Side by side
MailFlow vs Pontius
Both stand on ai email assistants. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
Choose MailFlow if you want incoming mail classified and reply drafts prepared for review, especially if self-hosting or local Ollama matters to you. Managed Free is capped at one mailbox and 100 emails a day. Look elsewhere if you need the software to send replies automatically.
Visit MailFlow
Free trial LinuxMacWindows
Pontius combines a desktop email client with an AI-focused command-line tool and broad IMAP/SMTP connectivity. Its local storage and encrypted sync appeal to privacy-conscious users, while core sending and synchronization require the paid license.
Visit PontiusThe facts
| MailFlow | Pontius | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Paid: $12 a month | Lifetime License: $99, paid once |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | getpontius.com |
| On ai email assistants | #10 of 46 | #31 of 46 |
MailFlow: what it does well
- Classifies mail into IMAP folders using domains, threads, and keywords.
- Saves generated replies in the IMAP Drafts folder.
- Connects through generic IMAP or OAuth2 for Gmail and Microsoft 365.
- Supports multiple listed LLM providers and compatible endpoints.
- Can be self-hosted with Docker Compose.
What to know first
- Managed Free is limited to one mailbox.
- Managed Free allows 100 emails per day.
- MailFlow does not send email automatically.
- The security file warns against reusing an early development SECRET_KEY.
Pontius: what it does well
- Inbox triage and AI reply drafting
- Supports IMAP/SMTP email providers
- Stores email data locally
- AES-256 encryption for sync data
- 30-day refund policy
What to know first
- No free plan
- Sending, replying, and sync require a license
- Linux desktop app is planned
- Lifetime License costs $99, paid once
Alternatives to MailFlow Alternatives to Pontius The whole list