Not looking for a server as I use fastmail currently but a client would be nice. I am currently using spark on iOS and Mac OS and just fastmail website on my Linux desktop. I’m realizing spark is nothing special and would rather not renew my subscription.
An email client isn’t exactly something that’s self hosted. But Apple Mail works perfectly fine on iOS and Mac OS. Fastmail has push support too.
You can host a webmail like roundcube or similar. I don’t know if they can be turned into PWAs with phone notifications though.
Is the free version of Spark not good enough? What paid feature you need?
Huh… now I can’t remember why I bought an annual license if I didn’t need it.
Maybe it was because of the “Sent with Spark” signature, on the Free version? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You are looking for a webmail client? If so I offer roundcube to my friends and family. But they are not picky or in IT. I use Thunderbird on PC and K-9 Mail on the phone. But that’s not webmail.
Thanks! That does look like what I’m after.
The best self hosted email client with good web clients is crossbox.io
The problem is the pricing is not made for individuals but for resellers.
For a reseller is very cheap, but for an individual is too expensive
I hope you’re aware that Spark is not a normal email client. They store your emails and your email login credentials on their servers, snoop on your emails and share their findings with Google Analytics, Facebook and Amplitude. I hope you ditch them ASAP.
Not sure what kind of app you’re asking for, webmail app, desktop app or mobile app?
Just to clarify, email clients don’t work the way Spark does, you don’t install it on a server and connect to it with an app. An email client is a standalone app that connects directly to your email provider with nothing else in-between.
An email client can be a web app, which is hosted on a webserver, but then you can and should use the one already offered by your email provider, which is Fastmail, not a third-party like Spark.
So what’s the difference between the webmail offered by Fastmail, Spark, and an independent web app like Round Cube?
- A web app like RoundCube is a tool that can be used to get and send your email. Being a web app it is served from a server, but the app runs in your browser. Your emails and login are not stored on the server that holds the web app, that server’s job is just to hold the app. Once you load the web app on your device (PC or phone) it must only talk to your email provider. Emails must be stored either on your device or on the provider server, never on the server that holds the web app.
- Spark breaks that rule. They offer a web app as well as mobile app etc. but emails she logins good through their server and then to your provider. They’re essentially an intermediary who controls and snoops on your email.
- Fastmail is your provider, they already have your email and your credentials. They also provide a web app as a convenience. In this case the web app comes from the same place that holds your emails, but only because this is your provider. Nobody else should get between you and your email.
Thank you for great information! Yeah I let spark sucker me into their nice apps when I was using Gmail. I’ve since “degoogled” myself as well as removed my reliance on majority iCloud services with my own cloud services. So abandoning spark and changing my info should suffice. So yeah I am ditching them asap.
I wasn’t sure if there was a client like roundcube which I’m looking into now, that works and looks good both on desktop and mobile. I do understand now that might not be a 1 app solution. Roundcube could be a good webmail for desktop and mobile but I’d likely want an official desktop and mobile app that isn’t spark and doesn’t store my info. I’ll take a look at the other 2 you mentioned in your other comment.
The other two are also webmails. If you’re looking for native apps:
- For Windows and Linux: Mozilla Thunderbird is excellent and also supports syncing address book and calendar to the email server.
- For Android: Fair Email and K-9 Mail.
- For iOS: use the builtin email app.
I could be misinformed, but this isn’t just limited to Spark as I understand it, I believe a lot (maybe all?) third-party clients do the same thing. They act as an intermediary between you and the server so they can deliver push notifications.
However, as I understand it, Spark’s privacy policy outlines that they don’t read/scan the contents of your emails, and the use of app-specific passwords rather than your email password ensures they only have access to emails and nothing else.
Pretty sure others such as Canary, Airmail, Edison, etc. all do/did the same thing, but it was the lack of clarity in Spark’s privacy policy that made them the main target for scrutiny. I think they’ve since cleared that up.
I could be mistaken, though.
Most email clients do not keep a copy of your email on their own servers. It is increasingly common though as it allows them to offer features which are impossible to do otherwise.
I don’t believe there is any need for them to keep a local copy of your mail for push notifications.
I didn’t know they stored local copies — had a very, VERY quick skim through their privacy policy on their website and couldn’t see any reference to that (sure it’s there but I didn’t see it).
I’m not a Spark user btw, was just following the conversation. I use plain ol’ Apple Mail.
features which are impossible to do otherwise.
What features?
There are various methods of arranging push notifications for email. None of them require the messages to be stored on third party servers.
Any email “client” service that stores your messages and credentials and is not the actual provider should be avoided at all costs.
A real email client connects directly to your provider’s servers and shows you what messages are there. Whenever it needs to do something with your messages (send, receive, notification etc.) it arranges it with your provider’s servers, never with 3rd party servers. If it stores your credentials, it stores them on your device, either in your browser, or in your app data (if the client is an app), never on 3rd party servers.
When you use Spark or others like them it’s like paying someone to check the mail box on your lawn. It’s your own mail box (the provider, for email) but instead of checking it yourself you give a complete stranger the box key and allow them to rummage through your mail and packages before they bring 'em in.
You don’t need this service. Nobody needs this service. They’re taking advantage of the fact people can’t make the difference between a client that runs at the provider, on your device, or on a 3rd party server.
Oh I haven’t actually recommended email clients. If you want to self host a web app: RoundCube, Snappy, Afterlogic.
