| What matters | smails | TempMail.lol |
|---|---|---|
| Access model | Mailbox token | Mailbox token |
| Upstream retention | 7 days of inactivity upstream | About 1 hour on free tier |
| Message removal | Request source deletion | Hide in this session |
| GetaTempMail session | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Send or reply here | No | No |
Both return a token for the generated inbox
smails and TempMail.lol use mailbox tokens in their integrations. GetaTempMail stores the source credentials on the server and returns only the address and public session details to the browser. The token is not something you need to manage when completing a normal receive-only task.
An API token is an access mechanism, not a blanket guarantee of confidentiality. For either source, keep real account-recovery messages and sensitive documents in a private, lasting mailbox. The app’s one-hour access model is the same for both.
Deletion is the clearest interface difference
The smails adapter supports requesting individual-message deletion at the source. The integrated TempMail.lol API does not, so its action is Hide message. That hides the item within the current session and does not delete the upstream email.
If removal at the source is part of your disposable test cleanup, this distinction matters more than the appearance of the inbox. Neither action removes copies held by the sending application, and neither turns a public test workflow into a confidential data-handling system.
Match the source lifecycle to a short task
smails documents inactivity-based cleanup, while TempMail.lol free inboxes have a short lifetime and creation quotas. Do not assume a failed creation request means an address was blocked by the website you were testing; a source limit can prevent creation before that website is involved.
Use a fresh address for an independent test run, keep it open during the task, and record the result elsewhere. If you need deterministic automated retries and retained email history, use a controlled test-mail service instead of relying on either browser session.
A few common questions
Will changing sources keep my existing messages?+
No. Changing source creates a new address and replaces the current local session. Save your result before switching.
Which source is fastest?+
We have not benchmarked delivery speeds. Sender behavior and source availability vary, so this comparison does not promise a delivery-time winner.