mcp-email
mcp-email
Documentation
mcp-email
> Self-hosted MCP server for IMAP and SMTP. Multi-account in one config. Built for Claude Code and any MCP-compliant client.
Buy on Gumroad — $49 · Landing page · Provider config docs
What this repo is
This is the public face of `mcp-email`, a paid product from OneShotForge. The source code lives in the paid bundle sold on Gumroad. This repo contains:
- The README you're reading (features, scope, FAQ)
- The full per-provider config docs (`docs/CONFIG.md`)
- The public changelog (`CHANGELOG.md`)
- The license terms (`LICENSE`)
If you're shopping: this is enough to decide whether `mcp-email` fits your setup. The buy link is at the top.
If you've already purchased: the full TypeScript source, Docker setup, build configs, and complete installation guide are in the zip you received after checkout.
Why this exists
Anthropic's MCP spec lets agents talk to your tools. Email is the most-asked tool. But the existing "MCP email" servers I tried either lock you to Gmail, demand an OAuth setup that takes an afternoon, or break the moment you point them at a second account.
`mcp-email` is the one I built for myself after that triage. I sell it because it now solves a problem cleanly enough that I'd rather get paid to maintain it than maintain it for free.
What's different:
- Any IMAP/SMTP provider — Gmail, Hostinger, Fastmail, iCloud, Outlook 365, Proton (via Bridge), Yahoo, Zoho, custom domains, anything that speaks the protocol.
- Multi-account in one config — declare N accounts via env vars, every tool call takes an `account` argument. One server instance speaks to all of them.
- 15 tools, prod-grade — list, search, read, threads, attachments, send, draft, move, copy, delete, flag, folder CRUD. The boring operations are covered.
- Self-hosted, credentials never leave your box — runs locally via `npm` or in Docker. Bearer-token auth on the MCP endpoint. No telemetry, no SaaS proxy.
- One `.env` file — no OAuth dance, no service account JSON, no Google Cloud project. Generate app passwords on the provider side, drop them in, done.
What you get when you buy
After checkout on Gumroad, you download a single zip containing:
- Full TypeScript source for the server (Node 20+, `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk`, `imapflow`, `nodemailer`)
- Dockerfile + docker-compose.yml ready to run
- `.env.example` with the full template and inline comments
- The expanded README with install instructions, Claude Code wiring, production deployment via Caddy, and troubleshooting
- A perpetual commercial license (see LICENSE for the full terms — unlimited business use, no resale, refund within the first day if it doesn't fit)
- Free patch and minor updates within the 1.x major version
Approximate first-tool-call time after checkout: 5 minutes if your provider's app password is already generated.
Provider matrix
I run on Hostinger and Gmail daily. Setup is documented and tested for the others.
| Provider | Authentication | IMAP host | SMTP host | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | Mailbox password | `imap.hostinger.com:993` | `smtp.hostinger.com:465` | What I use for `hello@oneshotforge.com`. 10/10 on mail-tester.com. |
| Gmail / Workspace | App password | `imap.gmail.com:993` | `smtp.gmail.com:465` | Enable 2FA first. Workspace admins can disable IMAP at the org level. |
| Fastmail | App password | `imap.fastmail.com:993` | `smtp.fastmail.com:465` | Clean implementation, no surprises. |
| iCloud Mail | App-specific password | `imap.mail.me.com:993` | `smtp.mail.me.com:587` | SMTP on 587/STARTTLS. |
| Outlook 365 | App password | `outlook.office365.com:993` | `smtp.office365.com:587` | Some tenants disable SMTP AUTH. Personal accounts always work. |
| Proton Mail | Via Proton Bridge | `127.0.0.1:1143` | `127.0.0.1:1025` | Bridge must be running locally. |
| Yahoo Mail | App password | `imap.mail.yahoo.com:993` | `smtp.mail.yahoo.com:465` | App password under account security. |
| Zoho Mail | App password (or normal) | `imap.zoho.eu:993` / `.com` | `smtp.zoho.eu:465` / `.com` | EU vs US tenants use different hosts. |
| Generic | App password or normal | depends | depends | Anything RFC-compliant works. |
Full per-provider setup in `docs/CONFIG.md`.
The 15 tools
All tools take an `account` parameter — the ID you declared in `.env`. Folders default to `INBOX` where applicable.
Reading (6)
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `email_list_folders` | List all IMAP folders with unread counts |
| `email_list_messages` | List messages in a folder with pagination and unseen filter |
| `email_search_messages` | Search by sender, subject, body, date, or has-attachment |
| `email_get_message` | Full message body (text + HTML + attachment metadata) by UID |
| `email_get_attachment` | Fetch an attachment's content (UTF-8 or base64) |
| `email_get_thread` | Reconstruct a conversation thread from Message-ID / In-Reply-To / References |
Writing (2)
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `email_send_message` | Send via SMTP, append a copy to Sent folder via IMAP |
| `email_create_draft` | Create a draft in the Drafts folder |
Management (7)
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `email_move_message` | Move a message to another folder |
| `email_copy_message` | Copy a message to another folder |
| `email_delete_message` | Move to Trash (default) or `\Deleted` + expunge |
| `email_mark_message` | Set or unset `\Seen` / `\Flagged` / `\Answered` flags |
| `email_create_folder` | Create an IMAP folder |
| `email_rename_folder` | Rename an IMAP folder |
| `email_delete_folder` | Delete an IMAP folder |
How it connects to Claude Code
After install (covered in the zip), add this to your project `.mcp.json` or `~/.claude.json` global:
{
"mcpServers": {
"email": {
"type": "http",
"url": "http://localhost:3000/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN"
}
}
}
}Restart Claude Code (`/mcp` to verify the server is `connected`), then try:
> *"List my last 5 unread emails in account `main`."*
Or, for advanced usage with multi-account:
> *"Search account `support` for unanswered messages from `customer@example.com` in the last 7 days, summarize them, and draft a reply in account `main`."*
Pricing
$49 one-time. Perpetual commercial license, unlimited business use, no recurring fee.
Same-day refund if it doesn't fit your setup. Email `hello@oneshotforge.com` within 24 hours of buying and I'll process it (next morning if I'm asleep when you write).
Limits and scope (intentional)
- Authentication: app password or plain password only. No OAuth 2.0. This keeps the server stateless and provider-agnostic.
- Transport: HTTP only (no stdio). MCP over HTTP is the only mode that supports remote agents and shared infrastructure.
- Folder names: defaults assume `INBOX`, `Sent`, `Drafts`, `Trash`. Servers with prefixes like `INBOX.Sent` are handled with a fallback. Custom names require small code changes.
- Attachment download: 1 MB cap for binary attachments (returned as base64). Textual attachments (text/*, JSON, XML, ICS) have no cap.
- HTML body: truncated past 25,000 characters in `email_get_message`. The text body is always sent in full.
Roadmap (post-1.0, not committed)
- Optional `SENT_FOLDER` / `DRAFTS_FOLDER` / `TRASH_FOLDER` env overrides per account
- OAuth flow for Gmail and Microsoft (separate add-on, not bundled)
- Webhook on incoming mail (push-style notifications for agents)
- Calendar/ICS bridge (separate product, will integrate cleanly)
- AI auto-tagging via the Anthropic API
Vote with email — what do you want next? `hello@oneshotforge.com`.
License
Commercial license — see `LICENSE`.
TL;DR: unlimited personal and business use after purchase, no resale or redistribution of the source.
Support
- Bugs and feature requests: email `hello@oneshotforge.com` with a clear repro.
- License questions, volume pricing: same address.
- Public changelog: `CHANGELOG.md`.
Built by OneShotForge.
Frequently asked questions
What is mcp-email?
mcp-email is mcp-email
How do I install mcp-email?
Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.
Is mcp-email open source?
Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/OneShotForge/mcp-email.
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