GMvault

B
B tier on Email Backup SoftwareScore 7.0 · #3 of 31
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
Linux, Mac, Windows

Summary

GMvault is a command-line tool for backing up Gmail accounts and restoring a local email repository to Gmail. It supports full synchronization and incremental quick synchronization, giving users two ways to keep a local copy of their correspondence current. The tool is free and open source under GNU-AGPL-3.0, with versions for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its project documents binary installations for those systems, as well as installation from source with Python, pip, or easy_install. XOAuth is the recommended authentication method and is enabled by default; after the first sign-in, its token is stored in $HOME/.gmvault for later use. Users may instead authenticate with a Gmail login password, which can be encrypted if saved. Emails go by default to $HOME/gmvault-db, or %HOME%/gmvault-db on Windows. For restores, --resume and --restart options help avoid uploading messages that have already been processed. PyPI lists version 1.9.1 as the latest release, published March 31, 2016.

Who it is for

GMvault suits Gmail users who want a local backup and a way to restore it to their account. It is a fit for people comfortable using a command-line tool on Linux, macOS, or Windows.

What is good

  • Free and open source under GNU-AGPL-3.0
  • Offers full and incremental synchronization
  • Can restore a local repository to Gmail
  • Resume and restart options for restore operations

What to know first

  • Command-line interface rather than a graphical one
  • Supports Gmail as its listed provider
  • Latest listed release dates to March 31, 2016

Verdict

GMvault provides Gmail backup and restore through a free command-line tool, with full and incremental sync options. Its listed latest release is from 2016, a detail to weigh when considering it.

GMvault plans and pricing

All plans
Gmvault Free open source · GNU Affero General Public License v3 github.com · 1 Oct 2026

Compared on email backup software

Free plan
Yesgmvault.org
Alternate restore
Yesgmvault.org
Supported providers
Gmailgmvault.org

Facts

Purpose
Gmvault backs up Gmail accounts so users do not lose email correspondence.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Restore
The tool restores a local email repository into a Gmail account.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Sync modes
Gmvault supports full synchronization and incremental quick synchronization.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Interface
Gmvault is a user-friendly command-line tool.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Authentication
XOAuth is the recommended authentication method and is enabled by default.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Token storage
After first authentication, the XOAuth token is stored in $HOME/.gmvault for later use.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Password handling
Users can authenticate with a Gmail login password, which is encrypted if they choose to save it.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Local storage
Emails are stored by default in $HOME/gmvault-db, or %HOME%/gmvault-db on Windows.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Recovery
Restore operations support --resume and --restart options so already processed emails do not need to be uploaded again.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Operating systems
The project documents binary installations for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Installation
Users can install from source with python setup.py install or through pip and easy_install.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
License
Gmvault is open source and licensed under GNU-AGPL-3.0.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Maintainer
The project identifies Guillaume Aubert as its development lead and creator.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Release
PyPI lists version 1.9.1 as the latest release, published March 31, 2016.pypi.org · 1 Oct 2026
Package scope
PyPI classifies Gmvault for Gmail, email backup, Gmail backup, and IMAP.pypi.org · 1 Oct 2026

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Sources