Inbox Zero

Inbox Zero is an open-source AI email assistant that organizes Gmail and Outlook inboxes, drafts replies and clears out newsletters for people who spend too much of the day in email. You write rules in plain language, such as archive receipts and label anything from investors as urgent, and the assistant applies them as mail arrives. Being open source sets it apart: you can read the code or run your own copy instead of trusting a closed service with your inbox.

What is Inbox Zero used for?

The main job is triage: deciding what needs you, what can wait and what can disappear. Inbox Zero does that continuously and leaves drafts ready for the messages that need an answer.

• Labeling, archiving and filing incoming email based on rules you write in plain English
• Drafting replies in your own voice, which you review and send yourself
• Blocking cold emails and sales outreach before they reach your inbox
• Bulk unsubscribing from newsletters and archiving old mail in a few clicks
• Showing email analytics on senders and volume, and sending daily digests
• Filing attachments to Google Drive or OneDrive and preparing briefings before meetings

Who Inbox Zero is best for

Inbox Zero suits founders, executives, investors, recruiters and freelancers who receive large volumes of mixed email. Developers and privacy-minded companies benefit from the self-hosting option and the public codebase. People who get only a handful of emails a day will not get much from automated rules.

Inbox Zero pricing

As of October 2026, the Inbox Zero email client is free on web, desktop and iPhone, while AI features need a paid plan that starts with a 7-day free trial. Starter costs $20 per user per month, or $18 per month billed annually, and includes sorting, reply drafts, the cold email blocker, bulk unsubscribe, analytics and meeting briefings. Plus is $35 monthly or $28 annually and adds a second email account, an AI meeting notetaker, Slack and app integrations, digests, attachment filing and an unlimited knowledge base. Professional is $50 monthly or $42 annually with team analytics and onboarding help. Enterprise is custom and adds SSO, SCIM and on-premise deployment. Self-hosting the open-source code is a separate route for technical users.

Limitations to keep in mind

• The free client does not include the AI assistant, so the main value sits behind a subscription
• Rules need a week or two of adjustment before they reflect how you actually handle email
• Self-hosting requires Docker, Node.js and ongoing maintenance
• Reply drafts still need a human check before sending, especially for sensitive threads

Inbox Zero vs alternatives

Fyxer AI is a closer fit for people who want a hands-off assistant that sorts and drafts with minimal setup. Superhuman is a fast premium email client with AI built in, better for people who want a new email app rather than an assistant layered on top. Shortwave is a Gmail-based client with strong AI search and summaries. Inbox Zero wins when you want transparent, customizable rules, support for both Gmail and Outlook, and the option to self-host.

Tips for getting started with Inbox Zero

Start with the bulk unsubscribe tool to remove newsletters you never read, which makes later rules easier to tune. Write three or four simple rules first, such as labels for receipts, investors and customers, and review the results daily for a week. Let the assistant draft replies but keep sending manual until you trust its tone. Turn on the cold email blocker if outreach is a big share of your mail.

Inbox Zero FAQ

Is Inbox Zero free?

The Inbox Zero email client is free, but the AI assistant requires a paid plan starting at $18 per month billed annually, with a 7-day free trial.

Is Inbox Zero open source?

Yes. Inbox Zero's code is published on GitHub, and the project documents how to self-host it with Docker and Node.js.

Does Inbox Zero work with Outlook?

Yes, Inbox Zero connects to both Gmail and Microsoft Outlook accounts through Google or Microsoft sign-in.

What is the best alternative to Inbox Zero?

Fyxer AI is the closest hosted alternative for sorting and drafting, while Superhuman and Shortwave suit people who want a full AI email client.