Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 29, 2026

Getmail

getmail is a simple mail retrieval agent intended as a replacement for fetchmail, implemented in Python. It can retrieve mail from POP3, IMAP4, and Standard Dial-up POP3 Service servers, with or without SSL. It supports simple and domain (multidrop) mailboxes, mail filtering via any arbitrary program, and supports a wide variety of mail destination types, including mboxrd, maildir, and external arbitrary mail delivery agents. It also has a simpler configuration syntax than fetchmail, but supports fewer authentication protocols. The software can also function as a basic mail delivery agent.

Last revised
May 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
234 w
Citations
13
Source
getmail
Original authorCharles Cazabon1
Initial release1998 (1998)
Stable release
5.16 / October 31, 2021 (2021-10-31)2
Written inPython3
Operating systemUnix-like, Posix
TypeE-mail
LicenseGNU General Public License v2
Websitepyropus.ca/software/getmail/4

getmail is a simple mail retrieval agent intended as a replacement for fetchmail, implemented in Python.5 It can retrieve mail from POP3,3 IMAP4,5 and Standard Dial-up POP3 Service servers, with or without SSL. It supports simple and domain (multidrop) mailboxes, mail filtering via any arbitrary program, and supports a wide variety of mail destination types, including mboxrd, maildir,36 and external arbitrary mail delivery agents.5 It also has a simpler configuration syntax than fetchmail, but supports fewer authentication protocols. The software can also function as a basic mail delivery agent.5

Getmail is free software and is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.1 It is written and maintained by Charles Cazabon.1

The original getmail software requires Python 2, which is no longer supported. A fork named getmail6, which is not from getmail's original author, provides Python 3 support.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Sill 2003, p. 361.
  2. "CHANGELOG". Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. Sill 2003, p. 434.
  4. Orsini 2007, p. 331.
  5. Orsini 2007, p. 330.
  6. "Back up Gmail on Linux with Getmail". 17 March 2008.

Bibliography

External links