now offer built-in relay services
- Platform consolidation: More password managers adding alias features
- Privacy regulations: GDPR and similar laws make email protection more relevant
Both SimpleLogin and anon.li are well-positioned to benefit from these trends. The key is choosing a service that will continue to evolve and maintain compatibility with your infrastructure.
Ressources associées
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FAQ
Do email aliases work with all services?
Most services accept email aliases. Some exceptions exist: certain banks or government services only accept known domains. In these cases, use your real professional address with heightened vigilance.
What happens if SimpleLogin or anon.li shuts down?
SimpleLogin belongs to Proton, an established company with a solid business model. Risk of closure is low. For anon.li, being newer, the risk exists. In all cases, keep regular exports of your aliases and prepare a migration plan.
Can aliasing be used with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
Yes. Both services integrate with any email inbox. You configure SimpleLogin or anon.li to forward to your @company.com address hosted on M365 or Google.
How do you train employees to use aliases?
Emphasize three points: one alias per service, consistent naming (e.g., service-name@alias.com), and immediate reporting if an alias receives spam (indicates a leak). Integration with a password manager facilitates adoption.
Do email aliases replace a good spam filter?
No, they complement it. Aliasing reduces initial exposure, but a good spam filter remains necessary for legitimate emails that could be compromised. Use both in parallel.