You maintain the project.
We’ll host your email.
Free email hosting for open-source projects, with Team mailboxes on your own domain. Apply for up to five mailboxes, with setup help from the people building Thelemail.
A small first group. Every application reviewed by a person.
A home for your
project’s email.
Maintaining a project means answering questions, coordinating releases, and keeping in touch with contributors. We can help with the email behind that work.
We’re starting with three to five projects. You’ll be among our first teams, with direct help getting started and a chance to shape how Thelemail works for maintainers.
Team, sponsored.
For approved projects
Private mailboxes
Up to five Team mailboxes, with 25 GB of storage each.
Your project’s domains
Connect up to five domains you own. Domain registration is separate.
Unlimited aliases
Give contributors a project address and route shared addresses to your team.
Team management
Roles, organization settings, and 90 days of audit logs.
Includes Team features and priority support. Renewal is reviewed annually.
For projects with
people behind them.
We want the support to reach active maintainers. These checks help us understand your project and make sure the application comes from its team.
You don’t need a popular repository or a registered nonprofit to apply.
Public code with a clear license.
Your project has publicly available source code under an OSI-approved open-source license, usable software, and documentation. Empty repositories and unchanged copies of other projects do not qualify.
A history of real maintenance.
We normally look for at least three months of public project history, with meaningful development, releases, or issue discussions. Independently maintained forks are welcome. Imported commits alone do not establish a project’s history.
A maintainer who can verify the project.
You can demonstrate control of the repository and the project’s domain. We may ask you to add a temporary verification code to the default branch and a DNS record to your domain.
A team ready to use the mailboxes.
For this first group, at least two maintainers or contributors should plan to use Thelemail for real project communication. We prioritize independent, community-run projects.
Tell us what
you’re building.
A short email is enough. Share the details below and how your team plans to use Thelemail. We’ll review the project, verify ownership, and help approved teams get set up.
[email protected]Questions about eligibility? Write to the same address.
Include in your email
- Project name and public repository URL
- Website and the domain you want to use
- Your maintainer profile and role in the project
- How many mailboxes your team needs
- A few lines about the project and your email needs
Opens your email app with the application details ready to fill in.
Before you apply.
Does our project need a minimum number of stars?
No. We look at what you maintain, its public history, and how your team will use the mailboxes. Small projects are welcome.
Can we apply if we receive donations or earn revenue?
Yes. Tell us how the project is funded. Donations, sponsorships, or revenue do not automatically disqualify you; we prioritize projects that would benefit most from the support.
How long does the sponsorship last?
Sponsorship is granted for 12 months and reviewed annually. Renewal depends on continued eligibility and program availability. If an ordinary eligibility change ends your sponsorship, we give you at least 30 days to choose a paid plan or move your email. Active abuse can lead to immediate suspension under our terms.
What can the sponsored accounts be used for?
Project communication by your maintainers and contributors. Accounts cannot be resold or used for unrelated company email, cold outreach, or bulk marketing. One sponsorship covers each project, including its related repositories. Our standard terms and anti-abuse limits apply.
Do we have to promote Thelemail?
A sponsor link on your website or README is welcome and entirely optional. We ask this first group to use the service, report problems, and join a short feedback check-in after the first week and first month.
What if we need more than five mailboxes?
Include your needs in the application. The standard sponsorship covers up to five mailboxes; we consider larger requests individually and confirm the scope before setup.
Sponsored accounts follow our terms of service.