Overview

MailDrop is a disposable email service for people who need temporary inboxes for sign-ups, verification messages, downloads, trials, or forms. Its browser inbox and REST API make it useful to both privacy-conscious users and developers building flows that need to receive email.

The trade-off is built into the product: messages are deleted automatically, so MailDrop is for short-lived tasks, not accounts where message history matters.

Key features

Opening an inbox requires no account, phone number, or personal information. Users can choose a custom prefix and one of several domains, but cannot bring a custom domain. The inbox refreshes every 30 seconds and supports HTML messages, verification codes, and attachments, which can be previewed or downloaded in a browser.

For developers, the REST API can create temporary mailboxes and retrieve incoming messages. API keys are passed as Bearer tokens in the Authorization header or through the X-API-Key header. Claimed mailboxes are readable only by the key that created them, a useful boundary for API-based workflows. When a request quota runs out, the API returns HTTP 429 and includes quota state in response headers, making the limit visible to clients.

Automatic deletion suits one-off verification and testing, but rules out using MailDrop as a durable inbox. MailDrop itself advises against temporary addresses for long-term accounts such as banking. The site is available in seven languages.

Pricing

MailDrop has a permanent free API plan with no credit card required; the pricing page describes it as a permanent trial. The free tier allows 300 requests per day and one mailbox per 24 hours, with all public domains and community support. That is a practical starting point for occasional use, but the mailbox cap is restrictive for repeated or parallel workflows.

Starter costs 5.00 USD per month for 30,000 requests per month and 10 mailboxes per 24 hours, with all public domains and email support. It fits modest automated use, though the daily mailbox allowance may matter more than the request quota for workflows that need frequent new inboxes.

Pro costs 15.00 USD per month and raises the limits to 200,000 requests per month and 50 mailboxes per 24 hours. It adds webhook notifications and priority support, making it a better fit for teams that need faster notification and higher throughput. Business costs 49.00 USD per month for 1,000,000 requests per month and 200 mailboxes per 24 hours; it includes webhooks, priority support, and an SLA for teams that need a support commitment.

Pay as you go is a 11000.00 USD per once listing, with no subscription, top-ups from $5, a balance that never expires, and a rate of $1 / 1,000 requests. Its non-expiring balance can suit uneven usage, but the listed one-time amount is substantially higher than the monthly entry plans. Paid plans begin at $5 per month.

Platforms

MailDrop is available on the web and through an API. The browser interface serves individual temporary inbox use; the REST API is the relevant option for integrating mailbox creation and message retrieval into software.

Who it's for

MailDrop is a sensible fit for developers automating email verification or testing sign-up flows, and for individuals who want a disposable address for a short-term interaction. Its no-registration inboxes reduce friction, while API quotas and mailbox limits provide clear tiers for growing usage.

It is not a fit for banking, long-term accounts, or any workflow that depends on retaining messages. Teams needing a custom domain should also look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros: No account or personal details are required to open an inbox, which keeps one-off use straightforward.
Pros: API mailbox access is scoped to the key that claimed it, and quota exhaustion is signaled with HTTP 429 and response headers.
Pros: The permanent free API plan offers 300 daily requests without a credit card, enough to evaluate or support light use.
Cons: Automatic deletion makes the service unsuitable when messages or account history must remain accessible.
Cons: The free plan's one-mailbox-per-24-hour cap limits repeat use even before its request allowance is reached.
Cons: There is no custom-domain option, which limits branding and domain control.

Alternatives

Disposable Email Services is a useful starting point for comparing the category. Choose Mailinator if its free Verified Pro offer, including unlimited private inboxes, a private domain, and permanent storage, better suits the need for retained messages. EmailOnDeck is an alternative with mobile apps and browser extensions in addition to web and API access.

SecureTempMail may suit users who want a broader platform range and a premium plan with up to 30-day retention, attachment downloads, and inbox history and search. Temp-Mail.org is another multi-platform option; its free messages are stored for up to 1–2 hours and it is receive-only.

Mail.tm is worth considering when a free API without signup or API keys is the priority. MailTub and SpamEater are also free alternatives. Guerrilla Mail is a relevant alternative for users who want a custom domain, offered at 9.99 USD per year.

Verdict

Choose MailDrop for short-lived inboxes or API-driven email verification when no-registration access and a permanent free API tier are the main priorities. Its mailbox privacy boundary and clear quota signals are useful for integrations. Look elsewhere if messages must persist, if a custom domain is essential, or if the free tier's one-mailbox-per-day limit is too tight.

	MailDrop	Maildrop
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$5/mo	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Web	api, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	5 /mo	—
Custom address	Yes	Yes
API access	Yes	Yes
Custom domain	No	—
Attachments supported	Yes	No
Inbox lifetime	—	hours

MailDrop vs Maildrop

MailDrop

Maildrop