Disclosure: we make TempDog, one of the services below. We tried to be fair: for each service we say what it does well and where it falls short, including us. Information comes from each service’s public website and documentation, checked on November 1, 2026. Features change, so check the service before you rely on one.
Quick picks
- You need the address for hours or days: TempDog (you set 5 minutes to 30 days) or Mail.tm (the address stays until you delete it; emails are kept 7 days).
- You need apps and browser extensions: Temp-Mail or Temp-mail.io.
- You want a private inbox nobody else can open: TempDog, Temp-Mail, Temp-mail.io or Mail.tm. Avoid public-inbox services for anything personal.
- You are a developer testing sign-up emails: Mailinator or Maildrop (public inboxes, APIs).
- You need many languages: 10 Minute Mail (more than 45).
- You only need one code, right now: almost any of them works.
The comparison table
| Service | How long it lasts | Private inbox | Attachments | Apps or extensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TempDog | You choose, 5 min to 30 days | Yes, with an access key | Yes | No, browser only |
| Temp-Mail (temp-mail.org) | Until you delete it | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temp-mail.io | 10 minutes; longer on Premium | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| 10 Minute Mail | 10 minutes, can be extended | Yes | Not stated | No |
| EmailOnDeck | Most of a day | Yes, after two steps | Yes | Yes |
| Mail.tm | Until you delete it; emails kept 7 days | Yes, with a password | Not stated | No |
| Guerrilla Mail | Emails deleted after 1 hour | Partly: anyone with the inbox ID can open it | Not stated | No |
| YOPmail | Emails kept 8 days | No, anyone who knows the name can read it | Not stated | No |
| Mailinator (free) | A few hours | No, all inboxes are public | No | No |
| Maildrop | Cleared after 24 hours without new mail | No, anyone who guesses the name can read it | Not stated | No |
“Not stated” means we could not confirm it on the service’s own website.
1. TempDog: best when you need control over time
Good: you set how long the address lasts, from 5 minutes to 30 days, and change it anytime. You can reopen the same inbox on another device with an access key or QR code, close the address automatically after the first email, and see email trackers blocked. Addresses are random and never reused. Not so good: no mobile apps or extensions, only 11 languages, no API, and you cannot pick your own address. It only receives emails. Try it on our home page.
2. Temp-Mail (temp-mail.org): best known, with apps everywhere
Good: the most popular temp mail site, with iOS and Android apps, browser extensions, a QR code for the address and 28 languages. The address stays until you delete it. Not so good: choosing your own address and some features need Premium. It does not send or reply.
3. Temp-mail.io: apps and extensions everywhere
Good: apps for iOS and Android, extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Edge, a Telegram bot and an API. Not so good: the free address lasts 10 minutes. Longer lifetimes and custom domains are part of Premium.
4. 10 Minute Mail: the classic
Good: simple and fast, in more than 45 languages. The address is ready immediately. Not so good: fixed 10-minute timer (you can add 10 more), it does not say whether attachments work, and there is no way back to an expired address.
5. EmailOnDeck: limited sending inside its own service
Good: you can send emails to other EmailOnDeck addresses for free, with more options on the paid plan. Apps and browser extensions available. Not so good: two steps and a button before you get an address, and the paid plan accepts only cryptocurrency.
6. Mail.tm: a free inbox that stays
Good: the address stays until you delete it, protected by a password generated in your browser. Emails are kept for 7 days. Not so good: you cannot choose the name, a forgotten password cannot be reset, and it does not send emails.
7. Guerrilla Mail: one of the oldest
Good: online since 2006, with a Scramble Address option for extra privacy. Not so good: anyone who knows your inbox ID can open the inbox, emails are deleted after one hour, and sending has been suspended since August 2023.
8. YOPmail: any name you like, kept 8 days
Good: type any name and the inbox exists; emails are kept for 8 days. Available in several languages. Not so good: anyone who knows or guesses the name can read the inbox, so never use it for anything personal.
9. Mailinator: built for testers
Good: every @mailinator.com inbox already exists, which makes it handy for testing. Paid plans are aimed at teams that test email. Not so good: on the public free plan, all inboxes are public, emails are deleted after a few hours, and attachments are not allowed.
10. Maildrop: simple and spam-filtered
Good: make up any address, with spam filtering and an API for developers. Not so good: public inboxes, at most 10 messages per inbox, cleared after 24 hours without new mail.
How we chose
We looked at what matters most when you use a temporary address: whether the inbox is private, how long it lasts, whether you can get back to it, attachments, apps and languages. We did not include email alias services, which forward to your real inbox. If that is what you need, read temporary email vs. email alias.
Which one should you use?
For a quick code, pick whichever loads fastest for you. For anything personal, avoid public inboxes. If you need the address for longer than an hour, or want to open it again on your phone, TempDog is built for that. Our comparison page has more detail on four of these services.
We check this list every month. Last checked: November 1, 2026. Temp-Mail’s website did not load during this check, so its details are from October 11, 2026.
Sources
Each service’s own public website, checked on November 1, 2026 (temp-mail.org on October 11, 2026): temp-mail.org, temp-mail.io, 10minutemail.com, emailondeck.com, mail.tm, guerrillamail.com, yopmail.com, mailinator.com and maildrop.cc.
The services named in this article are trademarks of their respective owners. We are not affiliated with any of them. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.