head to head · open source
Inbox Zero vs UnInbox
Inbox Zero has 12,238 GitHub stars, 1,536 forks, 209 open issues and last shipped yesterday. UnInbox has 1,757 stars, 127 forks, 42 open issues and last shipped 7 months ago. Inbox Zero leads on adoption by 597% (12,238 vs 1,757 stars). Inbox Zero is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; UnInbox is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence. Inbox Zero has attracted 13% as many forks as stars, UnInbox 7%. Inbox Zero was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (email, nextjs), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Inbox Zero | UnInbox | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 12K | ★ 1.8K |
| License | Custom / other | Custom / other |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-02-11 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.5K | ⑂ 127 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Inbox Zero if
- You weight community size — 12K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick UnInbox if
- You want the UnInbox feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and UnInbox fits your workflow better
About Inbox Zero
Inbox Zero is an open source AI email assistant written in TypeScript and placed in the email productivity ecosystem. It is a web application built with Next.js, shadcn/ui, Prisma, and related tools. The project describes itself as a 24/7 assistant that organizes email, drafts replies, manages calendar context, and handles attachments.
read the full Inbox Zero overview →
About UnInbox
UnInbox is an open source communication infrastructure project for teams and professionals, built in the TypeScript and Next.js ecosystem and positioned as a modern replacement for outdated email tools. It presents itself as a web application that reimagines email communication for current workflows, while still working with existing email infrastructure or replacing it entirely.
read the full UnInbox overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Inbox Zero or UnInbox more popular?
Inbox Zero has 12,238 GitHub stars and UnInbox has 1,757. Inbox Zero has the larger community by that measure.
Are Inbox Zero and UnInbox free?
Neither Inbox Zero nor UnInbox declares a licence in this registry, so check each project's own repository before relying on either for a commercial use. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between Inbox Zero and UnInbox?
Inbox Zero is written in TypeScript and UnInbox in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Inbox Zero or UnInbox?
Choose Inbox Zero if you want the larger community (12,238 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose UnInbox if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.