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SPECIFICTION
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GMvault

gmvault.org

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
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Spec score 7.9 #10 of 29 in Email Backup Software

What it is

GMvault backs up Gmail accounts to help preserve email correspondence and can restore a local email repository to Gmail. It offers full synchronization as well as incremental quick synchronization. The tool runs from the command line and is described as user-friendly. XOAuth is enabled by default as the recommended sign-in method; its token is stored in $HOME/.gmvault after first authentication. Users can alternatively sign in with a Gmail password, which is encrypted if they choose to save it. Emails are stored by default in $HOME/gmvault-db, or %HOME%/gmvault-db on Windows. Restore operations include --resume and --restart options for avoiding re-upload of emails already processed. GMvault is free and open source under GNU-AGPL-3.0, with Linux, macOS, and Windows support. The project documents binary installs for those systems and installation from source through Python setup.py, pip, or easy_install. PyPI lists version 1.9.1, published March 31, 2016.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Gmvault backs up Gmail accounts so users do not lose email correspondence.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
Gmvault is open source and licensed under GNU-AGPL-3.0.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Authentication
XOAuth is the recommended authentication method and is enabled by default.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
Users can install from source with python setup.py install or through pip and easy_install.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Interface
Gmvault is a user-friendly command-line tool.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Local storage
Emails are stored by default in $HOME/gmvault-db, or %HOME%/gmvault-db on Windows.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maintainer
The project identifies Guillaume Aubert as its development lead and creator.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Operating systems
The project documents binary installations for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Package scope
PyPI classifies Gmvault for Gmail, email backup, Gmail backup, and IMAP.Read 1 Oct 2026 · pypi.org
Password handling
Users can authenticate with a Gmail login password, which is encrypted if they choose to save it.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Recovery
Restore operations support --resume and --restart options so already processed emails do not need to be uploaded again.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Release
PyPI lists version 1.9.1 as the latest release, published March 31, 2016.Read 1 Oct 2026 · pypi.org
Restore
The tool restores a local email repository into a Gmail account.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Sync modes
Gmvault supports full synchronization and incremental quick synchronization.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Token storage
After first authentication, the XOAuth token is stored in $HOME/.gmvault for later use.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Gmvault Free open source · GNU Affero General Public License v3 Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every GMvault plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source under GNU-AGPL-3.0
  • Supports full and incremental synchronization
  • Restores local email repositories to Gmail
  • Resume and restart options avoid repeat uploads

Limits

  • Command-line interface rather than a graphical interface
  • Latest listed release dates to March 31, 2016

Who it suits

GMvault suits Gmail users who want a local email backup and a way to restore it to Gmail. Its command-line interface and documented Linux, macOS, and Windows support fit users comfortable with those environments.

Verdict

GMvault covers Gmail backup and restoration with multiple synchronization modes and options for resuming restores. Its command-line approach and listed 2016 release are important considerations.

Where Specifiction places it

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