fairemail logo

FairEmail

Fully featured, privacy oriented email client for Android

European Ad-Free Open Source Privacy Friendly No Registration Free of Charge Works Offline Energy Efficient
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Why FairEmail is an ethical alternative for Email Clients

FairEmail is a fully featured, privacy-oriented email client for Android, developed by Marcel Bokhorst of FairCode B.V. in the Netherlands and first released in 2018. Unlike the Gmail or Outlook applications, FairEmail is a client only, which means that users bring their own email address and connect it to virtually any provider through open standards. The application supports unlimited accounts and addresses, a unified inbox, conversation threading, two-way synchronisation and push messages through IMAP IDLE, deliberately refusing proprietary mechanisms such as Firebase Cloud Messaging in favour of a transparent foreground service. Encryption via OpenPGP and S/MIME, biometric or PIN authentication and the removal of styling and scripting from message HTML round off a security concept that has made FairEmail one of the most frequently recommended clients in privacy-focused communities.

The application is available through Google Play, F-Droid and direct APK downloads from GitHub, and it is maintained actively to this day. Its revenue model is deliberately modest: the essential feature set is free, while a one-time purchase unlocks professional features in order to finance long-term maintenance and support. The developer describes the design as deliberately minimalistic, with the explicit aim of allowing users to concentrate on reading and writing messages rather than on eye candy or on an interface cluttered with secondary services.

Recent developments show a project in robust health: the repository receives continuous commits and the developer has stated that fewer new features are being added because he says no more often to requests that do not enhance the core purpose. FairEmail is repeatedly recommended as the client of choice on GrapheneOS and other de-Googled platforms.

In 2022 year the app was repeatedly removed from and returned to the Play Store because Google's limit on OAuth tokens for new Gmail users was exceeded, which had to be resolved with Google.

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Sustainability Features of FairEmail

European - Based in Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.

FairEmail is developed by FairCode B.V., the company of Dutch developer Marcel Bokhorst.

Ad-Free - Services that do not display advertisements to users, ensuring a cleaner and more private experience.

airEmail displays no advertisements, and it contains no analytics and no tracking of any kind, as the developer states explicitly on the project website.

Open Source - Free and Open-Source Software

FairEmail is open-source and licensed under GPL-3.0, with the full source code published on GitHub, which permits independent audits and community contributions.

Privacy Friendly - It does not track users unnecessarily.

The app blocks tracking pixels, confirms the loading of images and links to prevent tracking, strips unsafe HTML, stores no data on third-party servers and sends no data to the developer except opt-in error reports.

No Registration - No registration required

No account with the developer is required, because FairEmail is a client only; you bring your own email address and the app requires no sign-up beyond your existing mailbox credentials.

Free of Charge - The services provided can be used for free.

Almost all features can be used free of charge, with advanced functions such as filter rules, S/MIME support and scheduled sending unlocked through a single one-time in-app purchase rather than a subscription.

Works Offline - Works even without internet connection

FairEmail offers offline storage and offline operations, so messages can be read, searched and composed without an internet connection.

Energy Efficient - Hardware or services designed to consume minimal energy, reducing environmental impact.

FairEmail is deliberately battery friendly, frugal with data and small at under 30 MB, which reduces both energy and resource consumption compared with the considerably heavier email applications of large providers.

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Summary

FairEmail is an open-source, ad-free and privacy-focused email client for Android that works with any provider through open standards and costs nothing for its essential functions. It is a good alternative to the Gmail and Outlook applications because it stores no data on third-party servers and blocks tracking by default.

Sustainability Score
89

Other Sustainable Alternatives for Email Clients

thunderbird logo

Thunderbird

An open-source email and productivity app by Mozilla.

Thunderbird displays no advertisements and does not engage in data mining, as the project states explicitly on its website.
Thunderbird is free and open-source software licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, which allows anyone to inspect, modify and share the code.
Thunderbird stores all data locally on the user's device, does not collect personal data unless the user asks it to, promises never to sell data and includes built-in OpenPGP encryption.
No account with the developer is required, because Thunderbird is a client that connects to the user's existing email accounts, and nothing is gated behind a sign-up.
Thunderbird is free forever and funded primarily by user donations, with the announcement that features deliverable on the user's own device will never be placed behind a paywall.
Thunderbird is highly extensible through its large add-on ecosystem and themes, which allow users to add functionality such as enhanced filtering, additional encryption tools and visual customisation.
As a client that fetches messages to the user's own device, Thunderbird provides full offline access to mail, calendars and contacts without a browser or an internet connection.
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Suggestions and Feedback

If you have suggestions for more alternatives or general feedback, please contact me via email or create an issue over on Codeberg. Suggest Substitute on Codeberg Write an Email