FakeSMTP

FakeSMTP

FakeSMTP is an open source SMTP test server that allows developers to test email sending from their applications without actually sending emails through an SMTP server. It is lightweight, easy to install, and useful for testing email functionality during development.
FakeSMTP image
smtp email testing fake server

FakeSMTP: Open Source SMTP Test Server

FakeSMTP is an open source SMTP test server that allows developers to test email sending from their applications without actually sending emails through an SMTP server. It is lightweight, easy to install, and useful for testing email functionality during development.

What is FakeSMTP?

FakeSMTP is a free, open source SMTP test server written in Java that allows software developers to test sending emails from their applications without actually sending the messages over the internet through a real SMTP server.

Some key features of FakeSMTP include:

  • Lightweight and easy to install - just a single .jar file with no dependencies
  • Implements SMTP and ESMTP protocols for realistic testing
  • Spins up an SMTP server on localhost that captures messages instead of relaying them
  • Allows email sending to be tested during development without sending actual emails
  • View, edit or delete messages that were "sent" to the FakeSMTP server
  • Compatible with any programming language/email library that supports SMTP
  • Helpful for testing email functionality in applications or during continuous integration

Because FakeSMTP runs locally and simulates an SMTP server, developers can test email sending from their code without needing access to a real SMTP server. This makes it easy to test applications that send automated emails. The emails get intercepted by FakeSMTP rather than actually being delivered.

FakeSMTP Features

Features

  1. Runs as a local SMTP server that receives email messages
  2. Allows sending email messages to it during development for testing
  3. Does not actually send the emails out, just captures them locally
  4. Lightweight and easy to install
  5. Works cross-platform on Windows, Linux and Mac
  6. Open source and free

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

No need to connect to a real SMTP server during development

Avoids sending test emails accidentally to real users

Saves time by speeding up email testing

Simple to set up and use

Being open source allows customization if needed

Cons

Limited to testing email sending, not receiving

Not a full email test platform with reporting

Requires rerouting application to use it instead of normal SMTP

Does not test actual email deliverability


The Best FakeSMTP Alternatives

Top Development and Testing Tools and other similar apps like FakeSMTP


Mailtrap icon

Mailtrap

Mailtrap is an easy-to-use fake SMTP server and API for testing email notifications without sending them to real people. It provides a fake SMTP server along with a web interface and API that allows developers to test and view emails their application is sending without delivering them to actual email...
Mailtrap image
MailHog icon

MailHog

MailHog is an open source email testing tool used by developers for testing email in development and staging environments. It captures outgoing email and displays it in a web interface, instead of sending it externally. This allows developers to test email workflows without spamming real email addresses.Some key features of...
MailHog image
LunaticSMTP icon

LunaticSMTP

LunaticSMTP is an open-source, lightweight SMTP server developed specifically for Windows platforms. It allows Windows applications to send email directly through SMTP without needing additional email libraries.Some key features of LunaticSMTP include:Small footprint - under 1MB install sizeNo dependencies - works right out of the boxSupports SMTP and ESMTPCompatible with...
LunaticSMTP image
Papercut icon

Papercut

Papercut is a leading print management software used by thousands of schools, colleges, businesses, libraries, and enterprise organizations. It helps IT administrators gain control over printing environments and reduce wasteful printing by setting print rules and quotas and providing convenient tools for user account tracking, billing, and reporting.Key features of...
Papercut image
MailCatcher icon

MailCatcher

MailCatcher is an open source email testing tool used by developers to test and debug email sending in web applications during development. It runs a simple SMTP server on localhost along with a web interface to display messages sent by your application.When your application sends an email, MailCatcher will catch...
MailCatcher image
Smtp4dev icon

Smtp4dev

smtp4dev is an open-source, lightweight SMTP server application designed specifically for developers who need to test email functionality in their applications during development. Unlike full-featured email servers like Exchange or Postfix, smtp4dev is simple to install and configure on your local machine.The key benefit of smtp4dev is that it eliminates...
Origami SMTP icon

Origami SMTP

Origami SMTP is an email deliverability platform built to help email marketers perfect their email campaigns. It allows you to:Send test emails to check deliverability before sending large volumesGet detailed analytics on opens, clicks, bounces, spam test results, and more to optimize campaignsAnalyze and improve sender reputation with ISP feedback...
Origami SMTP image
DummySMTP icon

DummySMTP

DummySMTP is a free, open source SMTP server designed for developers to test email sending and receiving in applications without sending actual emails over the internet. It runs locally and simulates an SMTP server, catching emails sent to it and making them available for viewing rather than sending them out.Key...
DummySMTP image
Mailocal icon

Mailocal

Mailocal is an open-source email service launched in 2019 that focuses on providing robust privacy and security features for its users. It is designed as an alternative to popular commercial options like Gmail or Outlook in response to growing demand for email services that do more to protect user data.Some...
Mailocal image
Mailpit icon

Mailpit

Mailpit is an open-source, privacy-focused email client for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It was created by developers and privacy advocates who were concerned about email privacy issues like tracking and data collection.Some of the key features of Mailpit include:End-to-end encryption - Emails are encrypted between the sender and recipient using...
Mailpit image
MailDev icon

MailDev

MailDev is an open source email testing and debugging tool for developers. It runs a local SMTP server and web interface that allows developers to intercept emails sent from web apps or other services, without actually sending them over the internet.Some key features of MailDev include:Catches emails sent from any...
MailDev image
Debug Mail icon

Debug Mail

Debug Mail is an email testing and debugging application designed to help developers build and test email features in their software without actually sending emails. It works by providing a mock SMTP server that captures any email sent to it from the application being developed.Some key features and benefits of...
Mailosaur icon

Mailosaur

Mailosaur is an email testing and automation platform designed specifically for developers and testers. It allows you to programmatically test and monitor the email output of your web applications by providing a unique email address to send emails to.Some key features of Mailosaur include:Catch and view emails sent to your...
Mailosaur image
Ethereal Email icon

Ethereal Email

Ethereal Email is an open-source, self-hosted email server software designed to give users complete ownership and control over their email communications and data. As an ethical, private, and secure email solution, Ethereal Email allows you to take back control of your inbox rather than relying on large tech companies.By self-hosting...
Ethereal Email image
MailSpons icon

MailSpons

MailSpons is a powerful email marketing and automation platform used by over 250,000 businesses worldwide. It makes it easy for companies to design email campaigns, automate workflows, integrate with other software, analyze results, and more.With MailSpons, you can quickly build and send email newsletters, promotions, surveys, and other types of...
MailSpons image
Testmail.app icon

Testmail.app

testmail.app is a handy email testing application designed specifically for macOS. It provides a simple interface that allows you to compose, send, and receive test emails entirely on your local machine without needing to connect to an email server.Some key features of testmail.app include:Compose test emails with attachmentsSend emails to...
Testmail.app image
SMTP Bucket icon

SMTP Bucket

SMTP Bucket is an email testing and debugging software that enables developers, testers, and IT teams to capture, inspect, and debug outbound email from applications or email clients without needing to send emails to real users.It works by providing a fake, customizable SMTP server that email clients can connect to...
SMTP Bucket image
Mailnest icon

Mailnest

Mailnest is an email productivity platform designed to help individuals and teams manage high email volumes more efficiently. Its key features include:Mail Merge - Send personalized mass emails by merging contact details from CSV files/databases.Email Scheduling - Schedule emails to be sent at a later, more optimal time.Follow-Up Reminders -...
Mailnest image