Tag
Email tools
7 reviewed tools: 4 free or open source, 1 hosted with a real free tier, 2 paid or paid-led.
Order: free and open source first, then hosted products with a real free tier, then paid-led; catalog order inside each group, with quiet or archived repos last. Not a score, and no tool pays for its place.
7 tools
- ListmonkAGPL-3.0 self-hosted newsletters and transactional mail
Free / OSS · AGPL-3.0 · 23.9k GitHub stars
VerdictThe self-host newsletter stack. AGPL, fully free, you run the mail.
CatchAGPL-3.0 is copyleft — network use means you share modifications. You operate Postgres, SMTP, and bounces. There is no official hosted Listmonk Cloud.
- PlunkAGPL-3.0 transactional email, workflows, and broadcasts
Free / OSS · Freemium · 5.5k GitHub stars
VerdictAGPL email with a real 1k hosted free tier. Branding stays until you pay.
CatchAGPL-3.0 is copyleft. Hosted Free keeps Plunk branding. This is not Resend at volume — 1k/mo is the free wall, then $0.001/email. Self-host means you bring SES or equivalent.
- PostalMIT self-hosted mail delivery: SMTP + HTTP API
Free / OSS · OSS/MIT · 16.9k GitHub stars
VerdictMIT self-host mail. Free to run; deliverability is your ops.
CatchSelf-hosted mail delivery SMTP+HTTP API — not Resend hosted tx email, not Plunk Node email, not Listmonk newsletter app. You own deliverability and IP reputation. Distinct from Resend, Plunk, and Listmonk.
- Hyvor RelayAGPL-3.0 email relay; Self-Hosted Free Forever unlimited
Free / OSS · AGPL-3.0 · 918 GitHub stars
VerdictAGPL email relay. Self-host free forever; no Cloud free claim.
CatchCloud is not free. Self-host unlimited is the pitch. Vs Postal full mail server and Plunk Node email. Distinct from Postal and Plunk.
- ResendEmail API designed for developers
Free tier · Freemium
VerdictEmail finally feels like a modern API.
CatchNewer service means less track record. Deliverability depends on your domain reputation as much as theirs. Feature set is smaller than established players.
- OneSignalMulti-channel messaging SaaS; Free now capped at 1k mobile MAU
Paid-led · Freemium
VerdictMessaging SaaS. Free for tiny MAU; Growth meters mobile hard after 1k.
CatchClosed SaaS. From 2026: Free mobile push/in-app limited to 1,000 MAU (new orgs Sep 1, existing Oct 1) — overage pauses mobile until Growth (from about $19/mo + per-MAU). Not Novu/Knock twins. SMS/RCS extra.
- MagicBellMultichannel notification API + inbox; Builder free to 1k deliveries/mo
Paid-led · Freemium
VerdictNotification inbox SaaS. Free to 1k deliveries; Startup $249.
CatchClosed SaaS — not Novu self-host. Startup jumps to $249/mo (50k deliveries; $0.0025 overage). Multi-channel = multi-delivery counts. You still pay SendGrid/Twilio/FCM underneath. Not Knock twin for complex workflow DAGs.
FAQ
- What is the top free pick among Email tools?
- Listmonk leads the Stack Gems list for Email tools. Verdict: The self-host newsletter stack. AGPL, fully free, you run the mail.
- How many Email tools does Stack Gems review?
- 7: 4 free or open source, 1 hosted with a real free tier, 2 paid or paid-led. Each review has a verdict and an honest Catch; no tool pays for its spot.
- Which Email tools can I self-host for free?
- Listmonk, Plunk, Postal and Hyvor Relay.
- Which Email tools have the most GitHub stars?
- Listmonk (23.9k), Postal (16.9k), Plunk (5.5k), per GitHub on 2026-10-21. Stars measure attention, not fit; read the Catch.
- What is the catch with Listmonk?
- AGPL-3.0 is copyleft — network use means you share modifications.