- What is a Domain Alias?
- Key Features and Benefits
- Domain Alias vs. Secondary Domain
- Use Cases
- How to Add a Domain Alias
- Limitations and Considerations
- Conclusion
- Further Resources
What is a Domain Alias?
A domain alias is an additional domain that you associate with your primary Google Workspace domain. It allows all users in your organization to receive emails at both their primary domain address and the alias domain, using a single mailbox.
Example:
If your primary domain is example.com and you add example.net as a domain alias. A user with the email alice@example.com will also receive emails sent to alice@example.net
Key Features and Benefits
- Email Reception on Multiple Domains: Users can receive emails from multiple domain addresses without creating duplicate accounts.
- Send As Alias: Users can send emails from the alias using Gmail’s “Send mail as” feature.
- One-to-One Mapping: Each user retains the same prefix (before the @) across domains.
- No Extra Licensing: Aliases don’t require additional licenses or cost.
- Ideal for Rebranding: You can keep old email addresses active during transitions.
Domain Alias vs. Secondary Domain
| Feature | Domain Alias | Secondary Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Email Address | Same users, different domain | New user accounts can be created |
| Mailbox | Shared with primary account | Separate for each user |
| Licensing | No additional license | Requires separate licenses |
| Best Use Case | Rebranding or multilingual domains | Different teams or business units |
Use Cases
- Company Rebranding: Transition from old brand to new brand without losing email
oldbrand.comnewbrand.com - Multilingual or Regional Sites: Use parallel
company.decompany.frcompany.com - Email Consolidation: Let users receive emails from multiple branded domains in one inbox.
How to Add a Domain Alias in Google Workspace
- Log into the Google Admin console.
- Navigate to Account > Domains > Manage domains.
- Click Add a domain alias.
- Enter the new domain and verify ownership (DNS verification).
- Email routing will be configured automatically for all users.
Limitations and Considerations
- Domain aliases apply globally; you can’t assign them to only specific users.
- They are only usable for email, not login, unless configured with advanced settings.
- You cannot reuse an alias domain elsewhere in another Google Workspace account.
Conclusion
A Google Workspace domain alias is a powerful and flexible solution for managing multiple domain names under a single set of user accounts. It supports seamless rebranding, marketing expansion, and multi-region operations without adding administrative complexity or cost. Understanding how to implement and use domain aliases is essential for scaling your organization’s digital communication.