KMail is the email client developed by KDE and forms part of the Kontact personal information management suite. It provides a familiar desktop interface for handling email accounts, composing messages and organising correspondence.
The application integrates with the wider KDE Personal Information Management infrastructure, including Akonadi and the KDE address book. This allows it to share contact information and other resources with related applications while providing its own dedicated email interface.
KMail supports encrypted and digitally signed email using OpenPGP and S/MIME. Users can configure cryptographic preferences for individual identities, making it suitable for personal correspondence and organisations that require secure communication.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Manage multiple email accounts using IMAP and POP3.
- Send messages using SMTP, including encrypted transport connections.
- Support for local email storage and organised folder structures.
- Message threading, filtering and configurable search facilities.
- Compose plain-text and HTML email with spelling assistance.
- Support for multiple sender identities and associated account settings.
- OpenPGP encryption and digital signatures using inline and PGP/MIME formats.
- S/MIME encryption and signing using X.509 certificates.
- Configure separate signing and encryption keys for individual identities.
- Automatically sign outgoing messages according to identity preferences.
- Opportunistic encryption when appropriate recipient keys are available.
- Review recipient encryption keys before sending protected messages.
- Warn when attempting to send messages without signing or encryption.
- Configure whether messages saved as drafts should be encrypted.
- Integration with KDE address books and Kontact components.
- Customisable fonts, colours, message views and folder arrangements.
- Support for mail import and integration with KDE desktop notifications.
Website: apps.kde.org/kmail2
Support:
Developer: KDE
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

KMail is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Graphical Email Clients | |
|---|---|
| Thunderbird | Popular free, cross-platform e-mail, RSS and newsgroup client |
| Kmail | Email component of Kontact |
| Sylpheed | Simple, lightweight client |
| Mailspring | New version of Nylas Mail |
| Claws Mail | Lightweight yet powerful and full-featured client |
| Evolution | Provides integrated mail, addressbook and calendaring functionality |
| Geary | Mail client for GNOME written in Vala |
| Astroid | Lightweight and fast Mail User Agent |
| Balsa | Email client for GNOME |
| Also known as Pantheon Mail | |
| Dodo | Based on the command line email swiss-army-knife notmuch |
| Aerion | Standalone lightweight e-mail client inspired by Geary |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |


Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.