Nmail review
A focused open-source option for encrypted, relay-based email across three platforms.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Nmail is an open-source reference email client and protocol for people exploring decentralized, Nostr-based mail. It provides clients for the web, Android, and Linux, with folders, read states, and settings synchronized across devices. Its core transport uses Nostr relays rather than a conventional provider-hosted inbox, making it a focused choice for users who value decentralized delivery and encrypted communication.
Privacy and message handling are the product’s clearest strengths. Nmail supports NIP-44 encryption and NIP-59 gift wrapping, while encrypted MIME attachments are handled through Blossom servers. Offline local caching supports access without a continuous connection, and synchronization keeps folders, read states, and settings aligned across supported clients. These capabilities make Nmail more suited to decentralized workflows than to users simply seeking a conventional email application with a familiar provider model.
Interoperability is available through SMTP bridges, and the published project also includes Flutter and JavaScript libraries for developers building compatible clients or integrations. That gives Nmail a path into mixed email environments while keeping Nostr relays at the center of its design. The trade-off is architectural: SMTP access depends on bridges, and the relay-based model may be less suitable for users who want a conventional inbox experience. Pick Nmail for open-source, encrypted, decentralized email across web, Android, and Linux; choose a broader conventional client if your priority is standard provider-hosted mail workflows.
Nmail pros and cons
- Where it wins
- NIP-44 encryption and NIP-59 gift wrapping
- Encrypted MIME attachments through Blossom servers
- Web, Android, and Linux apps with offline caching
- Where it doesn't
- Email transport depends on Nostr relays
- SMTP interoperability requires bridges
- A narrower alternative to conventional provider-hosted email
Nmail fact sheet, pricing and score →
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