The FairEmail Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about FairEmail in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
FairEmail
The Insider’s Guide
Open source, privacy-oriented email client for Android
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from FairEmail’s own pages.
Made by FairCode B.V. · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from FairEmail’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on FairEmail’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 19 of the 51 other email apps we grade
FairEmail is an open source email client for Android, provided by FairCode B.V. and developed by Marcel Bokhorst. It connects to almost any provider over IMAP, POP3 and SMTP, including Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo, stores mail on the device for offline use, and asks before showing images or opening links. Most features are free, and a one-time purchase unlocks a set of pro features such as snoozing, scheduled sending and filter rules.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about FairEmail, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for private, open-source email on Android
FairEmail is an open-source email app for Android with no ads, mail stored on your phone, and a prompt before it shows an image or opens a link.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $7.49 one-time (pro features, US Google Play in-app purchase).
- 3
There is a free plan
The app is free without ads: unlimited accounts and addresses, unified inbox, threading, offline storage and OpenPGP. Pro features such as snooze, send later and filter rules are paid.
- 4
It runs on Android
Android.
- 5
Unified inbox for unlimited accounts
Any number of accounts and email addresses can be added, with a unified inbox, conversation threading, two-way synchronization and push through IMAP IDLE.
- 6
Offline storage and operations
Messages are stored on the device, and actions taken while offline are synchronized later. The developer states that no data is stored on third-party servers.
- 7
Tracking and phishing protections
The app asks before showing images or opening links, tries to recognize and disable tracking images, reformats messages and warns when a message could not be authenticated.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 19 of 51
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace FairEmail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
FairEmail at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $7.49 one-time (pro features, US Google Play in-app purchase)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Android
- Made by
- FairCode B.V., since 2018
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for private, open-source email on Android
FairEmail is an open-source email app for Android with no ads, mail stored on your phone, and a prompt before it shows an image or opens a link. Most of it is free, and $7.49 once unlocks snooze, send later and filter rules. It's Android only, with no iOS, desktop or web version, no Exchange ActiveSync, no calendar, and a settings-heavy setup that needs your own API keys for AI.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The pro features are a one-time $7.49 on US Google Play, covering every current and future one, where email tools here run about $8 a month. Installed from outside the Play Store it's a donation of €7 or more instead, which then covers all your Android devices. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free and ad-free with unlimited accounts and addresses, a unified inbox, threading, offline storage and OpenPGP, enough for one person to use day to day. Snooze, send later, reply templates and filter rules are the paid parts. |
| Features | C | It does the mail job: any number of IMAP or POP3 accounts, offline storage, tracking images disabled, PGP and S/MIME, and with pro, snooze, send later and filter rules. The limits are its own: no Exchange Web Services or ActiveSync, and it's mail only, not a calendar or task app. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and it's a settings-heavy app: PGP runs through a separate app such as OpenKeychain, DeepL, OpenAI and Gemini each need your own API key, and the F-Droid build has no OAuth, so Gmail's quick setup is missing there. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system: Android phones, tablets and ChromeOS, with no iOS, desktop or web version at all. It connects to most providers over IMAP, POP3 and SMTP, with Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo among them. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who FairEmail is for
- Fits if you want an Android mail app with no ads that asks before loading images or links
- Works for people with several accounts at different IMAP or POP3 providers
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you also read mail on an iPhone or a computer, as it's Android only
- Not for you if your work mail needs Exchange ActiveSync or Web Services, which aren't supported
- Too light for anyone who wants calendar, contacts and tasks in the same app
- Watch out: the F-Droid build can't reuse a Play Store purchase and has no Gmail quick setup
- Tight if you want AI or translation, as DeepL, OpenAI and Gemini each need your own API key
Good to know
Good for
- Android users who want an open source email client with no ads or tracking
- People with several accounts at different IMAP or POP3 providers
- Paying once for advanced features instead of subscribing
Worth knowing
- Supported on Android phones, tablets and ChromeOS only. There is no iOS, desktop or web version.
- Microsoft Exchange Web Services and ActiveSync are not supported; accounts connect over IMAP, POP3 and SMTP.
- The F-Droid build cannot reuse a Play Store purchase and does not support OAuth sign-in, so the Gmail quick setup is missing there.
- It is an email client only: the Play listing says it is not a calendar, contact, task or note manager.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$7.49 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
FairEmail has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7.49 one-time (pro features, US Google Play in-app purchase).
Snooze, send later, reply templates and filter rules are the paid parts.
Free
$0
Unlimited accounts and email addresses, unified inbox, conversation threading, offline storage and the privacy features. No advertisements.
Pro features (Google Play)
$7.49
one-time in-app purchase (US Google Play)
All current and future pro features, including snooze, send later, reply templates, filter rules, S/MIME signing and biometric lock. No subscription.
Pro features (GitHub version)
€7 or more
one-time donation
For copies installed outside the Play Store. €7 or more activates pro features on every Android device you own; a smaller donation activates them once.
The free plan
The app is free without ads: unlimited accounts and addresses, unified inbox, threading, offline storage and OpenPGP. Pro features such as snooze, send later and filter rules are paid.
Read from play.google.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Android
Open source, privacy-oriented email client for Android. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, end-to-end encrypted, one-time purchase, email client.
The limits are its own: no Exchange Web Services or ActiveSync, and it's mail only, not a calendar or task app.
- Unified inbox for unlimited accounts
- Any number of accounts and email addresses can be added, with a unified inbox, conversation threading, two-way synchronization and push through IMAP IDLE.
- Offline storage and operations
- Messages are stored on the device, and actions taken while offline are synchronized later. The developer states that no data is stored on third-party servers.
- Tracking and phishing protections
- The app asks before showing images or opening links, tries to recognize and disable tracking images, reformats messages and warns when a message could not be authenticated.
- OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption
- Optional end-to-end encryption uses PGP, through the separate OpenKeychain or PGPony app, or S/MIME. Signing and encrypting with S/MIME is one of the pro features.
- Snooze, send later and filter rules
- The pro purchase adds snoozing, sending after a chosen time, reply templates, filter rules, automatic message classification, search indexing and a message list widget.
- Optional translation and AI services
- DeepL translation, LanguageTool grammar and style checks, and OpenAI or Gemini can be turned on in the integration settings. DeepL, OpenAI and Gemini each need your own API key.
Where it runs
- Android
What it works with
- Gmail
- Outlook
- Yahoo Mail
- OpenKeychain
- DeepL
- LanguageTool
- OpenAI
- Gemini
FairEmail is made by FairCode B.V., and has been around since 2018.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
19/51
Other email apps it is graded above
FairEmail's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 19 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 41 of 51) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 52 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. FairEmail’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 41 of 51
- BFree plan and trialAbove 37 of 51
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 51
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 51
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 51
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace FairEmail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $7.49, paid once. FairEmail is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- A real app for Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo Mail among them.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. FairEmail’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Thunderbird, BlueMail, Edison Mail, Gmail and Spark Mail
The 5 tools FairEmail is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- FairEmail is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
BlueMail
Free plan · from $35.99/yr
Cross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI.
- Only BlueMail lists iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- FairEmail is open source, according to its own site.
- FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Edison Mail
Free plan · from $14.99/mo
Free multi-account email app with one-tap unsubscribe.
- Only Edison Mail lists iOS and Windows apps.
- FairEmail is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Gmail
Free plan · from $7/mo
Google's email service, free for personal use with 15 GB of storage.
- Only Gmail lists a web app.
- Only Gmail lists an iOS app.
- FairEmail is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Spark Mail
Free plan · from $8.25/mo
Email client with a unified smart inbox, AI tools and team features.
- Only Spark Mail lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- FairEmail is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is FairEmail free?
FairEmail has a free plan. The app is free without ads: unlimited accounts and addresses, unified inbox, threading, offline storage and OpenPGP.
How much does FairEmail cost?
FairEmail lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does FairEmail work on?
FairEmail is available on Android.
Does FairEmail have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. FairEmail is listed for Android.
Does FairEmail have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. FairEmail is listed for Android.
Is FairEmail open source?
Yes. FairEmail is open source, according to its own site.
Is FairEmail end-to-end encrypted?
FairEmail describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does FairEmail work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does FairEmail integrate with?
FairEmail's listing names Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, OpenKeychain, DeepL, LanguageTool, OpenAI and Gemini.
Who makes FairEmail?
FairEmail is made by FairCode B.V. It dates from 2018.
What are the alternatives to FairEmail?
The closest alternatives to FairEmail in our directory are Thunderbird, BlueMail, Edison Mail, Gmail and Spark Mail.
How does FairEmail compare with other email apps?
FairEmail's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 19 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of FairEmail?
To replace FairEmail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from FairEmail’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from FairEmail's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-08.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by FairCode B.V. Prices change, so check email.faircode.eu before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- FairEmail, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fairemail
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "FairEmail: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fairemail
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fairemail/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after FairEmail, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 52 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 GPA
- Thunderbird Insider's GuideFree, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what FairEmail’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. FairEmail is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by FairCode B.V. Prices and plans change: check email.faircode.eu before you buy.