Temporary email vs Gmail: when to use which

Gmail and a disposable inbox are not competitors. They sit at opposite ends of the same decision: how long does this address need to exist?

Use a temporary inbox when

• You need a one-time verification code.
• You are testing a signup flow.
• You expect the service to send marketing you do not want.
• You will not need to recover the account.

Use a permanent inbox (Gmail or similar) when

• Money, identity or important data is involved.
• You need receipts, alerts or password resets.
• You will use the account for months or years.
• You want two-factor authentication and recovery.

The rule

If losing the address tomorrow would inconvenience you, use the permanent one. If losing it tomorrow is exactly what you want, use a temporary inbox. Most people need both, for different signups.