Best Mailpit Alternative — MailCatch vs Mailpit
Mailpit is a free, open-source email testing tool and the modern successor to MailHog. Self-hosted with a web UI and REST API.
MailCatch
Free: 50 inboxes/month
From: $10/mo
Mailpit
Free: Free (open source, self-hosted)
From: Free (self-hosted) (N/A)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MailCatch | Mailpit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier + paid plans | Free (self-hosted) |
| Hosting | Cloud (managed) | Self-hosted only |
| REST API | Yes | Yes |
| Auto OTP extraction | Yes | No |
| Long polling (/wait) | Yes | No |
| Setup required | None (cloud) | Docker / binary install |
| CI/CD integration | API key only | Requires running instance |
| Web dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes (MIT) |
Why choose MailCatch over Mailpit
- No infrastructure to manage — fully cloud hosted
- Auto OTP extraction built-in
- Works from any CI runner without running a service
- Long polling for reliable test synchronization
Where Mailpit wins
- Mailpit is free and open source
- Mailpit gives full control over your email testing infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailpit free?
Yes, Mailpit is open source and free. However, you need to host and maintain it yourself. MailCatch offers a managed cloud service with a free tier — no infrastructure needed.
Should I use Mailpit or MailCatch?
For local development, Mailpit is excellent. For CI/CD pipelines and team collaboration, MailCatch is more practical — no infrastructure to manage, works from any CI runner, and includes OTP extraction.
Is Mailpit a replacement for MailHog?
Yes. Mailpit is the actively maintained successor to MailHog with better performance, modern UI, and continued development.
Does Mailpit have an API?
Yes, Mailpit has a REST API for reading emails. However, it requires self-hosting and doesn't offer auto OTP extraction or long polling like MailCatch.
Ready to try MailCatch?
Start with 50 free inboxes per month. No credit card required.
Get Started FreeOther alternatives
Pricing and features as of September 2026. Information sourced from public pricing pages. Visit Mailpit for current pricing. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.