Email clients
Mailspring privacy rating
Open-source desktop email client for Windows, macOS and Linux with a unified inbox and optional paid features such as read receipts and send later.
Summary
Mailspring scores 39 out of 100 (grade F) on the email clients criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: no ads or data sales and works with any provider. It partly meets open source, connects directly and blocks remote content. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry, independent audit and OpenPGP support. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 39 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
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Partial
Open source Weight 3 of 3
Is all the source code needed to run the product public?
The app and its sync engine are GPL-3.0, but the Mailspring ID service behind the Pro features is closed source.
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No
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
The website loads Google Analytics, and the privacy policy lists Mixpanel, Intercom and Google Analytics for tracking.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Funded by the Mailspring Pro subscription. The app shows no ads.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.
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No
OpenPGP support Weight 2 of 3
Can the app encrypt and sign mail with OpenPGP, built in or through an official add-on?
Not supported.
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Partial
Connects directly Weight 3 of 3
Does the app connect directly to your mail server, without passing mail or passwords through the vendor's servers?
Credentials stay in the system keychain and mail syncs directly, but linked addresses are sent to Mailspring servers for features such as read receipts.
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Partial
Blocks remote content Weight 2 of 3
Are remote images and tracking pixels blocked by default?
Images load automatically by default. Automatic loading can be turned off in settings.
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Yes
Works with any provider Weight 1 of 3
Does the app work with any standard IMAP and SMTP provider?
Works with any IMAP and SMTP provider.