Google Workspace – Using Groups as Aliases in Google Apps

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Google Apps supports unlimited group email addresses, but only 30 email aliases per user. Does this mean that instead of creating an alias myalias@example.com for michael@example.com, I can just create a group email address myalias@example.com for a group that only contains michael@example.com and achieve the same effect?

I don't need to send email from these group email addresses (which is possible with an alias); I only need to receive email.

Best Answer

In short, yes, you can use Google Groups as alias replacements. Please see the details below.

  • There is no limit to the number of groups you can create. (src: "Is there a limit to the number of groups a user can create?" However, a given user can only be the owner of 1000 groups. If the group is created by a Super Admin or user with the Create Groups role, the group doesn't need an owner to exist.
  • Size limits for incoming messages remain the same as in vanilla Gmail - 25 MB. (src: "Is there a size limit for messages sent to a group?")
  • Receiving limits are lower than a Gmail account - the entire group can receive no more than 300 messages per 5 minutes or 1800 messages per hour per sender. (src) This is compared to 180 messages per minute (900 messages per 5 minutes) for a Google Apps for Work Gmail account. (src)
  • EDIT: Also note that groups must be set so "Public" can post to them (otherwise everyone who tries to email your group will get a Delivery Status Notification (Failure) message). public posting permissions

Bonus Benefit

  • The same method can be implemented for users on an external (non-example.com) domain - so long as the group has the "Allow members external to this organization" setting selected (hxxps://groups.google.com/a/example.com/forum/#!groupsettings/yourgroupnamehere/basic)
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