Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rainloop VS Dovecot

Compare Rainloop VS Dovecot and see what are their differences

Rainloop logo Rainloop

RainLoop is a web based email client.

Dovecot logo Dovecot

Dovecot is an open source IMAP and POP3 email server for Linux/UNIX-like systems, written with...
  • Rainloop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-19
  • Dovecot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-29

Rainloop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Rainloop has a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, providing a good user experience even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Lightweight
    Being a web-based email client, Rainloop is lightweight and does not require heavy server resources, which ensures faster loading times and performance.
  • No Database Required
    Rainloop operates without requiring a database, simplifying the installation process and reducing potential points of failure.
  • Support for Multiple Email Providers
    It supports various email protocols such as IMAP and SMTP, and works seamlessly with major email services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.
  • Modern Features
    Features like two-factor authentication (2FA), PGP encryption support, and integration with third-party services add to security and functionality.

Possible disadvantages of Rainloop

  • Limited Customization
    While Rainloop offers a range of functionalities, its customization options are somewhat limited compared to other email clients.
  • Lacks Advanced Features
    For advanced users, Rainloop might lack certain features like advanced filtering, tagging, or extensive plugin support.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    Rainloop relies on some external libraries, which could pose security risks or lead to compatibility issues if those libraries are not maintained.
  • Paid Version for Advanced Features
    Some advanced functionalities and features are only available in the paid pro version, such as ActiveSync support and administrative settings.
  • Limited Community Support
    The community around Rainloop is smaller compared to more widely used email clients, which might limit the availability of community-driven support and plugins.

Dovecot features and specs

  • High Performance
    Dovecot is designed to handle a large number of concurrent connections efficiently, making it suitable for enterprise-level email systems.
  • Robust Security Features
    It includes strong security features such as SSL/TLS support, secure password storage mechanisms, and support for various authentication protocols.
  • Easy Configuration
    Dovecot offers a straightforward configuration with comprehensible documentation, making it easier for administrators to set up and maintain.
  • Extensive Protocol Support
    It supports a variety of email protocols, including IMAP, POP3, and managesieve, providing flexibility in email client compatibility.
  • Active Community and Regular Updates
    Dovecot has an active development community that provides continuous improvements, bug fixes, and security updates.

Possible disadvantages of Dovecot

  • Complex Advanced Configuration
    While basic setup is straightforward, advanced configurations can become complex, requiring detailed understanding of Dovecot’s architecture.
  • Resource Intensive
    For very high email loads, Dovecot can become resource-intensive, necessitating more powerful server hardware.
  • Limited Web-based Management Tools
    Compared to some commercial email servers, Dovecot lacks an integrated web-based management interface, which could complicate management for some users.
  • Dependence on External Programs
    For complete email service functionality, Dovecot often requires integration with other external programs, such as Postfix for SMTP, which might demand additional configuration and maintenance.

Rainloop videos

How to install RainLoop Webmail

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to install Rainloop Webmail 1.12.0 on Ubuntu 18.04
  • Tutorial - How to install RainLoop E-Mail Client in Ubuntu

Dovecot videos

Barbara Rae Exhibition at Dovecot Studios

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rainloop and Dovecot)
Email
74 74%
26% 26
Email Clients
100 100%
0% 0
SMTP Server
0 0%
100% 100
Email Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Rainloop and Dovecot

Rainloop Reviews

Top 15 Self-hosted open-source free web-based email clients
RainLoop integrates seamlessly with Google, Facebook, Twitter and Dropbox. It features a messages' folder management, media-rich email rendering, advanced attachment management, keyboard shortcuts, multiple email accounts manager, and more.
Source: medevel.com
15 Best iRedMail Alternatives 2021
Rainloop is a modern email server with an easy installation process and support for SMTP and IMAP protocols like STARTTLS and SSL. It delivers a seamless performance and OTA upgrades without the need for a database.
5 open source webmail clients for browser-based email
Next up is Rainloop. Rainloop is a very modern entry into the webmail arena, and its interface is definitely closer to what you might expect if you're used to Gmail or another commercial email client. It comes with most features you've come to expect, including email address autocompletion, drag-and-drop and keyboard interfaces, filtering support, and many others, and it can...
Source: opensource.com

Dovecot Reviews

We have no reviews of Dovecot yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rainloop seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Rainloop mentions (1)

  • Meet PostPilot
    Have a local mail server be part of your development environment, along with a frontend like SquirrelMail or RainLoop. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago

Dovecot mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rainloop and Dovecot, you can also consider the following products

Roundcube - Web-based IMAP email client

Postfix - Postfix is a mail transfer agent (MTA) that routes and delivers electronic mail.

Mailpile - Mailpile is a modern, fast web-mail client with user-friendly encryption and privacy features.

iRedMail - A fully fledged, free email server solution, an open source project (GPL v2).

Horde - Horde Groupware is a free, enterprise ready, browser based collaboration suite.

Zimbra - Zimbra is trusted by over 500 million users to increase productivity with a complete set of collaboration tools while maintaining total control over security and privacy.