I want to try an AI notetaking service so I can potentially build something similar myself, but the service only accepts email addresses on a custom domain. I don't want to use my actual company email because it's tied to other workplace tools and accounts. Are there free or inexpensive ways to get a suitable address, or are buying a domain and setting up email the only practical options?
4 Answers
You may not need a hosted email service at all. For development or experimentation, you could use a local transcription or notetaking tool with self-hosted models. That avoids the signup restriction and recurring subscription costs, although setup and hardware requirements vary.
The cheapest reliable route is usually to register an inexpensive domain and connect it to a low-cost mail provider, such as a budget custom-domain email plan. Some providers have free tiers, but check whether they still allow new custom-domain accounts and whether outgoing mail is included.
If you only need to test whether the service accepts the address, a temporary mailbox provider might work. However, many sites block disposable email domains, and you could lose access to password resets or verification messages later, so it’s not ideal for an account you plan to keep.
If you already use Apple services, you can connect a personal domain to iCloud+ and create an address or alias specifically for app signups. It keeps those services separate from your main inbox, though you’ll need to own the domain and have an eligible iCloud+ plan.
Another inexpensive option is buying a low-cost domain and using an email-forwarding service. You can create separate aliases for newsletters, experiments, and random signups without exposing your main address.