Rainloop: Webmail That Doesn’t Feel Like You’re in 2004
Let’s say you’ve got a mail server — maybe Postfix and Dovecot — ticking away nicely. But your users still rely on Thunderbird or worse, Outlook. You want to give them webmail. But not something clunky, slow, or straight out of the early 2000s.
Rainloop is a webmail frontend that’s fast, clean, and doesn’t require a massive PHP stack or database to function. You drop it onto a web server, point it at your IMAP/SMTP backend, and get a modern interface that just works.
What Rainloop Actually Offers
| Feature | Why It’s Useful |
| IMAP/SMTP support | Works with your existing mail infrastructure |
| No database required | Stores config as flat files — dead simple |
| Lightweight | Runs on basic shared hosting or VPS |
| Modern UI | Responsive, clean, fast — works well even on older browsers |
| Admin panel | Configure domains, defaults, auth options |
| External logins | OAuth support for Google, Facebook, and custom backends |
| Plugin system | Extend functionality without hacking core files |
| Multi-domain ready | Serve different settings for different mail domains |
When It Makes Sense
– Run their own IMAP/SMTP stack
– Want to offer browser-based access without Roundcube’s weight
– Don’t want to mess with MySQL just to check their inbox
– Need something that looks decent without massive frontend rework
– Are okay with fewer features in exchange for speed and simplicity
It’s not a replacement for a full groupware suite — but it nails the job of giving users access to their email from anywhere, with no client setup.
Installing Rainloop (Apache or Nginx)
- Download the latest community edition:
wget https://www.rainloop.net/repository/webmail/rainloop-community-latest.zip
unzip rainloop-community-latest.zip -d /var/www/rainloop
- Set proper permissions for web server access.
chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/rainloop
- Point your web server (Apache/Nginx) to the Rainloop directory.
- Access the admin panel at:
http://your-domain/?admin
Default credentials:
Login: admin
Password: 12345
Yes, change it immediately.
Pros and Limitations
What’s solid:
– Quick to deploy, no DB hassle
– Surprisingly fast, even on modest VPS
– Config stored as plain text — easy to back up or version
– Updates handled via built-in updater
– Interface is snappy and clean — feels modern
Where it’s thin:
– No calendar, contacts, or full PIM suite (unless paired with other tools)
– Community version updates have slowed — needs attention to patching
– Spam handling depends on server-side tools — no filters in the UI
– Not ideal for huge orgs with hundreds of users and complex needs
Final Thoughts
Rainloop does exactly one thing: webmail. And it does it well. If you’re building an internal toolset, offering hosted mail for a small team, or just need a no-fuss frontend — it delivers without turning into a project of its own. Clean, quiet, and gets out of your way.
