The Sylpheed Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Sylpheed 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.
Sylpheed
The Insider’s Guide
Lightweight desktop email client built on GTK+
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Sylpheed’s own pages.
Made by Sylpheed · checked Nov 13, 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 Sylpheed’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Sylpheed’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade
Sylpheed is a lightweight desktop email client released under the GNU GPL. It is designed for keyboard-oriented use and runs on Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac OS X and other Unix-like systems. Its site lists filtering, search, junk mail control, GnuPG, SSL/TLS and plug-ins; the latest stable release shown is 3.7 from January 2018.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Sylpheed, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You add each account yourself, and the interface is old but plain.
- 1
Best for a light desktop mail client
Sylpheed is a free desktop mail client on GTK+ that keeps one file per message and has filters, search and plug-ins.
- 2
It is free
Sylpheed has no paid plan at all. Free to use, modify and redistribute under the GNU GPL.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
One file per message
Messages are stored one per file, which the site cites as a reason for reliability.
- 5
Filtering and search
The feature list names powerful filtering and search, plus junk mail control.
- 6
Security
Lists GnuPG and SSL/TLSv1 support, and a plug-in for automatic attachment encryption.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 88 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Sylpheed is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Sylpheed at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Sylpheed
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a light desktop mail client
Sylpheed is a free desktop mail client on GTK+ that keeps one file per message and has filters, search and plug-ins. The latest stable release is from January 2018, and its mailing list was announced as discontinued in September 2025.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the GNU GPL, with nothing to host. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free under the GNU GPL, with no paid plans and no limits on the program. |
| Features | C | Filtering, search, GnuPG and plug-ins for the basics of mail. The last stable release is 3.7 from 2018, so don't expect new features. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You add each account yourself, and the interface is old but plain. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, macOS and Linux, but nothing on phones or the web. A program for computers alone. |
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 Sylpheed is for
- Fits if you want a small, free mail program for an older computer
- Works for people who like one file per message on disk
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want regular updates, as the latest stable release is from January 2018
- Skip it if you want it on your phone, since no mobile apps are listed
- Watch out: the mailing list was announced as discontinued in September 2025
- Watch out: the 3.8 beta dates from September 2022
Good to know
Good for
- Users who want a small, plain desktop mail client
- Older or low-powered computers where a light program helps
Worth knowing
- The latest stable release shown is 3.7 from 31 Jan 2018; 3.8beta1 dates from 14 Sep 2022.
- The Sylpheed mailing list was announced as discontinued in September 2025.
- No mobile apps are listed; the downloads cover desktop systems.
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
Sylpheed is free to use.
Free under the GNU GPL, with nothing to host.
Free
$0
Free software distributed under the GNU GPL; no paid plans.
The free plan
Free to use, modify and redistribute under the GNU GPL.
Read from sylpheed.sraoss.jp on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Lightweight desktop email client built on GTK+. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, email client, inbox filtering.
Filtering, search, GnuPG and plug-ins for the basics of mail.
- One file per message
- Messages are stored one per file, which the site cites as a reason for reliability.
- Filtering and search
- The feature list names powerful filtering and search, plus junk mail control.
- Security
- Lists GnuPG and SSL/TLSv1 support, and a plug-in for automatic attachment encryption.
- Plug-ins
- Extensible through a plug-in system, with a plug-ins page and external command integration.
- Keyboard-oriented
- Built for keyboard operation as well as a conventional GTK+ interface for beginners.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- GnuPG
- SylFilter
Sylpheed is made by Sylpheed.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
88/122
Other email apps it is graded above
Sylpheed's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 97 of 122) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Sylpheed has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Sylpheed’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 88 of 122
- AFree plan and trialAbove 97 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 122
- CEase of useAbove 20 of 122
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Sylpheed 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
Sylpheed is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- Filters that read every message as it arrives.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Sylpheed’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
Claws Mail, Thunderbird, Mailspring, NeoMutt and Evolution
The 5 tools Sylpheed is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Claws Mail
Free
Lightweight GTK email and news client, free under the GPL.
- Only Sylpheed lists a macOS app.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Only Thunderbird lists an Android app.
- Sylpheed also covers inbox filtering.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.
- 2.4GPA
Mailspring
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Sylpheed also covers inbox filtering.
- Mailspring also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
NeoMutt
Free
Command-line mail reader forked from Mutt with extra features.
- Only Sylpheed lists a Windows app.
- Sylpheed also covers inbox filtering.
- 2.8GPA
Evolution
Free
GNOME's free mail, calendar and address book app.
- Only Sylpheed lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Sylpheed also covers inbox filtering.
- Evolution also covers calendar.
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 Sylpheed free?
Yes. Sylpheed is free to use.
How much does Sylpheed cost?
Sylpheed lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Sylpheed work on?
Sylpheed is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Sylpheed have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sylpheed is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Sylpheed have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sylpheed is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Sylpheed open source?
Yes. Sylpheed is open source, according to its own site.
What does Sylpheed integrate with?
Sylpheed's listing names GnuPG and SylFilter. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Sylpheed?
Sylpheed is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Sylpheed?
The closest alternatives to Sylpheed in our directory are Claws Mail, Thunderbird, Mailspring, NeoMutt and Evolution.
How does Sylpheed compare with other email apps?
Sylpheed's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 11.
Is Sylpheed good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Sylpheed A for value for money. Sylpheed has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Sylpheed?
Sylpheed 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 Sylpheed’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Sylpheed project's own pages on 13 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 Sylpheed. Prices change, so check sylpheed.sraoss.jp before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Sylpheed, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sylpheed
- 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, "Sylpheed: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sylpheed
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sylpheed/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Sylpheed, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 126 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- AOL Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with news and weather in a companion mobile app3.2 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 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 Sylpheed’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. Sylpheed is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Sylpheed. Prices and plans change: check sylpheed.sraoss.jp before you buy.