The Core Difference
The dot trick inserts periods into your username: [email protected]. It looks like a regular email address to any site or person. The plus trick appends a tag: [email protected]. The tag is visible to anyone who sees the address.
| Property | Dot Trick | Plus Trick |
|---|---|---|
| Variations per account | 2^(N-1) — finite | Infinite |
| Form acceptance rate | ~99.9% | ~92% |
| Tag visible to recipient | No | Yes (base username visible) |
| Easy to filter in Gmail | Possible (exact To match) | Yes (native subaddress) |
| Works on other providers | Gmail only | Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Proton |
| Useful for multiple accounts | Yes | Sometimes (site-dependent) |
When to Use the Dot Trick
- Signing up on sites that reject the + character
- When you do not want the tag (service name) visible
- Creating multiple accounts on the same website
- Looking like a completely normal email address
When to Use the Plus Trick
- Organizing subscriptions with Gmail filter rules
- Tracking which service sold your data (the tag acts as a honeytoken)
- Creating unlimited, unique aliases without worrying about running out of dot positions
- Quickly sorting mail by sender category
Use Both Together
The most powerful approach is combining both: [email protected]. The dot variation makes it look less like an alias address, and the plus tag enables easy filtering.
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