MailTub review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

MailTub is an open-source, self-hosted disposable email service for developers, QA teams, and operators who need temporary inboxes under their own infrastructure. It runs as a single Go binary with SQLite and an embedded React interface, and it supports Docker deployment. Mailboxes can be created with random addresses or custom local parts, with expiry configured from one hour to seven days and a default lifetime of 24 hours. The platform is available through web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android environments.

Deployment and integration are central to MailTub’s appeal. The published feature set includes real-time delivery through WebSockets, a REST API, and a command-line client, giving development and QA workflows several access paths. MIME attachment parsing and downloads support email inspection, while exports in EML ZIP or JSON help move messages into other processes. SMTP STARTTLS, rate limiting, a password-protected admin panel, and a Prometheus metrics endpoint add operational controls for managed deployments. Teams should choose MailTub when infrastructure ownership and programmatic access matter more than a hosted onboarding flow.

MailTub’s standout strength is the combination of disposable inbox control and operational flexibility. Users can set short-lived or longer temporary mailboxes, use custom addresses, inspect attachments, and receive messages without relying only on manual refreshes. The product also lists custom-domain support in its category specifications. Its tradeoff is the responsibility that comes with self-hosting: operators need to handle deployment and ongoing service management. MailTub fits teams that want configurable temporary mail under their control; teams seeking a broader email workflow or a managed-service-first experience should consider another type of product.

MailTub pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Configurable mailbox expiry from one hour to seven days
  • REST API, CLI, WebSocket delivery, and email exports
  • Attachments, SMTP STARTTLS, admin controls, and Prometheus metrics
• Where it doesn't
  • Self-hosted deployment requires operators to manage the infrastructure
  • Mailbox expiry is limited to a maximum of seven days
  • Its narrow focus may not suit teams seeking broader email workflows

MailTub fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update