MailTub

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Score7.0

Rank#5 of 25

Free planNo

Runs onAndroid, API, iOS, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows

Summary

MailTub is a free, open-source service for creating temporary email inboxes that you host yourself. New messages arrive through WebSocket updates rather than periodic checks. Each session can hold up to five inboxes, with expiry choices of 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, or 7 days. MailTub accepts MIME attachments, allows configurable size caps, and lets users export inboxes as an .eml ZIP or structured JSON. It runs as a Go binary with SQLite and an embedded React interface, or can be deployed with Docker. The web interface offers dark, light, and system themes and can be installed as a progressive web app on mobile and desktop. A REST API, SMTP receiving, scriptable CLI, and Prometheus-compatible metrics endpoint are also available. To receive real email, you need a domain with an MX record pointing to the server, port 25 access or redirection, and a matching MAILTUB_DOMAIN setting. Mailbox creation is limited to 20 per IP per hour.

Who it is for

MailTub suits people who want temporary inboxes on infrastructure they control and can configure. It may also suit developers who need API, CLI, SMTP, or WebSocket access.

What is good

New mail arrives through WebSocket updates.
Sessions can hold up to five inboxes.
Inbox contents can be exported as ZIP or JSON.
Web interface supports three themes.
Deployment is available through Docker or a Go binary.

What to know first

Receiving real email requires domain and server configuration.
Mailbox creation is limited to 20 per IP per hour.
Each session is limited to five simultaneous inboxes.

Verdict

MailTub combines temporary inboxes with self-hosted deployment and developer-facing interfaces. Plan for domain and port configuration if you need to receive real email.

Compared on disposable email services

Inbox lifetime: hoursgithub.com
Custom address: Yesgithub.com
API access: Yesgithub.com
Custom domain: Yesgithub.com
Attachments supported: Yesgithub.com

Facts

Purpose: MailTub is a self-hosted disposable email service that creates temporary inboxes.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Real-time inboxes: New emails appear through WebSocket push, without polling.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Mailbox limits: A session can have up to five simultaneous inboxes, with expiry options of 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, or 7 days.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
User interface: The web interface supports dark, light, or system themes, and can be installed as a progressive web app on mobile and desktop.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Deployment: MailTub runs as a single Go binary with SQLite and an embedded React interface, and also provides Docker deployment.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Integrations: It provides a REST API, SMTP receiving, WebSocket updates, and a Prometheus-compatible metrics endpoint.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Optional caching: Mailbox caching can optionally use a Redis or Upstash URL.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security: The admin panel stores its password as a bcrypt hash and uses HMAC-SHA256 signed session cookies with a 24-hour lifetime.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Rate limit: Mailbox creation is limited to 20 per IP per hour.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Email size limits: Defaults include a 25 MiB SMTP message limit, a 25 MiB per-attachment cap, and a 50 MiB total attachment cap per email.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support and security contact: The project asks users to report vulnerabilities to [email protected].github.com · 30 Sept 2026
License: The repository identifies the project as Apache 2.0 licensed.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Real-time email: New emails appear through WebSocket push, which the project says delivers them in milliseconds without polling.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Inbox limits: A session can have up to five simultaneous inboxes, with mailbox expiry choices of 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, or 7 days.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Attachments: MailTub parses MIME attachments and supports configurable per-attachment and total attachment size caps.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Exports: Users can download an inbox as an .eml ZIP or structured JSON.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
API and CLI: MailTub provides a REST API and a scriptable CLI for creating, listing, reading, watching, and sending mail.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Rate limiting: MailTub limits mailbox creation to 20 per IP per hour.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Receiving mail requirements: Receiving real email requires a domain with an MX record pointing to the server, port 25 access or redirection, and a matching MAILTUB_DOMAIN setting.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The project asks users to report security vulnerabilities to [email protected].github.com · 30 Sept 2026