MinuteMail review
A programmable temporary email service with strong lifecycle controls and a useful free tier.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MinuteMail is a temporary email platform for developers and QA teams testing email delivery and authentication flows. It provides disposable, isolated mailboxes through a web interface and programmatic REST API. Mailboxes can be configured to last from 1 to 60 minutes, while messages can be retrieved, managed and inspected. The platform also supports attachment downloads, custom domains and a mock OAuth identity provider.
The free plan includes 50 API calls per day, 2 active mailboxes, 4 archived mailboxes, 1 mocked identity provider and 1 custom domain. Hobbyist costs $86 per year and raises those limits to 1,000 API calls per day, 10 active mailboxes, 20 archived mailboxes, 3 mocked identity providers and 2 custom domains. Pro costs $278 per year and adds 10,000 API calls per day, 50 active mailboxes, 100 archived mailboxes, 10 mocked identity providers and 5 custom domains. Team costs $950 per year and provides 60,000 shared API calls per day, 300 shared active mailboxes, 600 shared archived mailboxes, 25 mocked identity providers, 20 custom domains and up to 5 team members.
MinuteMail’s strongest fit is automated testing that needs controlled mailbox creation and lifecycle management. Its REST API, Python SDK and MCP access support programmatic workflows, while recoverable archiving and reactivation extend mailbox management beyond simple disposable inboxes. Attachment listing and download are useful for testing file-based email flows, and custom domains broaden deployment options. However, mailbox data and messages are automatically deleted when a mailbox expires, so it is not suited to permanent email storage or long-term correspondence. Choose MinuteMail for short-lived development and QA workflows; teams needing higher-volume shared access should consider the Team plan.
MinuteMail pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Configurable mailbox lifetimes from 1 to 60 minutes
- REST API, Python SDK and MCP access for automation
- Attachments, archiving, reactivation and custom domains
- Where it doesn't
- Paid plans start at $86 per year
- Mailbox data and messages are deleted after expiration
- Team plan is the only plan with shared quotas and members
MinuteMail fact sheet, pricing and score →
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