Comparison
VaelMail vs Firefox Relay
Firefox Relay gives you email masks that forward to an address you already have, from Mozilla. VaelMail is a mailbox with receive-only aliases and needs no existing email address; Relay needs an account with a verified email.
Last verified 14 November 2026
At a glance
| Firefox Relay | VaelMail | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Email masks that forward messages to your true email address. | A mailbox plus aliases. Mail to an alias lands in your VaelMail inbox. | [1] |
| Account needed | An account with a verified email address. | A 16-digit account number. No phone number, name, ID or recovery email is requested. | [1] |
| Free plan | 5 email masks, no replies, a 10 MB limit on forwarded email. | Free: 50 MB, receives mail, 3 custom and 50 random aliases. Free cannot send. | [1], [2] |
| Replying | Premium only: reply to a forwarded email within 3 months of receiving it. | No. Aliases only receive. You send from your main address on Plus. | [1], [2] |
| Paid plan | Premium was listed as a waitlist with no price when we checked. | Plus: from €5 for 1 month, €48 for 12 months, prepaid. 1 GB, sending, 3 custom domains, IMAP and SMTP. | [2] |
| Custom domains | Custom subdomains on mozmail.com for Premium subscribers. | Plus: up to 3 domains, receive only, up to 25 addresses each. | [1] |
| Retention | Mozilla may temporarily store emails, for no longer than three days. | Mail is stored in your mailbox until you delete it. See the privacy policy for retention schedules. | [1] |
| Owner | Mozilla. | An independent service. | [2] |
When Firefox Relay is the better choice
- You want a few free masks from Mozilla and already have the mailbox they forward to.
- You use Firefox and want the integrated extension.
- You want a provider backed by a large organisation.
When VaelMail is the better choice
- You do not have, or do not want to use, an existing email address to sign up.
- You want more than 5 free aliases: VaelMail Free has 3 custom and 50 random.
- You want the messages stored in a mailbox rather than forwarded.
Masks versus a mailbox
Relay is a forwarding layer: the masks pass mail on to an address you already own, and Mozilla keeps messages only briefly. That is fine if you only want to shield your address. VaelMail stores the mail itself, which is what you want if you are leaving a provider rather than adding a shield.
Common questions
Does Firefox Relay need a Firefox account?
Its pages say sign-up requires an account with a verified email address, and the sign-in links go to Mozilla's account system.
How many masks are free?
The Relay home page lists 5 email masks on the free tier.
Can I reply from a Relay mask?
Only on Premium, within 3 months of receiving the email.
Sources
Provider claims come from the provider's own pages and independent reviews, checked on the dates shown. Providers change plans and policies; if something here is out of date, tell us.
- Firefox Relay FAQ, retrieved 14 November 2026
- Firefox Relay home page, retrieved 14 November 2026
Keep reading
Try VaelMail without committing
Free accounts receive mail with no phone number and no payment. Upgrade only if you need to send.