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RainLoop

Freemium#108 of 142 in Email Clients

RainLoop: A free, extensible webmail client for self-hosted IMAP and SMTP. Ranked #108 of 142 in Email Clients by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for self-hosters wanting free extensible webmail.

3.0/10Editor score

Visit RainLoop

RainLoop3.0 Visit RainLoop

At a glance

Editor score
3.0 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Self-hosters wanting free extensible webmail
Free plan
Yes
App coverage
Web
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Free, open-source webmail for self-hosted IMAP and SMTP
- Plugins, filters, multiple accounts, OpenPGP and two-factor authentication
- Works without a database on PHP-compatible web servers
Where it doesn't
- Web-only access with no offline mode
- No calendar, scheduling, AI, or verified unified inbox
- Legacy Basic and Premium editions are deprecated

Our verdict on RainLoop

RainLoop is a self-hosted webmail client for accessing IMAP and SMTP mail servers through a browser. It suits individuals, technical teams, and organizations that want a browser-based email interface under their own hosting environment. Support for SSL and STARTTLS, multiple accounts, additional identities, folders, Sieve filters, vacation messages, and drag-and-drop mail handling covers the core needs of a multi-account mailbox. Themes, multilingual support, keyboard shortcuts, browser notifications, and upload progress add practical interface options.

RainLoop’s strongest differentiator is its extensibility and control. Plugins can be installed through the administration panel, while client-side OpenPGP and two-factor authentication add security features beyond basic webmail access. Multi-level caching is also included. The application can run on Apache, NGINX, lighttpd, or another PHP-compatible web server, and core operation does not require a database. Integrations include Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Dropbox. These capabilities make it a good fit when self-hosting, customization, and direct IMAP/SMTP access matter more than a broad productivity suite.

The plan structure needs careful attention. Legacy Basic and Premium are deprecated, while the Community edition is AGPLv3 and the Standard edition uses the RainLoop Software License for commercial or non-personal use. RainLoop is focused on webmail rather than a complete work-management environment: it does not provide offline access, a calendar, scheduling, AI features, or a verified unified inbox. Choose it for free, extensible, self-hosted browser email; choose another client if offline work, integrated calendars, scheduling, or AI-assisted mail are central requirements.

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

RainLoop pricing

Plans Free planFreemium A usable free plan; paid tiers unlock the limits above. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026.

See plans on rainloop.net

All 4 RainLoop plans and prices →

RainLoop fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Not verified
App coverage	Web
Account limit	Not verified
Unified inbox	Not verified
Offline access	Not verified
Scheduled sending	Not verified
Calendar tools	Not verified
Deployment	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web
Compliance & security	2FA
Support	Email, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate)
Integrations	4 integrations: Facebook, Google, Twitter, Dropbox
Pricing	Free plan (source)
Website	rainloop.net
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

RainLoop integrations

RainLoop lists 4 integrations on its own site.

Facebook
Google
Twitter
Dropbox

Alternatives to RainLoop

See all RainLoop alternatives →

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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used RainLoop 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.

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Featured on iTechGuides

RainLoop is listed in our Email Clients directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update