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OpenEMM

agnitas.de

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.5 #48 of 187 in Email marketing tools

What it is

OpenEMM is web-based open-source software for email marketing and automation, including newsletters and transactional or date-driven messages. Its tools include a campaign manager, calendar reminders and comments, responsive templates, recipient status history, and profile enrichment based on recipient reactions. It also provides bounce management, real-time opener and click statistics, behavior-based target groups, web forms, a multiqueue mail backend, web services, and a plugin interface. Integrations include Make and n8n, alongside HTTP request endpoints and import and export options. OpenEMM is self-hosted, with operation on a user's premises, through a hosting provider, or in a data center. The download page lists Linux servers and Windows or Mac servers via VirtualBox. From OpenEMM 2019 Spring, releases use the GNU AGPLv3 license. The plan costs nothing, with no limits on recipients, mailing lists, or dispatches. A three-day demo is available, but mailings cannot be sent from that account.

Spec sheet

Purpose
OpenEMM is web-based open-source software for email marketing and marketing automation, including newsletters and transactional or date-driven emails.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Product
OpenEMM is a self-hosted, web-based open-source platform for email marketing and marketing automation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · agnitas.de
API
The documentation describes SOAP and REST APIs for remote management and a callback API for sending event notifications to third-party systems.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.agnitas.de
Integrations
The documentation identifies Make and n8n connectors, while the platform also supports data exchange through web services, HTTP endpoints, and imports or exports.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.agnitas.de
Security
AGNITAS says users can inspect the source code and choose where to run OpenEMM, and describes the product as GDPR-compliant.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Privacy
AGNITAS describes OpenEMM as GDPR-compliant and says users choose where to operate it, with source-code access for security inspections and customization.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Support
Free help includes community forums, tutorials, manuals, and online help; AGNITAS also offers paid installation, configuration, and operational support.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
License
OpenEMM releases from version 2019 Spring onward use the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPLv3).Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Headquarters
LinkedIn lists AGNITAS AG's headquarters in Munich, Germany.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Founded
LinkedIn states that Martin Aschoff founded AGNITAS in 1999.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company
The maker is AGNITAS AG, a privately held software development company.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
A/B testing
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · agnitas.de
Bounce management
The product includes automated bounce management.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Campaign features
It includes a campaign manager, calendar reminders and comments, responsive templates, recipient status history, and profile enrichment from recipient reactions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Campaigns
A graphical workflow manager supports planning and running multi-stage email campaigns.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists AGNITAS AG in the 11–50 employee range.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Demo
AGNITAS offers a demo account with access for three days, but that account cannot send mailings.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Development news
The GitHub project says a 26.11 release was planned for November 2026 with an OpenAPI 3 REST API, an MCP API, verified Make and n8n connectors, redesigned statistics, and PostgreSQL support.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation
AGNITAS provides user manuals, installation and administration guides, context-sensitive help, and documentation for REST, SOAP, webhooks, and Velocity scripting.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.agnitas.de
Downloads
The download page lists Runtime 26.05 and OVA 25.11 packages, and provides the manual as a separate download.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Email automation
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · agnitas.de
Email types
It supports newsletters, transactional and service emails, autoresponders, and action- or date-triggered messages.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Extensibility
A plugin interface and scripting for custom triggers are listed as ways to extend the software.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Forms
The platform provides a visual web form builder and recipient self-service forms.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hosting
OpenEMM is self-hosted and can run on the user's own premises, with a hosting provider, or in the user's own data center.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Independent review coverage
OMR Reviews shows zero OpenEMM reviews on the page opened.Read 21 Oct 2026 · omr.com
Landing pages
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · agnitas.de
Limit: multi-user bugs
The G2 reviewer said the platform can become buggy when multiple people use it.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: support and compatibility
A SourceForge reviewer of OpenEMM 2015 reported poor forum support and problems with Tomcat 8 and Java 8; that dated report concerns an older release.Read 21 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Mailing creation
Users can create mailings from templates and manage reusable mailing content.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Operating systems
The download page lists Linux servers and Windows or Mac servers via VirtualBox as supported runtime options.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Praise: automation
The G2 reviewer described OpenEMM as a good tool for email automation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: general satisfaction
SourceForge reviewers include positive comments describing the software as useful, high quality, and satisfying to use.Read 21 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Product limits
AGNITAS' comparison marks OpenEMM as lacking whitelabel capability, S/MIME email signatures, and several advanced recipient statistics available in other EMM variants.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Rating on G2
3.5 out of 5 from 1 review shown for AGNITAS; G2 says there are not enough reviews to provide buying insight.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on SourceForge
4.7 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews.Read 21 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Reporting
OpenEMM provides graphical real-time statistics and configurable reports that can be exported as PDF or CSV.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Requirements
The maker lists at least 4 GB of server RAM, with 8 GB recommended, plus SSH shell access with root rights for installation.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Segmentation
Users can define target groups using recipient profiles, status, and behavior.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Self-hosting
OpenEMM can be operated in the user's own premises, with a hosting provider, or in the user's data center.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Software stack
The requirements page lists OpenJDK, Apache Tomcat, Python, MariaDB, and Postfix as components of the stack.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Standard tools
Features include bounce management, real-time opener and click statistics, behavior-based target groups, web forms, a multiqueue mail backend, web services, and a plugin interface.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Supported operating systems
The listed server choices include 64-bit RHEL 8 or compatible distributions and SLES 15; Windows and macOS operation is through VirtualBox.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
System requirements
The product page specifies at least 4 GB RAM, recommends 8 GB, and requires SSH shell access with root rights for installation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de
Tracking
It can track email openings and link clicks, including individual or anonymous tracking modes.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Use case
AGNITAS describes OpenEMM as suitable for users who want professional email marketing and automation and find its reduced feature range sufficient, including SMEs, associations, and clubs.Read 12 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de

Plans and prices

OpenEMM Free Unlimited usage period; no costs for use. Unlimited usage period · No limit on recipients · No limit on mailing lists · No limit on dispatch Read 20 Sep 2026 · agnitas.de
OpenEMM Free Permanently free; unlimited usage period No limit on recipients, mailing lists, or dispatch · Self-hosted · Installation, configuration, maintenance, and administration are the user's responsibility Read 21 Oct 2026 · agnitas.de

Every OpenEMM plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • No listed limits on recipients or dispatches.
  • Includes automation and audience segmentation.
  • Supports Make and n8n integrations.
  • Offers responsive templates and landing pages.
  • Free support includes FAQs, manuals, and tutorials.

Limits

  • Self-hosting requires SSH access with root rights.
  • At least 4 GB server RAM is listed.
  • Demo account cannot send mailings.
  • Paid support and setup services are offered separately.

Who it suits

OpenEMM suits SMEs, associations, and clubs seeking email marketing and automation, if its feature range is sufficient. It is a fit for organizations able to self-host and meet the listed server requirements.

OpenEMM in depth

Read the full write-up

OpenEMM is web-based, open-source software for email marketing and automation, including newsletters and transactional or date-driven messages. It is best suited to organizations able to manage a server and wanting control over where the system runs. Its unlimited free sending is compelling, but the reduced feature range and installation requirements make it a poor fit for teams seeking a managed service.

Overview

AGNITAS, founded in Munich in 2006, offers OpenEMM as a self-hosted platform that can run on an organization’s premises, with a hosting provider, or in its own data center. That deployment choice matters to teams with specific operational or privacy requirements; it also means they take responsibility for hosting and installation.

OpenEMM versions from OpenEMM 2019 Spring are released under the GNU AGPLv3. AGNITAS describes the software as GDPR-compliant and points to deployment control and source-code access for inspection and customization. These are useful foundations for organizations that need oversight, but they still need the expertise to operate their deployment.

Key features

The campaign manager brings together calendar reminders, comments, responsive templates, and recipient status history. Real-time opener and click statistics provide campaign feedback, while recipient reactions can enrich profiles and support behavior-based target groups. Segmentation, automation, A/B testing, and landing pages give teams the essentials for targeting and iterating on campaigns.

Bounce management and a multiqueue mail backend support the delivery workflow. Web forms can collect responses, and web services, HTTP request endpoints, import/export options, and integrations with Make and n8n provide ways to connect OpenEMM with other systems. The breadth is useful for organizations that want to assemble their own marketing workflow, though AGNITAS positions the feature range as reduced; teams needing a broader suite should compare alternatives before committing.

Pricing

The OpenEMM plan costs nothing, with an unlimited usage period and no usage charge. It has no limit on recipients, mailing lists, or dispatches, a meaningful advantage for organizations whose mailing volume would make capped plans restrictive. The trade-off is that self-hosting still requires a server and the resources to maintain it.

A demo account provides access for 3 days, but cannot send mail, so it can show the interface without validating live delivery. Free support includes FAQs, a forum, manuals, online help, and tutorials; paid support and setup services are also offered. Organizations that want help getting an installation running can pay for those services rather than relying solely on community resources.

Platforms

OpenEMM is web-based and self-hosted. The download page supports Linux servers and Windows or Mac servers running via VirtualBox. Installation requires at least 4 GB of server RAM, with 8 GB recommended, and SSH shell access with root rights. Those requirements favor organizations with server administration capability; the free plan does not remove the infrastructure or setup work.

Who it's for

OpenEMM is a strong candidate for SMEs, associations, and clubs that need professional email marketing and automation, can manage their own hosting, and find a reduced feature range sufficient. It is less suitable for teams without server expertise or those that prefer a managed platform. Its unrestricted recipient and dispatch volume is especially useful when mailing scale matters more than a turnkey operating experience.

Pros and cons

Pros: No recipient, mailing-list, or dispatch cap makes the free plan practical for large or growing mailing programs.

Pros: Self-hosting options, AGPLv3 licensing, and source-code access support deployment control, inspection, and customization.

Pros: Automation, segmentation, A/B testing, landing pages, and response-based targeting cover a broad set of campaign needs.

Cons: Root-level SSH access and at least 4 GB of server RAM make installation a poor fit for teams without infrastructure expertise.

Cons: The three-day demo cannot send mail, limiting its value for assessing the live delivery workflow.

Cons: The feature range is reduced, so organizations needing a broader marketing suite may outgrow its scope.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, see Email Marketing Software. Consider phpList if a freemium email-marketing option with a free plan capped at 300 messages but unlimited subscribers better matches your needs. Zoho Campaigns may suit teams that want a free plan with up to 2,000 contacts, 6,000 emails per month, and 5 users. Choose AWeber if a free plan capped at 500 subscribers and 3,000 monthly emails fits your list size.

GetResponse is another email-marketing alternative. Twilio Segment is an alternative for teams considering a free plan with a 1,000-visitors-per-month limit. Firepush is another option. Flashy is another option. Mailercloud may work for teams that prefer a free plan capped at 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails per month, with one advanced automation.

Verdict

Choose OpenEMM if you want open-source email marketing and automation, need no imposed recipient or dispatch limits, and can take responsibility for hosting and installation. Look elsewhere if you need a broader feature set or a managed service that does not depend on your own server expertise.

Verdict

OpenEMM combines campaign management, automation, targeting, and web forms in a self-hosted package with no listed recipient or dispatch caps. Check the server requirements and its reduced feature range against your needs before choosing it.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to OpenEMMAll alternatives →

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