RainLoop review
A free, extensible webmail client for self-hosted IMAP and SMTP.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
RainLoop pros and cons
- 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
RainLoop fact sheet, pricing and score →
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