The Roundcube Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Roundcube 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.
Roundcube
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source webmail client you host yourself
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Roundcube’s own pages.
Made by Roundcube project · checked Nov 12, 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 Roundcube’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Roundcube’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 3 of the 70 other email apps we grade
Roundcube is a browser-based IMAP client with a desktop-style interface, an address book and folder management. It is free software released under the GPL that you install on your own web server and connect to an existing mail server. Since 2023 it has been hosted by Nextcloud.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Roundcube, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Self-hosting, with a web server and database to set up and keep updated.
- 1
Best for webmail you host yourself
Roundcube is free webmail software under the GPL, with no limit on users or messages.
- 2
It is free
Roundcube has no paid plan at all. The whole application is free, with no limit on users or messages, but you host it yourself.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Full email client in the browser
Drag-and-drop message management, threaded lists, MIME and HTML mail, spell checking and multiple sender identities.
- 5
Address book
Contacts with groups, find-as-you-type address entry and LDAP connectors.
- 6
Shared folders and ACLs
Supports shared and global IMAP folders and access control lists for them.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 3 of 70
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Roundcube is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Roundcube at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Roundcube project
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for webmail you host yourself
Roundcube is free webmail software under the GPL, with no limit on users or messages. But it is only a client: you supply the web server, a database and your own IMAP and SMTP servers, you install and update it yourself, and calendar and two-factor sign-in come from third-party plugins.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The software costs nothing, but it is only free if you host it, which needs a server, PHP 8.1 or newer and a database. Software you host yourself is graded C. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The whole application is free with no user or message limit. You still pay for the server and mail service it runs on, so it is not free to a person with nothing. |
| Features | C | A mail client with an address book, shared folders, plugins and skins. It provides no mailbox, and calendar, two-factor sign-in and keyboard shortcuts come from third-party plugins. |
| Ease of use | D | Self-hosting, with a web server and database to set up and keep updated. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, in over 80 languages, with a responsive skin. Nextcloud is the only integration listed. |
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 Roundcube is for
- Fits if you run your own mail server and want a webmail screen for it
- Works for hosting companies and admins who give users webmail
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a mailbox, because it only reads mail from your own IMAP and SMTP servers
- Not for you if you do not run a server, since you install and update it yourself
- Tight if you want a calendar or two-factor sign-in without plugins, as both are third-party
- Watch out: the site warns about scam emails that pretend to come from Roundcube
Good to know
Good for
- Hosting companies and admins who want to give their users webmail
- Self-hosters who already run an IMAP and SMTP server
- Organizations that want to brand and extend their own webmail
Worth knowing
- It is a client only: it needs your own IMAP and SMTP servers and does not provide a mailbox.
- You install and update it yourself on a web server with PHP 8.1 or newer and a database.
- The site posts a warning about scam emails that pretend to come from Roundcube.
- Calendar, two-factor authentication and other extras come from third-party plugins.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Roundcube is free to use.
The whole application is free with no user or message limit.
Roundcube Webmail
$0
Free under the GPL with unlimited users and messages; you supply the web server, database and mail servers.
The free plan
The whole application is free, with no limit on users or messages, but you host it yourself.
Read from roundcube.net on Nov 12, 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: Web
Free open-source webmail client you host yourself. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, email client.
A mail client with an address book, shared folders, plugins and skins.
- Full email client in the browser
- Drag-and-drop message management, threaded lists, MIME and HTML mail, spell checking and multiple sender identities.
- Address book
- Contacts with groups, find-as-you-type address entry and LDAP connectors.
- Shared folders and ACLs
- Supports shared and global IMAP folders and access control lists for them.
- Plugins and skins
- A plugin API and skin templates. Third-party additions listed include a calendar module, two-factor authentication and keyboard shortcuts.
- Security features
- Brute-force login prevention, XSS protection, OAuth login and support for PGP encryption.
- Multi-device interface
- A responsive skin, light and dark modes, three-column view and a translation into over 80 languages.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Nextcloud
Roundcube is made by Roundcube project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
3/70
Other email apps it is graded above
Roundcube's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 3 of the 70 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 47 of 70) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Roundcube has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 71 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Roundcube’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 12 of 70
- BFree plan and trialAbove 47 of 70
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 70
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 70
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 70
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 67 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Roundcube is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
Roundcube is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 59 of the 70 other email apps grade higher.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
What this rests on. Roundcube’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
Zimbra, Thunderbird, Mailspring and Fastmail
The 4 tools Roundcube is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
Zimbra
Paid
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations.
- Roundcube has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
- Only Zimbra lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Zimbra also covers tasks and calendar.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Only Roundcube lists a web app.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Android apps.
- Roundcube is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Mailspring
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Only Roundcube lists a web app.
- Only Mailspring lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Roundcube is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Fastmail
Free trial · from $3/mo
Paid, ad-free email with calendar, contacts and custom domains.
- Roundcube has a free plan. Fastmail does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Fastmail lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Roundcube is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Roundcube free?
Yes. Roundcube is free to use.
How much does Roundcube cost?
Roundcube lists one plan. Roundcube Webmail: $0.
What platforms does Roundcube work on?
Roundcube is available on Web.
Does Roundcube have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Roundcube is listed for Web.
Does Roundcube have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Roundcube is listed for Web.
Is Roundcube open source?
Yes. Roundcube is open source, according to its own site.
What does Roundcube integrate with?
Roundcube's listing names Nextcloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Roundcube?
Roundcube is made by Roundcube project.
What are the alternatives to Roundcube?
The closest alternatives to Roundcube in our directory are Zimbra, Thunderbird, Mailspring and Fastmail.
How does Roundcube compare with other email apps?
Roundcube's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 3 of the 70 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Roundcube good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Roundcube C for value for money. Roundcube has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Roundcube?
Roundcube is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Roundcube’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Roundcube's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Roundcube project. Prices change, so check roundcube.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Roundcube, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/roundcube
- 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, "Roundcube: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/roundcube
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/roundcube/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Roundcube, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 74 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
- GMX Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with 65GB storage, aliases and a mail collector3.2 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 Roundcube’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. Roundcube is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Roundcube project. Prices and plans change: check roundcube.net before you buy.