How do companies set a name and avatar for their automated email addresses?

Question

Websites will often send notification emails from addresses like [email protected] or [email protected]. When these show up in Gmail / Inbox, they often have a name and an avatar associated, like this one from Zeplin:

I know if you're using Google Apps, as an administrator you could create a user called no-reply and set their avatar. But this also uses up one user slot which costs $5 / month. And I'm not sure if this technique works outside of Gmail or Inbox.

Are there other ways to set the avatar for automated email addresses?

Answer 1

Have a look at Gravatar.

What Is Gravatar?

An "avatar" is an image that represents you online—a little picture that appears next to your name when you interact with websites.

A Gravatar is a Globally Recognized Avatar. You upload it and create your profile just once, and then when you participate in any Gravatar-enabled site, your Gravatar image will automatically follow you there.

More info here:

https://en.gravatar.com/

This is the result for the email above.

A catch all email address allows you can receive the Gravatar activation emails for non existent email addresses.

Details for Google Apps:

• Google Admin console
• From the dashboard, click Apps, then click G Suite
• Gmail
• User settings.
• Catch-all address section

Answer 2

Go to https://myaccount.google.com/email

Click on "Advanced Settings" then on "Alternate Email". Verify emails.