Side by side
Inboxed vs RainLoop
Both stand on email clients. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Mac
Inboxed combines offline Mac email access with on-device summaries and receipt categorization. The free Standard plan covers core use, while Pro Lifetime adds local LoRA fine-tuning and development support.
Visit Inboxed Free plan Self-hostedWeb
RainLoop combines browser email access with direct server connections, account switching, filtering, and several security controls. Its self-hosted setup and edition licensing require attention before deployment.
Visit RainLoopThe facts
| Inboxed | RainLoop | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac | Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Pro Lifetime: $1, paid once | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | inboxed.email | rainloop.net |
| On email clients | #83 of 142 | #87 of 142 |
Inboxed: what it does well
- Local Llama 3 and Mistral processing
- Automatic summaries and receipt categorization
- Works offline
- OAuth with macOS Keychain storage
- Free Standard plan with unlimited accounts
What to know first
- Mac-only and Apple Silicon required
- Download is labeled Alpha
- Telemetry terms differ between homepage and policy
- Pro Lifetime adds a listed cost
RainLoop: what it does well
- Supports IMAP and SMTP with SSL and STARTTLS
- Multiple accounts can run in separate browser tabs
- Includes Sieve filtering and vacation messages
- Offers OpenPGP and two-factor authentication
- Works without a database except for contacts
What to know first
- Requires self-hosting and PHP 5.4 or newer
- Commercial Standard use requires a subscription
- Basic and Premium plans are deprecated
- Refunds are generally not offered
Alternatives to Inboxed Alternatives to RainLoop The whole list