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Ethereal Email
What Ethereal Email is
Ethereal Email is a free email-catching service for checking outbound messages without delivering them to recipients. Messages sent to Ethereal are stored for review, then deleted after a few hours. The service is aimed mostly at Nodemailer users, while also supporting any mail client or library that supports SMTP. You can create test accounts with Nodemailer or manually from the login page; Nodemailer account creation provides SMTP credentials instantly, without signup or email verification. Review messages in the web interface, through an IMAP or POP3 client, or with a preview URL from `nodemailer.getTestMessageUrl(info)`. Ethereal provides SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 access, with STARTTLS for SMTP and TLS for IMAP and POP3. Each address has a 100MB message-storage quota, and public accounts can send up to 200 messages per hour. Inbound email is disabled for public accounts; inbound access requires an active EmailEngine subscription and an API key. The service is run by the Nodemailer team and funded by EmailEngine, described as a self-hosted email API for Gmail, Microsoft 365, and IMAP.
Who it suits
Ethereal suits developers who need to inspect outbound email while testing with Nodemailer or another SMTP-compatible mail client or library. It also fits workflows that can use its web interface, preview URLs, or IMAP and POP3 access to review messages.
What it does well
- Free plan for catching outbound email.
- Works with SMTP-compatible mail clients and libraries.
- Creates Nodemailer test accounts without signup or email verification.
- Offers web, IMAP, and POP3 message review.
- Provides API access.
What to know first
- Messages are deleted after a few hours.
- Each address has a 100MB storage quota.
- Public accounts are limited to 200 messages per hour.
- Public accounts cannot receive inbound email.
Limits
The free Ethereal plan allows public accounts to send up to 200 messages per hour and gives each address 100MB of storage. Messages are deleted after a few hours, and public accounts cannot receive inbound email.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereal | 200 messages per hour for public accounts · 100MB storage per address · messages deleted after a few hours | Free |
As ethereal.email lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Ethereal Email website.
- Create a test account with Nodemailer or from the login page.
- Use the SMTP credentials provided through Nodemailer, or configure a compatible mail client or library.
- Review messages in the web interface, with IMAP or POP3, or through the Nodemailer preview URL.
Verdict
Choose Ethereal Email to review outbound messages during development, especially if you use Nodemailer or another SMTP-compatible client. Look elsewhere if you need public accounts to receive inbound email or retain messages beyond a few hours.
Questions
How much does Ethereal Email cost?
The Ethereal plan is free.
Does Ethereal Email have a free plan or trial?
It has a free plan and no free trial.
Can Ethereal Email deliver messages to recipients?
No. It stores outbound messages for review and never delivers them.
Which clients and protocols does it support?
It supports mail clients and libraries that support SMTP, with SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 access. STARTTLS is listed for SMTP and TLS for IMAP and POP3.
Can public accounts receive inbound email?
No. Inbound access requires an active EmailEngine subscription and an API key.
Who runs Ethereal Email?
It is run by the Nodemailer team and funded by EmailEngine, described as a self-hosted email API for Gmail, Microsoft 365, and IMAP.
Facts from Ethereal Email's own pages
- Account access
- Creating an account through Nodemailer provides SMTP credentials instantly without signup or email verification. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The service is mostly aimed at Nodemailer users, but supports any mail client or library that supports SMTP. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Inbound email
- Inbound email is disabled for public accounts; the help page says inbound access requires an active EmailEngine subscription and an API key. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations and funding
- Ethereal is run by the Nodemailer team and funded by EmailEngine, described as a self-hosted email API for Gmail, Microsoft 365, and IMAP. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Message preview
- Users can preview sent messages through a URL from `nodemailer.getTestMessageUrl(info)`, the web interface, or an IMAP/POP3 client. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- Ethereal provides SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 access; its help page lists STARTTLS for SMTP and TLS for IMAP and POP3. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Ethereal is a free email-catching service for testing outbound email; it stores messages for review and never delivers them. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Retention
- Messages are stored for a few hours and then deleted. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Security rationale
- The help page says inbound email was discontinued for general accounts after the feature was exploited because anonymous accounts were easy to create. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Sending limit
- Public accounts can send up to 200 messages per hour, after which the server temporarily rejects further messages until the next hour. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Storage quota
- Each address has a 100MB message-storage quota. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The FAQ directs users to the help page, Nodemailer documentation, or [email protected] for assistance. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
- Test accounts
- Users can create test accounts with Nodemailer or manually from the login page, and the FAQ says users can create as many as they wish. · ethereal.email, 4 Oct 2026
Where Ethereal Email stands on Freedom251
- Email Testing Software#5 of 28