TempMail.now vs Mailinator
Mailinator and TempMail.now both give you an inbox with no account. But they were built for different people. Mailinator grew up as a testing tool for developers, with public inboxes anyone can open. TempMail.now is made for everyday privacy, with a private address and a timer. This page compares them in plain words so you can pick the right one.
Mailinator inboxes on the free public domain are readable by anyone who knows the name. Private inboxes need a paid plan. TempMail.now gives every visitor a private random address for free, with a timer from 5 to 30 minutes, attachments, and auto-delete. Testing many inboxes at once? Look at Mailinator. Want one private inbox for a code or a trial? Use TempMail.now.
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TempMail.now at a glance
| Cost | Free, no account, no limits on inboxes. |
|---|---|
| Sign-up | None. An address is ready the moment the page loads. |
| Inbox lifetime | You choose 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 minutes. The inbox then deletes itself. |
| Receiving | Messages, verification codes, links and attachments arrive in seconds. |
| Sending | Receive-only. You cannot send or reply from a temporary address. |
| Domains | A rotating pool of domains. Use Change Email to get a different one if a site rejects yours. |
| Data retention | Emails are deleted automatically. Nothing is kept beyond the retention window described in our privacy policy. |
Side-by-side comparison
Eight rows, short answers. We only state stable, widely known facts about Mailinator. Where a limit can change, we tell you to check their site.
| Feature | TempMail.now | Mailinator |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free public inboxes; paid plans for private domains |
| Sign-up | None | None for public inboxes; account for paid plans |
| Inbox lifetime | You pick: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 minutes | Limited window; check their site for the current limit |
| Can send | No, receive-only | No, receive-only |
| Attachments | Yes | Check their site for the current rules by plan |
| Public vs private inbox | Private random address, auto-deleted | Public on the free domain; private on paid domains |
| Languages | 36 | English-first; check their site for others |
| Mobile | Any browser, plus a QR code to open on your phone | Browser |
The pattern is clear. Mailinator is a testing platform with a free public layer. TempMail.now is a private throwaway inbox for one person, one task, right now.
Public inboxes vs private inboxes
This row matters more than all the others together. On the free Mailinator domain, you make up any inbox name and mail sent to it shows up. The catch is that anyone else who types that name sees the same mail. There is no password. That is by design, and it works well for testing a sign-up form. It is a poor fit for anything private.
Mailinator does sell private domains on paid plans, which close the inbox to your team only. If you need that and you are happy to pay, it is a solid option. Check their site for the current plans.
TempMail.now takes the other road. Every visitor gets a random address that is not shared and not guessable. When your timer ends, it is deleted. You can also press Change Email to rotate to a fresh address on another domain. No plan, no fee. Read is temp mail safe for what a private temp inbox can and cannot protect.
Inbox lifetime and cleanup
On TempMail.now you pick the timer before you start: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 minutes. A short 10-minute mail window is enough for a code. Thirty minutes covers a slow form. When time runs out the inbox and its messages are gone, and there is nothing for you to remember.
Mailinator keeps public-inbox mail for a limited window before it is removed. Paid plans have their own limits. Check their site for the current numbers.
Sending, attachments, languages, and mobile
Neither service sends email. Both are for receiving. TempMail.now receives attachments, so a file sent to your temp address opens in the inbox. For Mailinator, attachment rules depend on the plan; check their site.
TempMail.now is offered in 36 languages. Mailinator is English-first; check their site for others. Both work in a phone browser. TempMail.now also shows a QR code on the page, so you can scan it and carry the same inbox to your phone with nothing to type.
Pick Mailinator if, pick TempMail.now if
Pick Mailinator if you are a developer or tester who needs many inboxes at once, does not mind that public inboxes are open, or is ready to pay for a private domain and an API.
Pick TempMail.now if you want one private inbox for free, a timer from 5 to 30 minutes, auto-delete, attachments, 36 languages, and a QR code to switch devices. It is the better fit for a sign-up, a code, a coupon, or a trial. To see what goes on behind the page, read how temp mail works.
More comparisons
See how TempMail.now compares with other well-known services: TempMail.now vs Temp-Mail.org, TempMail.now vs 10MinuteMail, and TempMail.now vs Guerrilla Mail. For a wider view, read our guide to the best temporary email services or the basics of disposable email.
Frequently asked questions
Are Mailinator inboxes public?
Yes, on the free public domain. Any inbox name works, and anyone who types that same name can read the mail in it. Mailinator sells private domains on paid plans if you need a closed inbox. TempMail.now gives every visitor a private random address for free.
Who is Mailinator for?
Mailinator is popular with developers and QA teams who test sign-up flows and need many inboxes at once. Its paid plans add private domains and an API. TempMail.now is built for everyday people who want one private inbox for a code or a trial, with no setup.
Can I choose my own address on TempMail.now?
No. TempMail.now hands you a random address so no one can guess it. Mailinator lets you type any inbox name on its public domain, which is handy for testing but means others can type it too. On TempMail.now you can press Change Email to get a new random address on another domain.
How long does each service keep mail?
TempMail.now keeps the inbox for the timer you pick, from 5 to 30 minutes, then deletes it. Mailinator keeps public-inbox mail for a limited window; check their site for the current retention rule and for the limits on paid plans.
Is either service safe for a password reset?
Do not send a password reset to a public Mailinator inbox, since anyone could open it. A private TempMail.now address is safer for a one-time reset on a throwaway account. For any account you care about, use your real email.