Trestle requires a business email for account signups because Trestle provides access to identity data like phone numbers, names, addresses, and email addresses tied to real people. Requiring a business email is one of several ways Trestle verifies that signups come from legitimate businesses with valid use cases. Personal email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. are not accepted.
If you’ve tried to sign up for Trestle’s Developer Portal and hit an error because you entered a free web address, it’s not a bug. Trestle only accepts business email addresses during signup.
This may feel like an unnecessary hurdle, especially if you just want to test the API. But Trestle’s APIs return sensitive identity data about real people, and we have a responsibility to know who is accessing this data and why. A business email is the first step in establishing that accountability.
What Email Do I Need to Sign Up for Trestle’s Developer Portal? #
To create a Trestle Developer Portal account, you need a business email address that is linked to your active business website. In other words, we require an email tied to your company domain like you@yourcompany.com or tommy@trestleiq.com.
Trestle does not accept free or personal email providers during signup. This includes addresses from domains like:
- Gmail (@gmail.com)
- Yahoo (@yahoo.com)
- Outlook / Hotmail (@outlook.com, @hotmail.com)
- iCloud (@icloud.com)
- AOL (@aol.com)
Trestle does support Google Authentication, so you can use your Google account to sign up, but that Google account needs to be a Google Workspace account on a business domain, not a personal @gmail.com address.
After completing email verification, you’ll receive an API key and immediate access to Real Contact API and Phone Validation API.
What If I’m a Freelancer or Independent Developer Without a Business Domain? #
We understand that not every legitimate user has a company email. Freelancers, independent consultants, and solo developers may operate under a personal domain or may not have a custom email domain at all.
If you operate a freelance business or consultancy, many domain registrars and email hosting providers offer affordable options for setting up a professional email. The goal is to verify that you run a business and your business use case is legitimate.
How Do I Sign Up for Trestle’s Developer Portal? #
Once you have your business email ready, the signup process is quick:
- Go to portal.trestleiq.com/signup
- Enter your business email address and name
- Complete the email verification step
You’ll receive your API key and immediate access to Phone Validation API and Real Contact API. The free trial includes 25 queries per product and lasts 14 days, whichever comes first. No credit card is required to start.
For a detailed walkthrough of the trial process and what happens after, see Understanding Trestle’s Free API Trial and the API Access Request Process for Specific Products.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Can I sign up with a Google account? #
Yes. Trestle supports Google Authentication. However, the Google account must be associated with a business email domain (e.g., a Google Workspace account), not a personal @gmail.com account.
I’m a freelancer without a company email. What should I do? #
You can create a simple custom domain with a business email; however, Trestle reserves the right to deny your request if the business use case is not sufficient.
What products can I access immediately after signing up? #
New signups automatically receive access to Phone Validation API, Real Contact API, and Address Validation API. Other products such as Reverse Phone API and Caller Identification API require an additional access request and use case review.
Is the free trial really free? #
Yes. The trial includes 25 queries per product for 14 days, no credit card required.
Ready to get started? Sign up for Trestle’s Developer Portal with your business email, no credit card required.
Questions? Reach out to support@trestleiq.com.