Velo review
A free, open-source desktop inbox with AI assistance, offline reading, and broad account support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Velo is an open-source desktop email client for people managing multiple inboxes across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, Fastmail, and other IMAP/SMTP services. Its unified inbox, threaded conversations, Gmail-style search operators, scheduling, undo send, snoozing, filters, and newsletter bundling cover the core needs of users who want one place for daily email. Google Calendar integration adds a useful scheduling connection, while local SQLite storage supports offline reading. Velo is aimed at desktop users who value control, keyboard-first workflows, and a free open-source application.
Pricing is straightforward: the Free plan costs $0 and is described as free forever. It includes the open-source Apache 2.0 license, no cloud dependency, and downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux. There are no paid tiers to compare, so the main tradeoff is scope rather than plan gating. Users can connect established providers and services, including Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, Fastmail, IMAP/SMTP, and Google Calendar. Optional AI connections support Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, and Google Gemini through user-provided API keys.
The standout combination is local email storage, offline reading, encrypted credential storage, phishing detection, and AI assistance in one desktop client. AI features cover thread summaries, smart replies, drafting, and natural-language inbox search, while scheduling, snoozing, and calendar integration help with email triage. Velo suits people who want a free, open-source desktop replacement for managing several accounts and are comfortable providing their own AI credentials when needed. It is less suitable for anyone who requires a mobile or browser-based client, or who wants a product with paid support tiers and a broader cross-platform ecosystem.
Velo pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Unified inbox supports Gmail and IMAP/SMTP accounts
- Offline reading with local SQLite storage and no cloud dependency
- AI summaries, drafting, smart replies, and inbox search
- Where it doesn't
- Desktop-only: Windows, macOS, and Linux
- AI features require user-provided API keys
- Focused on email rather than a broader mobile or web suite
Velo fact sheet, pricing and score →
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