MailChannels Inbound Filtering vs MailWasher
MailChannels Inbound Filtering
mailchannels.comMailWasher
firetrust.comSide by side
| Figure | MailChannels Inbound Filtering | MailWasher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $4.16/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 11 |
| Spec score · Email Anti-Spam Software | 8.0 (#7) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Purpose | Filters inbound email for hosting providers to block spam, phishing, and malware before messages reach hosted inboxes. | MailWasher previews email on the mail server so users can remove unwanted messages before downloading them to their computer. |
| Support | The product page advertises a 30-minute human response, 24/7, from engineers. | The paid Pro license includes customer support, and Firetrust provides support by email. |
Plans
MailChannels Inbound Filtering
- MailChannels Inbound FilteringPriced on request
MailWasher
- MailWasher FreeFree
- MailWasher Pro — 1 year$49.95 a year
- MailWasher Pro 1 year$49.95 a year
- MailWasher Pro — 2 year$77.21 a year
- MailWasher Pro 2 year$77.21 a year
- MailWasher Pro — 3 year$99.90 a year
- MailWasher Pro 3 year$99.90 a year
- MailWasher Pro — Lifetime$149.95, paid once
- MailWasher Pro Lifetime$149.95, paid once
- MailWasher Enterprise Server 10 Users$199.95 a year
In their own words
MailChannels Inbound Filtering
MailChannels Inbound Filtering blocks spam, phishing, and malware before they reach hosted inboxes. It is designed for hosting providers that handle mail at scale, with a multi-tenant setup: one MX record can protect domains across a provider’s fleet, while controls remain available for individual domains. Multiple independent detection engines identify threats, and the product says it enforces SSL/TLS, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC inline, preventing mail that fails authentication from reaching customers. Customers can manage safelists, blocklists, and false-positive recovery. Intelligent Quarantine offers senders a self-service release link, and a daily digest lets users release legitimate held messages with one click. Log Search enables customers and support agents to find messages in mail history. The service supports downstream SMTP mail servers and has a cPanel and WHM plugin; the plugin requires cPanel and WHM version 68 or higher and PHP 5.6 or higher. Setup includes domain provisioning, mail-server preparation, and routing inbound traffic through MailChannels. Pricing is on request. The product page advertises a 30-minute human response, 24/7, from engineers.
MailWasher
MailWasher previews email on the mail server so users can remove unwanted messages before downloading them to a computer. Its filtering tools include Friends List, Blacklist, RBLs, custom and learning filters, a profanity list, and spam ratings. The free edition works with one email account and has no support; Pro supports unlimited accounts and POP3 and IMAP. Firetrust lists Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail, along with programs such as Outlook, eM Client, and Thunderbird. The maker says email content stays on the PC and only the license key is sent to its servers. It also says MailWasher uses OAuth for services such as Gmail and Outlook.com, or app passwords, rather than asking users to enter their actual email passwords in the app. Mobile apps are available for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Pro has a 30-day trial with full functionality. Listed purchase options include $49.95 a year for one year, $77.21 a year for two years, $99.90 a year for three years, or 149.95 USD once for a lifetime license; annual plans thereafter cost $34.95 a year.