{
  "slug": "forward-email",
  "category": "email-clients",
  "name": "Forward Email",
  "description": "Email client for Forward Email accounts, available as webmail and as desktop and mobile apps built from one source-available codebase, with built-in OpenPGP and optional encryption of locally stored data.",
  "website": "https://forwardemail.net/en/download",
  "source": "https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "web",
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": true,
  "pick_reason": "Source-available webmail, desktop and mobile client with built-in OpenPGP and no third-party analytics. It works only with Forward Email accounts, not other IMAP and SMTP providers.",
  "disclosure": "Privacy Ratings is maintained by the team behind Forward Email. This entry is scored by the same criteria as every other email client, and changes to it are reviewed under the published conflict-of-interest rules.",
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 81,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Forward Email scores 81 out of 100 (grade B) on the email clients criteria. It meets 5 of 8 criteria: open source, no ads or data sales, independent audit, OpenPGP support and connects directly. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry and blocks remote content. It does not meet works with any provider. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/forward-email/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/forward-email/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net/blob/main/LICENSE.md",
      "note": "All code is public. The apps are under the source-available Business Source License 1.1, which becomes MPL-2.0 four years after each release."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://forwardemail.net/en/privacy#analytics",
      "note": "No third-party analytics in the website or apps, but the website runs first-party cookieless analytics by default."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://forwardemail.net/en/privacy",
      "note": "Funded by paid plans. No ads, and user data is not shared with third parties."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cure53.de/pentest-report_forward-email.pdf",
      "note": "Cure53's audit scope includes the mail.forwardemail.net client code together with the Forward Email service."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "openpgp": {
      "title": "OpenPGP support",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net/blob/main/src/utils/pgp-send.ts",
      "note": "OpenPGP encryption and signing are built in."
    },
    "no_cloud_relay": {
      "title": "Connects directly",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net/blob/main/README.md",
      "note": "Connects directly to the Forward Email API, which is the mail server, with no separate sync service. Mobile push goes through APNs, FCM or UnifiedPush."
    },
    "remote_content_blocked": {
      "title": "Blocks remote content",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net/blob/main/src/stores/settingsRegistry.ts",
      "note": "Tracking pixels are blocked by default, but other remote images load unless blocking is turned on in settings."
    },
    "any_provider": {
      "title": "Works with any provider",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://forwardemail.net/en/faq#do-you-offer-a-webmail-client",
      "note": "Works only with Forward Email accounts. The maintainers state that a future version will support any IMAP and SMTP provider."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:48.501Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}