Group: Free Software Webmail Systems

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(RMS requested edits; removed the compromised Tormail)
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This page is a place to find and share resources for people interested in doing their email on the Web without compromising their freedom. There are a variety of good choices for free software webmail.
 
This page is a place to find and share resources for people interested in doing their email on the Web without compromising their freedom. There are a variety of good choices for free software webmail.
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Whether the server itself runs nonfree software is a different issue. Nonfree software running on the server infringes the freedom of the server operator, but not yours; therefore, it is a secondary issue. We note here that some server operators say they run exclusively free software; you might choose one of them to reward their support for the community.
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There are other major issues about email and respect for your freedom -- privacy, for instance -- but we don't know how to evaluate a service on those criteria.
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Some of these services are gratis, but that's a separate issue.
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Recall that "free software" refers to freedom, not price.
  
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[https://www.gmail.com Gmail]</span>: You can sign in and use Gmail without non-free Javascript, but you have to make the account in a special way, through <span class="plainlinks">[https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount]</span>. This is an old sign-up form; the currently recommended sign-up form is no good, since it requires nonfree Javascript code.
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[https://www.gmail.com Gmail]</span>: You can sign in and use Gmail without non-free Javascript, but you have to make the account in a special way, through <span class="plainlinks">[https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount]</span>. This is an old sign-up form; the currently recommended sign-up form is no good, since it requires nonfree Javascript code.
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* <span class="plainlinks">[https://www.fastmail.fm Fastmail]</span>: Sign up, sign in, and webmail all work smoothly. This is a paid service with a 60-day free trial.
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[https://www.fastmail.fm Fastmail]</span>: Sign up, sign in, and webmail all work smoothly. This is a paid service with a 60-day free trial.
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[http://tormail.org/ Tormail]</span>: Requires usage of Tor anonymity network, but the website provides an easy tutorial
 
  
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.mailoo.org/ Mailoo]</span>: '''Explicitly states it runs on Free Software'''. Currently (June 2013) <s>under maintenance, no new accounts</s> up and running again.
 
* <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.mailoo.org/ Mailoo]</span>: '''Explicitly states it runs on Free Software'''. Currently (June 2013) <s>under maintenance, no new accounts</s> up and running again.

Revision as of 09:01, 21 August 2013

This page is a place to find and share resources for people interested in doing their email on the Web without compromising their freedom. There are a variety of good choices for free software webmail.

Whether the server itself runs nonfree software is a different issue. Nonfree software running on the server infringes the freedom of the server operator, but not yours; therefore, it is a secondary issue. We note here that some server operators say they run exclusively free software; you might choose one of them to reward their support for the community.

There are other major issues about email and respect for your freedom -- privacy, for instance -- but we don't know how to evaluate a service on those criteria.

Some of these services are gratis, but that's a separate issue. Recall that "free software" refers to freedom, not price.

  • Gmail: You can sign in and use Gmail without non-free Javascript, but you have to make the account in a special way, through https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount. This is an old sign-up form; the currently recommended sign-up form is no good, since it requires nonfree Javascript code.
  • Mail.ru: Sign up, sign in, and webmail all work smoothly.
  • Fastmail: Sign up, sign in, and webmail all work smoothly. This is a paid service with a 60-day free trial.
  • Mailoo: Explicitly states it runs on Free Software. Currently (June 2013) under maintenance, no new accounts up and running again.
  • OpenMailBox: Runs explicitly on Free Softwares. Service started in June 2013.

Last updated June 13, 2013. Original list provided by Trevor Vartanoff.

This page was a featured resource in June 2013.