[email protected]: Why use catch-all email domains over email aliases?

I've been looking at using email aliases services, and right now I'm thinking of using Simplelogin for all my online accounts and accounts where I can change my email easily, and getting my own domain to share with people and where I can't easily update my email. It seems like I shouldn't use my own domain for online services because it would be unique and can be tracked.

I did lots of reading about this and am still wondering why someone would want to opt for catch-all domains over aliases. Catch-alls seem highly susceptible to spam and while I haven't actually done any email aliasing yet, it doesn't seem to take much effort to make a new alias if you have a plan with unlimited aliases.

owenfromcanada ,
@owenfromcanada@lemmy.world avatar

Another consideration: changing email providers. Any email address using your custom domain can travel with you to other providers, where you can just set up another catch-all address. Aliases are specific to your email provider, so if you want to switch, you'd need to manually go to every site and update each login to a new alias.

And you can always get two domains--one for your more sensitive stuff, and a cheap generic one for the rest. A lot of domains are dirt cheap if you don't care what the TLD is.

Catch-alls are more easily traceable, yes, but depending on your privacy concerns vs convenience (and your fear of getting locked out of an account if your alias becomes unavailable, for example), it might be worth it for you.

ExtravagantEnzyme ,
@ExtravagantEnzyme@lemm.ee avatar

It's great for emails on account's where they know you, like banks and doctors offices. It also lets you make em up on the fly instead of using the site or app. I've never had spam issues, but it does make the email less anonymous. So it's a situational thing, but nice to just use [email protected] when at the dentist or whatever.

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