addy.io alternative
Vend Email vs addy.io: control over aliases, or control over ownership?
Short version: addy.io (formerly AnonAddy) is the tinkerer's alias service — open source, catch-all domains, self-managed DNS. Vend trades some of that knob-turning for something addy.io doesn't attempt: aliases you can transfer, sell, and hand over on domains that can't lapse. Pick by which kind of control you actually need.
The 30-second verdict
Pick Vend Email if…
- Your aliases are tied to things with resale value — lifetime deals, projects, communities — and you want a clean exit built in.
- You want a branded domain without owning the DNS problem — Vend registers, configures, and renews it for you.
- You'd take a simpler dashboard over a bigger settings page.
Pick addy.io if…
- You want catch-all aliases on your own domain — make up addresses on the fly, no dashboard visit needed.
- Open source, self-hosting, and PGP encryption are on your must-have list.
- You enjoy managing your own DNS records and registrar renewals.
Feature by feature
addy.io gives you more levers on the alias itself. Vend gives the alias a life beyond your account.
| What you get | Vend Email | addy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Private forwarding aliases |
Yes.
|
Yes.
Unlimited standard aliases, even free
|
| Reply from an alias |
Yes.
|
Yes.
|
| Compose new mail from an alias |
Yes.
Built into the dashboard
|
Yes.
Via special send-from format
|
| Catch-all addresses on a domain |
No.
Aliases are created deliberately
|
Yes.
A core addy.io strength
|
| Block & allow senders per alias |
Yes.
Safe and unsafe sender lists
|
Partially.
Alias deactivation and conditional rules
|
| Folders and tags |
Yes.
|
Partially.
Recipients and descriptions
|
| Custom domains |
Yes.
Fully managed — DNS and renewals handled
|
Yes.
Bring your own, you manage DNS
|
| Browser extension |
No.
On the roadmap
|
Yes.
|
| Open source / self-hosting |
No.
|
Yes.
MIT licensed, self-hostable
|
| PGP encryption of forwarded mail |
No.
|
Yes.
|
| API access |
Yes.
REST API with tokens and OAuth
|
Yes.
|
| Transfer an alias to another person |
Yes.
Dedicated transfer pages, free or paid
|
No.
|
| Sell an alias with payment built in |
Yes.
Stripe collects before ownership moves
|
No.
|
| Domain keeps working after a transfer |
Yes.
Managed domains can't lapse or lose DNS
|
No.
Aliases die with your domain or account
|
Feature availability based on each service's public documentation. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
The honest differences
Where addy.io genuinely wins: depth of alias control. Catch-alls, PGP, self-hosting, unlimited standard aliases on the free tier — if you want to run your alias setup like infrastructure you administer, addy.io is the best tool for that and we'd tell you to use it.
Where Vend wins: the lifecycle. On addy.io, an alias lives and dies with your account and your domain — there is no concept of giving one to someone else. On Vend, transfer is the point: dedicated handoff pages, optional Stripe-collected pricing, and managed domains that keep transferred addresses alive no matter whose registrar account the domain would otherwise have depended on.
The deciding question: is the alias for you, or for a thing? Aliases for you — signups, subscriptions, spam control — suit addy.io fine. Aliases for a thing — an account, a project, a role that might change hands — need the ownership layer only Vend has.
Switching from addy.io (or running both)
Leave your addy.io setup alone
Nothing needs migrating. Your catch-alls and existing aliases keep working — the two services coexist happily.
Route transferable things through Vend
Next lifetime deal, next project inbox, next role address — create it on Vend so the handoff option exists from day one.
Consider a managed domain for anything long-lived
If an address needs to outlive your involvement, a Vend managed domain removes the renewal-and-DNS risk that self-managed domains carry.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't Vend offer catch-all aliases?
Transferability requires each alias to be a distinct, ownable object with its own history and transfer page. Catch-alls are convenient but anonymous — there'd be nothing coherent to hand over.
Is addy.io cheaper than Vend?
addy.io's free tier is generous for standard aliases, and both services have modest paid plans. Compare on what you need: alias volume and self-hosting favour addy.io; transfers, selling, and managed domains are Vend-only at any price.
Can I move an existing addy.io alias to Vend?
Not directly — addresses can't move between providers. The practical route: create a Vend alias and update the accounts that matter to use it, starting with anything you might one day transfer.
Does Vend support PGP like addy.io?
No. If end-to-end encryption of forwarded mail is a requirement, addy.io is the better fit. Vend focuses on privacy through address separation plus the ownership layer.
Is Vend open source?
No. If self-hosting is non-negotiable, choose addy.io. Vend addresses lock-in differently: aliases are transferable by design, and the service publishes a contingency plan.
Keep addy.io for the knobs. Use Vend for the keys.
Create one free Vend alias for your next transferable thing — the handoff rails come included.
Free plan available. No credit card required.