Alpine
What Alpine is
Alpine is a downloadable email program with releases and documentation from its maker’s website. All code can be downloaded free of charge, and the latest listed release is version 2.26 under the Apache License 2.0. Releases include Windows binaries for Windows 10 or 64-bit Windows, a separate 32-bit Windows binary for older Windows systems, and Unix source excluding OSX. Alpine stores mail-server information, address-book contacts, and S/MIME certificates and keys locally or on an IMAP server you choose. With S/MIME support compiled in, it can encrypt and sign messages using certificates. Filters select messages by text, status, or folder, then move or delete matches. Folders and subscribed Usenet newsgroups can be grouped into collections. Text search is case insensitive and cannot be configured otherwise. XOAUTH2 instructions cover Gmail, Outlook or Office 365, Yahoo, and Yandex; Gmail requires your own client ID and client secret.
Who it suits
Alpine suits users seeking a free downloadable email client for Windows or Unix systems, with local or chosen IMAP storage. It is also relevant to users needing filters, collections, or optional S/MIME support.
What it does well
- Free code download
- Apache License 2.0 distribution
- Supports Windows binaries and Unix source
- Filters can move or delete matching mail
- Optional S/MIME signing and encryption
What to know first
- Search is always case insensitive
- XOAUTH2 excludes other listed providers
- Gmail setup requires your own credentials
- Debug builds may log sensitive activity
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | All code can be downloaded free of charge | Free |
As alpineapp.email lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Alpine provides a free, release-based email client with filtering, collections, and optional certificate features. Check platform, authentication, and debug-logging details before adopting it.
Facts from Alpine's own pages
- App coverage
- desktop · alpineapp.email, 21 Sept 2026
- Authentication
- Alpine documents XOAUTH2 setup for Gmail, Outlook or Office 365, Yahoo, and Yandex. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- The compilation guide says OpenSSL is optional, but Alpine cannot connect securely to a server without it. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Debug logs
- Builds with debug support may log visited servers, read messages, keystrokes, and sent messages; the documentation says users can disable debug files with the -d 0 command-line option. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The site says Alpine’s configuration documentation is included in the binary and can be accessed with the ? command or Ctrl+G. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Email client
- Alpine is an email program distributed from the site as downloadable releases. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Email data
- Alpine stores mail server information, address book contacts, and S/MIME certificates and keys locally or on an IMAP server the user chooses. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Email storage
- Alpine stores email server information, address-book contacts, and S/MIME certificates and keys locally or on an IMAP server chosen by the user. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- Filters can select messages by text, status, or folder, then move or delete matching messages. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Filter limitation
- The maker documents that two Alpine sessions can sometimes apply the same filter to a message more than once. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Folders and news
- Alpine groups folders or newsgroups into collections, including incoming folders, mail folders, and subscribed Usenet newsgroups. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · alpineapp.email, 21 Sept 2026
- Gmail setup
- The maker says Gmail setup requires users to obtain their own client ID and client secret. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The latest release is distributed under the Apache License Version 2.0. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Open source license
- The site says Alpine releases are distributed under the Apache License 2.0. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The release page offers a Windows binary and describes a Unix version, while its release notes also mention Web Alpine. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Price
- The site’s terms say all code can be downloaded free of charge. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Alpine says it does not sell or share configuration information or user data. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Provider authentication
- The XOAUTH2 documentation covers Gmail, Outlook or Office 365, Yahoo, and Yandex; it says setup with other providers is not possible at this time. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Provider limit
- The XOAUTH2 guide says setup with other providers is not possible at this time. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Alpine is an email program distributed with documentation and releases from the maker’s site. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Release
- The latest release listed on the site is version 2.26. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Release platforms
- The latest release page offers a Windows binary for Windows 10 or 64-bit Windows, a separate 32-bit binary for older Windows, and Unix source excluding OSX. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
- Search
- Alpine’s text search is case insensitive, and the documentation says this behavior cannot be configured. · alpineapp.email, 12 Oct 2026
Where Alpine stands on Freedom251
- Email clients#70 of 142