Using Plus Aliases

Creating a “plus alias” (also known as sub-addressing) typically requires no manual setup in your email account settings. Most major providers automatically recognize any text added after a “+” symbol as belonging to your primary inbox.

How to Use Plus Aliases

To create one on the fly, append a plus sign (+) and a keyword to your existing username before the “@” symbol:

Provider-Specific Instructions

While the method is universal, some providers have specific configurations or features:

  • Gmail / Google Workspace:
    • Setup: No setup required for receiving.
    • Usage: Use [email protected]. Gmail also ignores periods, so [email protected] works the same way.
    • Filtering: Use the Gmail Filter Tool to automatically label or archive emails sent to specific plus aliases.
  • Outlook / Microsoft 365:
    • Setup: Enabled by default in most modern accounts.
    • Usage: Use [email protected].
    • Pro Tip: If it doesn’t work for a business account, an admin must enable it via the Exchange Admin Center under Settings > Mail Flow > “Turn on plus addressing”.
  • Proton Mail:
    • Setup: No setup needed.
    • Usage: Use [email protected].
    • Replying: Unlike some providers, Proton allows you to reply from the plus alias directly.
  • iCloud Mail:
    • Setup: No setup required for standard plus addressing.
    • Alternative: For better privacy, use Hide My Email in your iCloud Settings to create completely unique, random aliases that forward to your main address.
  • Fastmail:

Key Limitations

  • Privacy: Plus aliases do not hide your real email address; any website can easily remove the +keyword part to find your base address.
  • Site Rejection: Some older website sign-up forms do not recognize the “+” as a valid character and may reject the email.
  • Sending: Most providers only allow you to receive mail via a plus alias. To send or reply from one, you may need to manually add it as a “Send Mail As” address in your settings.