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SPECIFICTION
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mailtrim

github.com

Free plan Linux
Visit github.com
Spec score 7.6 #19 of 31 in Email Cleanup Software

What it is

mailtrim is a free, MIT-licensed Linux command-line tool for finding and clearing inbox clutter. It ranks senders by storage impact, then lets users bulk-delete selected senders or an entire domain; one command can remove more than 300 messages from one sender. A dry-run preview shows the proposed deletion first, and deleted mail remains restorable from Trash for up to 30 days. It works with Gmail and IMAP services such as Outlook, Fastmail, iCloud, and self-hosted servers. Gmail uses OAuth, while IMAP credentials do not retain the password locally. Optional AI tools provide triage, natural-language bulk operations, and weekly digests, but are disabled by default. When Anthropic handles AI requests, subjects, sender details, and snippets are sent, not full bodies or attachments. Metadata, tokens, rules, and undo logs stay under ~/.mailtrim/, with no analytics or usage tracking.

Spec sheet

Purpose
mailtrim is a command-line tool for finding and cleaning up inbox clutter.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The README directs users to GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository describes mailtrim as MIT-licensed and free to use, modify, and distribute.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
AI data
When cloud AI is used, email subjects, sender details, and snippets are sent to Anthropic; full message bodies and attachments are not sent.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
AI features
Optional AI features include inbox triage, natural-language bulk operations, and weekly digests; AI is off by default.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Authentication
Gmail setup uses OAuth, while IMAP setup accepts server credentials and keeps the password out of local storage.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Bulk cleanup
The purge command can bulk-delete emails from selected senders or target a sender domain.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Cleanup
It ranks senders by storage impact and supports bulk cleanup, including deleting 300+ emails from one sender in a single command.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Cloud AI data
When AI features use Anthropic, the tool sends email subjects, sender names or addresses, and snippets, but not full email bodies or attachments.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Email providers
It works with Gmail and IMAP services, including Outlook, Fastmail, iCloud, and self-hosted IMAP servers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Local data
The privacy policy says email metadata, undo logs, and related data are stored locally, and full email bodies are never stored locally or sent anywhere.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Local storage
The privacy policy says OAuth tokens, metadata cache, undo logs, rules, and unsubscribe history are stored locally under ~/.mailtrim/.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Safety preview
The purge command supports a dry-run preview of what would be deleted before confirmation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security limitation
The threat model describes mailtrim as a single-user local CLI and says multi-user or server deployment threats are out of scope.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Sender ranking
It ranks senders by storage impact, rather than only by message count.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Telemetry
The privacy policy says mailtrim has no analytics, crash reporting, or usage tracking.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Undo
Deleted messages go to Trash and can be restored for up to 30 days.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free No subscription · no API key required for core commands Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every mailtrim plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan costs nothing
  • Ranks senders by storage impact
  • Dry-run previews bulk deletions
  • Deleted mail can be restored for 30 days
  • No analytics or usage tracking

Limits

  • Linux is the only listed platform
  • AI requests send snippets to Anthropic
  • Multi-user and server deployment threats are out of scope

Who it suits

It suits Linux users who want local command-line inbox cleanup across Gmail or IMAP accounts. It is also useful for people who want optional AI assistance while keeping full message bodies and attachments out of cloud AI requests.

Verdict

mailtrim offers focused, local-first inbox cleanup with sender ranking, previews, undo handling, and broad Gmail/IMAP support. Its Linux-only command-line design and optional cloud AI data sharing should guide deployment choices.

Where Specifiction places it

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