using one address everywhere is simple, until you want to stop hearing from just one place. an email alias gives that service a separate address while keeping the mail in the same vael account.

your main address is at @vael.email. vael aliases use @vael.pw and receive only. they don’t create separate accounts or mailboxes.

choose an address for the job.

a custom alias is useful when you want something easy to recognize. a random alias is useful when you don’t want to reuse the same familiar handle across different websites.

either way, the useful habit is keeping track of where the address went. one alias shared across every shop is easier to manage than your main address, but it still groups those shops together. a separate alias for each service gives you more control within your plan’s allowance.

set up a small system.

1. open aliases and create a custom or random alias.

2. add a description that tells you which service it belongs to. avoid putting passwords or other secrets in the description.

3. leave receiving enabled and save the alias.

4. use the full alias address when registering with the service.

5. finish any verification email before relying on it for purchases or account recovery.

for a newsletter, the description might simply be its name. for a shop, note which account uses the address. you don’t need an elaborate naming system; you need a record you’ll understand six months from now.

when an alias starts getting unwanted mail.

first, check what still depends on it. an address used for a newsletter may also receive order receipts, security notices or password resets. turning off receiving stops those too.

if you still need the account, change its email address to a new enabled alias and complete the service’s verification process. then pause the old alias. if it was only a mailing list, you can decide whether unsubscribing or disabling the address suits you better.

prefer pausing while you’re unsure. removing an address is a different decision: random addresses stay retired, while a released custom alias can become available to someone else after its reservation period. the terms explain address retirement. don’t leave an important outside account tied to an address you’ve released.

what an alias does not hide.

an alias changes the address you give a service. it doesn’t hide a payment, shipping address, browser login or details you put in a message. a random address is not a guarantee of anonymity.

it also doesn’t give you a sending identity. replying through vael uses your main address and requires plus. if you need a conversation without sharing that main address, account for this before handing out a receive-only alias.

free includes 3 custom and 10 random aliases. plus includes 25 custom and 200 random aliases. start with the services where a separate address would be most useful, then manage your aliases as your inbox changes.