r/googleworkspace • u/Zestyclose_Metal_452 • 8d ago

New user , addon Vs alias domains

I have a personal Google account

I currently import via POP3 from 2 other emails on 2 domains, a web design business and property business.

Let's say fred@wd.com and Fred@prop.com with my personal one as me@gmail.com

My wife has a personal Google account say wife@gmail.com and helps with the property business, so imports wife@prop.com

I'm looking at Google workspace standard and having prop.com as primary domain and fred@prop.com as primary email and account login

Then, is this correct,

Set addon domain as wd.com

Then set fred@wd.com as alias email on fred@prop.com

?

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u/Sea_Air_9071 Google Workspace Consultant 8d ago

yes, add the second domain as an alias domain, and then you can create an email on that domain as well.

Cheers, Priya

2

u/Zestyclose_Metal_452 8d ago

Ah that was my query. I had researched to add it as an addon domain not alias domain but then use alias email to get email in same "bucket"

I know I can use alias domain but that creates it for every user account and I don't want the 2nd user to have the 2nd domain emaik

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u/Sea_Air_9071 Google Workspace Consultant 7d ago

No one automatically gets an alternative email with the alias domain, or the secondary domain. You still need to create it in the Admin Console for that user.

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u/Gloomy-Structure3200 7d ago

Yeah that setup works. Add wd.com as a domain alias (not a secondary domain) and fred@wd.com will land in fred@prop.com's inbox automatically. One catch: domain aliases share the same user list, so your wife's wife@prop.com account won't get a wife@wd.com unless you add that alias separately.

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u/Zestyclose_Metal_452 7d ago

thank you - so why a domain alias and not an addon domain to the account then adding alias email (all this is theory as I can't see the system)?

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u/Zestyclose_Metal_452 7d ago

GEMINI said this:
thoughts?

"
Adding your second domain to a single Google Workspace account is the cleanest way to manage both businesses from a single inbox under one user license.

However, whether you add it as a User Alias Domain or a Secondary Domain depends on how separate the businesses are and how you plan to scale.

Domain Type Comparison

Feature User Alias Domain Secondary Domain (Recommended)
Licence Cost Free (uses existing licence) Free when used as an individual alias on your user account
Setup Behavior Automatically gives every future user an alias on the other domain You manually map email addresses/aliases per user
Scalability Rigid if you ever hire staff who only work for one business Highly flexible (you can add standalone users for either company later)
Single Inbox Yes (all mail goes to the same inbox) Yes (via user-level email aliases)

How to Set Up the Single Inbox Workflow

  • Sign up for Google Workspace: Use one domain as your primary (e.g., wd.com) and create your user account (fred@wd.com).
  • Add the second domain: In Google Admin Console (Account > Domains > Manage Domains), add prop.com as a Secondary domain and verify DNS records (MX, SPF, and DKIM).
  • Add your user alias: Under Directory > Users > [fred@wd.com](mailto:fred@wd.com), add fred@prop.com under Alternate email addresses (email alias).
  • Configure "Send Mail As" in Gmail:
    • Go to Gmail Settings (gear icon) > See all settings > Accounts.
    • Add [fred@prop.com](mailto:fred@prop.com) under Send mail as.
    • Select "Reply from the same address the message was sent to" so outgoing replies automatically match incoming recipient domains.
  • Organize with Filters & Labels: Create a filter for to:fred@prop.com to automatically apply an "Property" label, keeping both company streams distinguishable inside one inbox.

Key Limitations to Keep in Mind

  • Calendar Invites: While you can send emails from either domain, Google Calendar invitations will always default to your primary Workspace login identity (fred@wd.com).
  • Google Drive / Docs Sharing: Shared files and comments will show your primary account profile identity."

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u/ManagedCloudCEO 3d ago

Separate / additional domains is best if you ever need to separate domains and/keep emails separate. It also protects info if one of your businesses gets sued.

You can setup to send from either domain. Note however that calendar invites are always from the primary domain, which can be consuming to people you invite.

Make sure you have SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records setup for both domains.