Free for open source Updated September 2026

Free email for open-source projects

Open source runs the software world. Emitlo gives a little back to the community by offering open-source projects free transactional email, with case-by-case sending limits.

Why Emitlo offers free email to open-source projects

Open-source projects are often maintained by volunteers, with no business model. Yet they need to send notifications, CI alerts and emails to their community. By offering our infrastructure, Emitlo helps these projects stay reliable and alive at no sending cost.

You use the same sending infrastructure as our paying customers: REST API and SMTP relay, double DKIM signing, automatic SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup, EU hosting compliant with GDPR, webhooks and a real-time deliverability dashboard.

What the program includes

  • Case-by-case sending limits — matched to your project's activity.
  • Fits CI/CD, notifications and community emails.
  • API and SMTP ready to use — integration in minutes.
  • EU hosting, GDPR compliant — email content is not retained.
  • Full authentication — DKIM, SPF and DMARC configured automatically.

How to apply

Applying is a single email to [email protected]. Introduce your project (with the repository link) and include the information below so we can set a suitable sending limit.

  • Sending domain name
  • Estimated monthly email volume
  • Email type (notifications, CI alerts, community, etc.)
  • A short description of the open-source project (repository, license, community)
  • Country where the project is based
  • Person to contact (name + email)

Every application is reviewed individually.

Frequently asked questions — open source

Which open-source projects qualify?
Projects under a recognized open-source license (MIT, Apache, GPL, etc.), whether libraries, applications, tools or communities. Every application is reviewed individually, with a link to the public repository.
What emails can an open-source project send?
Notifications to contributors and users, continuous integration (CI/CD) alerts, community and governance emails, release announcements, reminders and confirmations. Emitlo aims for reliable deliverability for these messages.
What is the sending limit?
The limit is set on a case-by-case basis according to the volume and activity of your project. A project with a large community may require higher limits, which we are happy to review.
Does the project need to be popular?
No. We support emerging projects as well as established ones. What matters is that the code is open and that the email usage serves the project and its community.
How do I apply?
Send an email to [email protected] introducing your project (with the repository link) and including your domain, estimated monthly volume, email type, country and the person to contact.

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