MailDev

No phone app

5.5No. 20 of 27
in Email Testing Software

Recognised40% of the score37
Phone app26% of the score0
Documented20% of the score31
Free plan14% of the score30

Free plan: Yes
Runs on: api, self-hosted, Web

Summary

MailDev is ranked #20 of 27 in email testing software on Samsung Mobile US Press. It runs on API, Self-hosted, Web. There is a free plan.

MailDev plans and pricing

All plans

MailDev Free Free and open source · MIT licensed · Runs locally maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026

Compared on email testing software

Free plan: Yesmaildev.github.io
API access: Yesmaildev.github.io

Facts

Purpose: MailDev is a local SMTP server and web inbox for developers to catch and inspect email sent by an app during development.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Email formats: The inbox displays rendered HTML, plain text, headers, and raw email source.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Preview: The web interface offers a responsive preview for checking how email renders at different viewport widths.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
SMTP and API: MailDev listens for SMTP on port 1025 and provides a REST API under `/api` for listing, reading, searching, downloading, and deleting mail.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Live updates: New messages appear in the inbox over WebSockets without a refresh or polling.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Framework integrations: The docs provide setup examples for Nodemailer, Django, Ruby on Rails, Laravel, and Spring Boot, and say any language that speaks SMTP can connect.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
AI integration: MailDev includes an optional MCP server that lets compatible AI clients search and read the development inbox and check email delivery.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Install options: The maker documents running MailDev with npx, a global npm install, or Docker.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Relay: MailDev can selectively relay messages through a configured outgoing SMTP server, with optional auto-relay rules.github.com · 5 Oct 2026
Security: MailDev accepts mail from anyone, stores it unencrypted, and has no authentication by default, so the docs warn against exposing it to the public internet or using it for production traffic.maildev.github.io · 5 Oct 2026
Email retention: MailDev keeps emails without a configured limit by default; its `--max-emails` option can cap the inbox and discard older messages.github.com · 5 Oct 2026
Audience: The maker describes MailDev as a development tool for developers testing email generated by their projects.github.com · 5 Oct 2026