An Underrated Email Hack: What Is a Catch-All Email Domain?

Diagram showing multiple email addresses (contact@example.com, info@example.com, admin@example.com) redirecting into one catch-all inbox.

What Is a Catch-All Email Domain?

A catch-all email domain is a feature that routes every email sent to your domain—regardless of whether the address exists—to a single inbox.

Whether it’s info@, sales@, or even a typo like supprot@, you’ll still receive it.

This makes it incredibly useful for entrepreneurs, startups, privacy-first users, and agencies who want to centralize communication without missing a thing.

Key Takeaways

  • A catch-all email domain lets you receive emails sent to any address at your domain.
  • Ideal for entrepreneurs, privacy users, and small teams managing multiple email aliases.
  • Works on platforms like Hostinger, IONOS, Namecheap, and more.

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Why Catch-Alls Emails are a Hack

  • Never miss inquiries: Great for inbound leads and outreach—even with typos.
  • Easy management: Easy to setup, use, and manage for any purpose.
  • Use dynamic aliases: Create custom email addresses like [email protected] without needing setup.
  • Boost privacy: Avoid giving out your real inbox by using one-time or anonymous addresses.
  • Simplify operations: Especially helpful for small teams that need to look big.

Setting up a catch-all email address is usually straightforward if your hosting or email provider supports it. Here’s a breakdown by provider with direct links to official support articles where applicable:

How to Set Up a Catch-All Email

Setting up a catch-all email varies depending on your hosting provider and email system. Below are specific, updated steps for the most popular platforms:

Hostinger

1. Hostinger Email via hPanel

  1. Log in to your Hostinger hPanel.
  2. Go to Emails > select your domain.
  3. Click Forwarders in the sidebar.
  4. Click Create catch-all.
  5. Choose an existing mailbox to forward unrecognized emails to.
  6. Confirm via the verification email sent to the destination inbox.

Note: You must first create a mailbox before setting a catch-all.

Need help? See the Hostinger Catch-All Setup Guide

2. Titan Email (via Hostinger)

  1. Log in to your Hostinger dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Emails > select domain > Catch-all Email.
  3. Click Enable catch-all mailbox.
  4. Select the email address to receive all unmatched messages.
  5. Click Set this email as catch-all.

This applies to Hostinger plans with Titan Email. Not all plans include this option.

3. Hostinger cPanel Email

  1. Log in to cPanel via your Hostinger account.
  2. Scroll to the Email section and click Default Address.
  3. Select the correct domain from the dropdown menu.
  4. Choose Forward to Email Address and input your desired mailbox.
  5. Click Change to apply changes.

IONOS

  1. Go to ionos.com and sign in with your customer number and password.
  2. Navigate to the Email section in your IONOS Control Panel.
  3. If you haven’t already, create a destination email inbox under your domain:
    • Click Create Email Address.
    • Enter a unique name for the local part (before the @ symbol).
    • Select your domain and set a secure password.
    • Click Save to finish creating the mailbox.
  4. Once the mailbox is created, go to Email & Office > Email Accounts > Forwarding.
  5. Click Add Forwarding and use an asterisk wildcard as the local part, like *@yourdomain.com.
  6. Set the destination as the mailbox you created to receive all unrecognized or misaddressed emails.
  7. Click Save to enable the catch-all rule.

Not all plans support wildcard forwarding. Confirm with support.

Need help? Contact IONOS Support

Namecheap

  1. Log in to your Namecheap account.
  2. Go to Domain List > Manage next to the domain.
  3. Scroll down to Redirect Email.
  4. Click Add catch all.
  5. Enter your forwarding destination (can be external like Gmail) and save.

Requires Namecheap Private Email or compatible email hosting. External forwarding may have limits.

Need help? Namecheap Guide

Google Workspace

  1. Sign in to your Google Admin Console.
  2. Create or use an existing mailbox or Google Group for catch-all messages.
  3. Go to Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail > Default Routing.
  4. Click Configure or Add Another Rule.
  5. Under Modify Message, check Change envelope recipient.
  6. Enter your catch-all mailbox or Group as the replacement recipient.
  7. Click Show options and check Unrecognized/Catch-all under Account types.
  8. Save changes. It may take up to 24 hours to propagate.

Ensure no conflicting DMARC or routing policies exist. Always test changes.

Need help? Google Workspace Setup

Zoho Mail

  1. Log into the Zoho Admin Console.
  2. Go to Domains > Your Domain > Advanced Settings > Catch-all Address.
  3. Select or create a mailbox to act as the catch-all.
  4. Click Update to finalize.

Only available on Mail Lite plans or higher.

Need help? Zoho Mail Instructions

When Should You Use a Catch-All Email?

Catch-all emails can be a powerful asset in both personal and business use. Here are key scenarios where enabling one is highly beneficial:

  • 🚀 Launching a new business: Don’t worry if someone emails hello@ instead of contact@—you’ll still get it.
  • 📈 Lead and campaign tracking: Use custom email aliases for different platforms like fbads@, linkedin@, or promo@.
  • 📨 Receiving customer service or billing inquiries from non-standard emails (e.g., pay@, support@).
  • 👤 Privacy-conscious use: Generate one-time aliases to sign up for tools and subscriptions without exposing your core inbox.
  • 🧪 Testing web forms or automation tools where multiple dummy emails may be generated.

That said, if you’re receiving a lot of spam, you may want to temporarily disable your catch-all or route it through a spam filter before it hits your main inbox.

ProsCons
Catch all missed or mistyped addressesIncreased spam risk from bots guessing emails
Only need one inbox to manage dozens of aliasesRequires filtering if volume is high
Helps organize communications by aliasNot all hosts support it natively
Improves privacy when signing up for new tools or services

Trusted Hosting Options with Catch-All Support

  • Hostinger – Reliable setup + 20% off promo
  • IONOS – Good business email packages
  • Namecheap – Clean interface and easy forwarding setup
  • Google Workspace – Enterprise-grade, admin control required
  • Zoho Mail – Great free tier with catch-all support
What is a catch-all email address?
A catch-all email address is a mailbox that receives all emails sent to incorrect or non-existent addresses under your domain. For example, if your domain is example.com and someone emails [email protected], the catch-all address receives it—even if that specific address doesn’t exist.
How do I create a catch-all email domain?
To create a catch-all email, you need a domain and a hosting provider or email service that supports the feature. Login to your hosting dashboard (like Hostinger, IONOS, or Namecheap), navigate to your email settings, and enable the “Catch-All” feature, selecting a destination inbox. Each platform’s setup differs slightly.
Which hosting providers support catch-all email?
Most professional email hosts offer catch-all support, including:

Free services like Gmail or Outlook.com do not support true catch-all functionality.

Is using a catch-all email address safe?
Yes, but it comes with risks. While catch-all helps you avoid missed emails, it also makes your domain more vulnerable to spam if bots guess random addresses. Always use spam filters, set inbox rules, and monitor volume to avoid being overwhelmed.
Does a catch-all email improve email deliverability?
No. A catch-all doesn’t affect outgoing deliverability—it only affects how incoming emails are routed. However, it may result in receiving more spam if your domain is scraped or targeted by bots.
Can I filter or organize catch-all emails?
Absolutely. Most email clients (like Gmail or Outlook) let you filter emails based on the “To” address. You can automatically label, archive, forward, or organize emails that came in through specific aliases.
Is a catch-all email good for marketing?
Yes. You can create custom email aliases like [email protected] or [email protected] to track signups and engagement. If an alias starts receiving spam, you’ll know exactly where the leak came from.
Can I disable or change my catch-all address?
Yes. Catch-all settings can be turned off or modified at any time via your email host’s control panel. You can also change the destination inbox if needed.
Can I use a catch-all with my WordPress website?
Yes. If you own a domain used for your WordPress site, you can configure a catch-all through your hosting provider (not through WordPress itself). This is especially helpful for lead forms and contact pages that route through multiple addresses.
Is catch-all email supported on free email accounts like Gmail or Yahoo?
No. Free consumer-level accounts like Gmail.com or Yahoo do not allow catch-all functionality. You’ll need a custom domain and a business email plan through services like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail.
What’s the difference between a catch-all and email aliases?
An alias is a manually created email address that forwards to your main inbox. A catch-all forwards all email sent to undefined or incorrect addresses to your inbox automatically—no need to create each alias ahead of time.
Will having a catch-all make my domain more spam-prone?
Potentially, yes. Since bots may send emails to guessed addresses (e.g., info@, admin@, xyz123@), catch-all setups can receive more spam than filtered inboxes. Mitigate this with rules, blacklists, and spam filtering tools.

One Domain to Rule Them All

Catch-all domains might sound technical, but they’re a simple power move.

Whether you’re running a solo business or just trying to avoid email clutter, this feature helps you take control of your digital communication.

Start with providers like Hostinger (20% off) or IONOS for easy, reliable email hosting—and get your catch-all domain set up in minutes.

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