RainLoop vs SnappyMail
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted mail servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
SnappyMail
Lightweight, fast and modern webmail client
| Feature | RainLoop | SnappyMail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 50 · Fair |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,114 | ★ 1,697 |
| First released | 2013 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Gmail, Outlook Web | Gmail, Outlook Web |
What are RainLoop and SnappyMail?
RainLoop
RainLoop is a fast, simple webmail client with a modern interface that works with any IMAP and SMTP server. It stores no email data itself, acting as a thin client.
- Modern, responsive UI
- No database required
- Multi-account support
- Works with any IMAP server
SnappyMail
SnappyMail is a simple, modern webmail client that is a maintained fork of RainLoop. It connects to any IMAP and SMTP server and is fast and easy to deploy.
- Fast, modern interface
- Works without a database
- Plugin support
- Connects to any IMAP/SMTP server
RainLoop vs SnappyMail: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: RainLoop's repository is archived and no longer developed, while SnappyMail is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. RainLoop is the more established project (first released 2013), while SnappyMail arrived in 2021. RainLoop has the considerably larger community, at 4,114 GitHub stars versus 1,697.
Why pick each one
Choose RainLoop if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4.1k GitHub stars)
Watch out for
- Development largely stalled
- SnappyMail is the active fork
Choose SnappyMail if…
- Very lightweight
- Actively maintained RainLoop fork
Watch out for
- Fewer plugins than Roundcube
- Webmail only
Frequently asked questions
Is RainLoop or SnappyMail better?
Neither is universally better. RainLoop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are RainLoop and SnappyMail free and open-source?
Yes. RainLoop is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SnappyMail under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run RainLoop and SnappyMail with Docker?
RainLoop: yes. SnappyMail: yes.