How to choose a temp mail service

By Riley Marsh ·

Temporary email services look alike, but they handle your mail very differently. Ask these questions before you trust one with a sign-up.

The checklist

  1. Who can read the inbox? Anyone who knows the address, or only you? See public vs private inboxes.
  2. How long is mail kept, and is it really deleted? Look for a clear retention period in the privacy policy.
  3. Are trackers blocked? Remote images should be off until you allow them.
  4. Are scripts and attachments handled safely? Disposable inboxes receive a lot of hostile mail.
  5. Is there advertising or third-party tracking on the page? Ads on a privacy tool can undo the privacy.
  6. Who runs it? There should be a privacy policy, terms, and a way to report abuse.
  7. Does it fit your job? If you need to send mail or keep the address, temp mail isn’t the right tool at all.

How TempMailyo answers

Features to be careful with

Features like choosing your own name, keeping an address for weeks, or reading it on several devices are handy, but each one adds a way for someone else to reach your mail. If a service offers them, check how they are protected.