Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

imapsync VS OfflineIMAP

Compare imapsync VS OfflineIMAP and see what are their differences

imapsync logo imapsync

Console-based utility for migrating IMAP mailboxes.

OfflineIMAP logo OfflineIMAP

OfflineImap synchronizes email between an IMAP server and a MailDir or between two IMAP servers.
  • imapsync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • OfflineIMAP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-16

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.

OfflineIMAP features and specs

  • Synchronization
    OfflineIMAP provides excellent support for synchronizing emails between a remote server and a local maildir. This ensures that your emails are easily accessible offline and the local copy remains consistent with the server.
  • Flexibility
    It offers flexible configuration options, allowing users to customize their syncing setups, such as choosing specific folders to sync and setting various syncing parameters.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, it benefits from community contributions, transparency in development, and the ability for users to modify the source code as per their needs.
  • Compatibility
    OfflineIMAP is compatible with various email servers that support the IMAP protocol, making it a versatile choice for different environments.

Possible disadvantages of OfflineIMAP

  • Complex Configuration
    The tool can be difficult to configure for newcomers due to its detailed and numerous options, which might be overwhelming for someone who isn't experienced with email configurations.
  • No GUI
    OfflineIMAP lacks a graphical user interface, which can make it less user-friendly, especially for those who prefer or require a visual setup process.
  • Limited Support
    As an open-source tool, professional support options can be limited compared to commercial alternatives, which might be a drawback for users needing immediate assistance.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues with large mailboxes, where the synchronization process can become slow or resource-intensive on the client machine.

imapsync videos

Migration Google Apps Mail or Gmail to Zimbra Mail with imapsync

OfflineIMAP videos

mutt Email + OfflineIMAP and msmtp - See your email offline!

More videos:

  • Review - Now You Can Auto-Configure Mutt and OfflineIMAP!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to imapsync and OfflineIMAP)
Email Management
73 73%
27% 27
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Email Migration
66 66%
34% 34
File Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using imapsync and OfflineIMAP. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, imapsync seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 55 times since March 2021. 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.

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 / 3 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 / 3 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 / 3 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 / 3 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
View more

OfflineIMAP mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OfflineIMAP yet. Tracking of OfflineIMAP recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Fetchmail - The Fetchmail Project

Gmvault - Backup the emails in your Gmail account.

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

iSync - iSync is a software application published by Apple Inc.

MigrationWiz - MigrationWiz provides on-demand mailbox migration services through a fully automated cloud-based...