Mailpile
What Mailpile is
Mailpile is free, open-source software that combines an email client, search engine, personal webmail server, and tools for encrypted email. It is designed to run on your own computer, with a web interface, basic command-line interface, and developer API. Messages can be organized with tags and automatic tagging rules or classifiers. The project aims to simplify sending and receiving OpenPGP-encrypted or signed mail. The Moggie rewrite can read local mail folders and files as well as remote IMAP mailboxes. Mailpile lists API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows platforms. Its self-run model has no ads or spying, and the standalone client does not automatically share personally identifiable information with the development team. Optional update checks disclose software version and interface language without linking them to individual identities. Mailpile is being rewritten, the current release is listed as “tbd,” the legacy codebase is no longer updated, and downloads are temporarily unavailable.
Who it suits
Mailpile suits people who want self-hosted email search, webmail, tagging, and OpenPGP tools across desktop or server environments.
What it does well
- Free and open source
- Self-run software with no ads or spying
- Fast search with tags and classifiers
- Web, command-line, and developer interfaces
- Supports local mail and remote IMAP
What to know first
- Current release is listed as “tbd”
- Legacy codebase is no longer updated
- Downloads are temporarily unavailable
- Project is undergoing a rewrite
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mailpile | Free software · self-run application · current release listed as “tbd” | Free |
As mailpile.is lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Mailpile offers self-hosted email management with search, organization, and encryption-focused features. Its ongoing rewrite and unavailable downloads are important considerations before deployment.
Facts from Mailpile's own pages
- Client privacy
- Mailpile's privacy policy says its standalone client does not automatically share personally identifiable information with the development team or Mailpile ehf. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Development limitation
- The project says the legacy Mailpile codebase is no longer being updated while the Python 3 rewrite proceeds. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Download availability
- The official download page currently says “Temporarily unavailable: Check out the blog!” · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The project aims to make sending and receiving OpenPGP-encrypted or signed email convenient. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Interfaces and API
- The project repository describes a web-based primary interface, a basic command-line interface, and an API for developers. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Mail access
- A 2023 project blog post documents Moggie reading local mail folders and files as well as remote IMAP mailboxes. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy model
- The site describes Mailpile as software users run themselves on their own computer, with no ads or spying. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Product status
- The official site says Mailpile is being rewritten and lists the current release as “tbd.” · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Search and organization
- The project describes its core as a fast email search engine and supports organizing messages with tags and automatic tagging rules or classifiers. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The official site points users to the Mailpile community forum for support and discussion. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Telemetry
- When enabled, the client periodically checks for updates and discloses its software version and selected interface language; the policy says these details are not correlated with individual identities. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- Website data
- The privacy policy says the website uses no third-party analytics and retains standard server logs for up to three months. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Mailpile describes itself as an email client, search engine, personal webmail server, and way to encrypt email. · mailpile.is, 4 Oct 2026
Where Mailpile stands on Freedom251
- Email clients#58 of 142