Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

getmail VS imapsync

Compare getmail VS imapsync and see what are their differences

getmail logo getmail

Official website for getmail version 5, an extensible mail-retrieval program with support for POP3, IMAP, SDPS, SSL, domain mailboxes, message filtering, and other features.

imapsync logo imapsync

Console-based utility for migrating IMAP mailboxes.
  • getmail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-27
  • imapsync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

getmail features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

imapsync features and specs

  • Compatibility
    Supports many IMAP servers, both free and commercial, ensuring broad applicability for different email systems.
  • Incremental Syncing
    Only copies new or changed emails, which reduces redundant data transfer and speeds up the syncing process.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Provides detailed and clear documentation, which helps users to set up and troubleshoot issues effectively.
  • Command Line Interface
    Allows for scriptable and automated email migrations, suitable for batch operations and large-scale deployments.
  • Open Source
    Freely available source code, which can be customized according to the specific needs of the user.

Possible disadvantages of imapsync

  • Complex Configuration
    Command-line interface and numerous options might be overwhelming for users who are not technically savvy.
  • Performance on Large Mailboxes
    Can be slow when dealing with very large mailboxes, potentially extending migration time.
  • Cost for Latest Version
    Although the software is open source, the latest version requires a purchase, which might not be ideal for all users.
  • No GUI
    Lacks a graphical user interface, which could have made it more accessible for non-technical users.
  • Dependency Management
    Requires dependencies that need to be manually installed, which can add complexity to the initial setup process.

Analysis of imapsync

Overall verdict

  • Imapsync is generally considered a good and effective solution for migrating or syncing emails between IMAP servers. It is highly recommended for those who need a reliable and customizable tool for handling email migrations.

Why this product is good

  • Imapsync is a well-regarded tool for syncing emails between IMAP servers. It is particularly valued for its ability to effectively handle large volumes of emails and maintain the integrity of email metadata during transfers. The tool is robust, reliable, and has a strong track record in both individual and enterprise environments. It also supports a command-line interface, making it flexible for automation and scripting.

Recommended for

    Imapsync is recommended for system administrators, IT professionals, and anyone who needs to perform email migrations or backups. It is particularly beneficial for those working in environments that require the transfer of large quantities of emails, maintaining folder structure, and ensuring data integrity between different email services.

getmail videos

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imapsync videos

Migration Google Apps Mail or Gmail to Zimbra Mail with imapsync

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to getmail and imapsync)
Email Migration
16 16%
84% 84
Email Management
10 10%
90% 90
Monitoring Tools
14 14%
86% 86
File Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, imapsync seems to be a lot more popular than getmail. While we know about 55 links to imapsync, we've tracked only 3 mentions of getmail. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

getmail mentions (3)

  • Ask HN: What do you use to backup email?
    I'm using getmail (https://pyropus.ca./software/getmail/) as a cronjob every night to download it all and then sync with an offsite backup. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Selfhosted Web Mail with Pop3, local Storage and one Account for all
    From there, I run a self-implementation of getmail inside of a Docker container to automatically fetch/copy my e-mails from various POP/IMAP providers on a regular (5-minute) interval. Getmail is incredibly flexible, and allows me to delete e-mail upon fetch for personal accounts, leave mail on the server for "shared accounts", etc. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Pipeable email client?
    I have used a utility called getmail for a couple of decades. Except for the json part, it seems to do what you want... Source: almost 4 years ago

imapsync mentions (55)

  • Imapsync
    The author disagrees with you https://github.com/imapsync/imapsync/issues/257#issuecomment-741225371 is because: - I earn my leaving from imapsync buyers but less likely on donators, as a measured fact. - Donations work 1/100 less than payments, ie, for $1 from donators I get $100 of buyers. - I don't make the github release, Nicolas does, and Nicolas doesn't include the .exe binary in the repository, it is a... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Ask HN: Are there any CLI only tools that are monetised
    Https://imapsync.lamiral.info Bought it to transfer mail from SMTP to Office365. Worth every penny. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Purelymail: Cheap Email for Everyone
    Another happy Purelymail customer here (5 years). If anyone needs to move mail storage from one IMAP server to another (eg; Purelymail) I can highly recommend https://imapsync.lamiral.info/ Not for it's website graphic design, but as a CLI tool that works perfectly. "source server -->> target server" and let it run. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Purelymail: Cheap Email for Everyone
    If your provider supports IMAP, you can use imapsync https://imapsync.lamiral.info/ to sync emails between two mail boxes. I did it a few times and it was straightforward. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Migrate mailbox from OVH to Microsoft
    You see this https://imapsync.lamiral.info/ ? It's only for mails but it's a great solution. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing getmail and imapsync, you can also consider the following products

Fetchmail - The Fetchmail Project

MailStore - MailStore Home - A 100% free single-private-user desktop solution

IMAPSize - IMAPSize

OfflineIMAP - OfflineImap synchronizes email between an IMAP server and a MailDir or between two IMAP servers.

Gmvault - Backup the emails in your Gmail account.

isync (mbsync) - mbsync is a command line application which synchronizes mailboxes.