MailSlurp is an email API service for configuring mailboxes for campaign automation, testing, and application development. There are several features available for controlling the flow of emails within an inbox.

Let's compare each feature.

Inbox forwarders

Mailboxes can have inbox forwarders attached to them. Forwarders have pattern matching rules that will forwarded selected inbound emails to a given recipient list.

email forwarding

Forwarding can be configured in code or using the dashboard.

Rules can match on different fields within an inbound email address:

See the email forwarding automation guide for details.

Proxy aliases

Aliases are a way to mask an email address. You can create an alias for an email you wish to keep hidden. When the alias receives email it forwards it to the masked address and creates a new thread inbox for replies. When you reply the thread forwards the message to the original sender while hiding your masked address. This way email addresses can be kept secret during email communication.

hide email address

Proxies can be controlled via code or using the dashboard:

See the email proxy guide to get started.

Routing rulesets

Routing enables admins to block sending or receiving of emails based on pattern matching rules. You can combine rules to control what types of emails can be sent or received by a given email address.

smtp routing

Create rulesets in code looks like this:

See the inbox routing guide for more information.