Mozilla launches Thundermail, its open-source Gmail alternative & Thunderbird Pro services
Mozilla has unveiled plans to transform its Thunderbird email client into a comprehensive communications platform, introducing new services called Thundermail and Thunderbird Pro. This expansion aims to rival established email providers such as Gmail, Microsoft 365 or even Proton Mail and Tuta Mail, by offering a range of services, including @thundermail.com email addresses, an appointment scheduler, file sharing tools, and AI-powered features under the "Thunderbird Assist" brand.
This marks Thunderbird's first venture into providing its own email services, moving beyond its traditional role as just an email client. Mozilla is committed to maintaining open source principles with a focus on privacy and user respect as it seeks to offer an alternative to proprietary ecosystems.
Announced by Thunderbird Managing Director Ryan Sipes, these services are still in the early stages of development, with no specific details on tiers or pricing yet. Mozilla plans to offer both free and paid tiers, initially providing free access to regular community contributors. The Thunderbird Pro suite will feature tools like an appointment scheduling tool and a file-sharing service, with some components available for self-hosting. Although the cost structure is not yet clear, Mozilla intends to charge for certain features that require significant resources, such as storage. Users interested in early access can join a beta waitlist at thundermail.com.
- Email Client
- Free • Open Source
Related news
External links
- Thundermail and Thunderbird Pro ServicesThunderbird • Official source
- Thunderbird's Thread on Bluesky@thunderbird.net on Bluesky • Official source
- Mozilla launching "Thundermail" email service to take on Gmail, Microsoft 365TechRadar
- Mozilla Announces Thundermail and Thunderbird Pro Services Thurrott
- Mozilla Thunderbird Challenges Gmail With Its Own Email ServiceForbes
- Firefox maker Mozilla prepares Gmail-like ThundermailThe Register
- Thunderbird Launches Open Source Services to Rival Gmail and Office365Linuxiac
Comments
Does it include preaching and activism bs right off the bat or does that cost extra?
The very mention of "AI features" makes me doubtful this would even be good. For one thing they can be exploitable to hackers even if one were to for some reason trust Mozilla when they for so long have embedded so many Google services into Firefox you would have to question any commitment they have to privacy. For another there has been many projects Mozilla took on that it dropped pretty early on like an operating system and further back a Pidgin like messaging program. Plus the whole AI bubble that is going to pop any time now. And what AI feature anyway? Set up bots to reply to emails? Unless it is hosted in a decentralized manner they will have to deal with server fees and where is the money going to come from when Google has already been in trouble for it paying browsers to make their search the default? Is it going to be full of Google ads? Don't get me wrong, I would like this to go well and for something unique to come of this but without any signs yet I am holding off on being too hopeful.
They clarified it will be opt IN and their aim is to make any AI task local.
Even if client side and turned off it would still provide an attack surface at least the toggle but it isn't as bad as if it were server side client side but on but it depends exactly what it does.
Even if Mozilla build a complete solution, like Proton is offering, I don't see how it can be better or different to other ones. Also, the privacy of the service is bound to how much money Mozilla needs to make out of it (since it won't soon have the luxury to fund too many projects no more). Finally, Mozilla will need to clarify its Terms of Service since the very start (wink wink), and avoid inserting ads between genuine emails (wink wink Outlook, say no more).
It doesn't have to be better, it helps having fallbacks if anything ceases to exist..