TL;DR: Free +tag and dot aliases are instant but stay on your @gmail.com address. For a real branded alias like you@yourdomain.com, you set up receiving at your domain and Gmail's "Send mail as" - no Workspace required, or automate it with SendMailAs.
What "alias" actually means in Gmail
People search "Gmail alias" wanting one of two different things:
- A filtering alias - a variation of your existing address for signups and rules, like
you+shop@gmail.com. Free and instant, but still your Gmail address. - A real second address - a different mailbox identity you can receive at and send from, ideally on your own domain, like
hello@yourbrand.com.
Both are possible without Google Workspace. The one you want depends on whether you need a label or a brand.
Free Gmail aliases: the +tag and dot tricks
- Plus tags: anything after a
+is ignored for delivery but visible to you.you+netflix@gmail.comandyou+bank@gmail.comboth land in your inbox, and you can filter on them. - Dots: Gmail ignores dots in the username, so
you.name@gmail.comequalsyourname@gmail.com.
These are perfect for organizing signups and catching who leaked your address. The catch: they still expose your @gmail.com, so they do not look professional and you cannot use your own domain.
A real alias on your own domain (no Workspace)
To get an address like hello@yourbrand.com that works inside your existing Gmail, you need two pieces - the same two Workspace was doing for you:
- Receiving - route mail sent to your domain into your Gmail inbox (Cloudflare Email Routing does this free, and a catch-all rule gives you unlimited addresses).
- Sending - add the address in Gmail's Settings > Accounts > Send mail as with an SMTP relay, so replies go out as your domain.
The full step-by-step - DNS, SMTP, and the authentication records that keep you out of spam - is in the Cloudflare Email Routing + Gmail Send As guide.
The easy way: unlimited domain aliases in 5 minutes
Doing the receiving-plus-sending setup by hand is fiddly, and the authentication records are where most people slip up and land in spam. SendMailAs automates the whole thing:
- Routing, SMTP credentials, and SPF/DKIM/DMARC configured automatically - no DNS expertise, about 5 minutes.
- DKIM aligned to your domain, so aliases send cleanly with no "via" label and land in inboxes.
- Unlimited addresses and domains, all inside the Gmail you already use. First domain free, $29/year for unlimited.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. On a free Gmail account you can make instant aliases with the +tag trick (you+shop@gmail.com) and dot variations. For a real branded alias on your own domain (you@yourdomain.com) you do not need Workspace either - you set up receiving at your domain plus Gmail's 'Send mail as' for sending, or use a service like SendMailAs that automates both.
A +tag alias is just your existing @gmail.com address with a label - you cannot change the domain. 'Send mail as' lets you add a completely different address, including one on your own domain, and send from it inside Gmail. For a professional you@yourdomain.com address, you want Send Mail As, not a +tag.
Not for business use - they still show your @gmail.com address, just with a +tag. They are great for filtering and signups. If you want an address that looks like your brand, you need a custom domain alias, which requires receiving at the domain and Send Mail As for sending.
As many as you want. With a catch-all rule on your domain, every address (hello@, billing@, you@) routes to your inbox, and you add the ones you want to send from in Gmail's Send Mail As settings. SendMailAs supports unlimited addresses and domains on the $29/year plan.
Aliases on your own domain
Send and receive from unlimited addresses on your domain, inside your existing Gmail - no Workspace, no new inbox. First domain free.