Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

GMvault

Free#21 of 31 in Email Backup Software

GMvault: A free, local Gmail backup utility for command-line users. Ranked #21 of 31 in Email Backup Software by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free Gmail-only technical users.

7.3/10Editor score
GMvault7.3 Visit GMvault

At a glance

  • Editor score
    7.3 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Free Gmail-only technical users
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
  • Where it wins

    • Free and open source with local repository storage
    • Full and incremental Gmail synchronization
    • Restore support with resumable transfers and OAuth
  • Where it doesn't

    • Supports Gmail rather than multiple email providers
    • Command-line interface requires technical comfort
    • Provides a locally managed archive instead of hosted backup service

Our verdict on GMvault

GMvault is an open-source command-line utility for backing up and restoring Gmail accounts. It is aimed at individuals and small teams that want to keep email data in a local repository rather than rely on a hosted backup service. The tool supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, and its Gmail focus makes it a fit for users whose backup needs center on one provider. Authentication can use OAuth or a Gmail password, giving administrators two available connection methods.

Its backup workflow covers both full Gmail mailbox synchronization and incremental synchronization. Email data is stored locally, which supports a repository-based approach to archiving and gives users control over where the backup is kept. GMvault can also restore backed-up email to a Gmail account, and interrupted restores can be resumed or restarted. These capabilities make it more than a one-way export utility: it supports synchronization, local storage, and recovery to Gmail. The command-line interface is appropriate for users who are comfortable working with terminal-based tools and local repositories.

GMvault is strongest when the requirement is a free, open-source Gmail backup tool that runs across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is a practical choice for technical users who want full and incremental synchronization plus restore options without a paid plan. It is less suitable for teams seeking broad provider coverage, a graphical workflow, or a hosted backup service. Since Gmail is the supported provider, organizations managing mail across other services should choose a tool with wider provider support. Buyers who prefer local control and can work with a command-line utility should find its feature set closely aligned with that use case.

Your product? Our editors can test GMvault in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

GMvault pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on gmvault.org

GMvault fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromFree
Retention periodNot verified
Backup frequencyNot verified
Mailbox limitNot verified
Granular restoreNot verified
Point-in-time restoreNot verified
Alternate restoreYes
Supported providersGmail
DeploymentDesktop
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
SupportCommunity, Docs
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations1 integrations: Gmail
PricingFree plan
Websitegmvault.org
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

GMvault integrations

GMvault lists 1 integrations on its own site.

  • Gmail

Alternatives to GMvault

See all GMvault alternatives →

Used GMvault? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used GMvault for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — GMvault 7.3/10

GMvault is listed in our Email Backup Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/gmvault/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/gmvault.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated · How we research and update