FlareMail vs cf-mail is hosted versus a one-Worker mailbox. cf-mail is self-hosted, MIT, with 6 GitHub stars. The author says it runs at xtxt.top. The layout is one Worker, one D1, and one R2, with catch-all Email Routing. Login is one bearer token, and it is single-user by design. FlareMail is an account you create, with FlareMail operating the stack.
Short answer: FlareMail is a web inbox for Cloudflare-powered email — a hosted multi-domain inbox, while cf-mail is a single-user Worker you run with one bearer token.
Cloudflare email inbox in your browser. First three domains free. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited.
3 DOMAINS FREE · $10/MO PRO
Hosted inbox or a stack you operate
FlareMail is for people who already run on Cloudflare and do not want to provision the mail stack. You create an account, open the app, and connect a domain. The setup guide says about five minutes. One step sits outside the app: an Email Routing rule to the flaremail-api Worker. FlareMail operates the Worker, D1, and R2.
cf-mail is the self-hosted path in this comparison. You clone it and you keep it running. That can be the right trade when the mail must live in your Cloudflare account, or when a feature below is the reason you are here.
Side by side
Same job, different operator. Price on the FlareMail side is the domain plan, not a claim that self-hosting is free.
| FlareMail | cf-mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Hosted. Create an account and open the app. | Self-hosted. You deploy and operate it. |
| Who operates Worker, D1, and R2 | FlareMail operates the Worker, D1, and R2. | You do. |
| Setup | Connect a domain in the app. The setup guide says about five minutes, with one step outside the app: an Email Routing rule to the flaremail-api Worker. | One Worker, one D1, one R2, catch-all Email Routing. Login is one bearer token. Single-user by design. |
| Inbox | Browser inbox: read, folders, search, compose, attachments, labels, and privacy controls. | Inbox, sent, archived, spam, search, conversations, contacts, and a blocklist. Plus-addressing. Web Push and optional APNs. Agent mailboxes with allowlists. No IMAP. |
| Send | Send from your domain in the same app. | Sending needs Workers Paid. The README says $5/month with 3,000 emails/month included at time of writing. |
| Price | First 3 domains free. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited. | The README’s sending cost is Workers Paid at $5/month. You operate the Worker. 6 GitHub stars, MIT. |
What the FlareMail screen actually is
The inbox list above is the web app from this product, with obviously fake mail so the screenshot does not use a customer account. The sign-in form at app.sendwithflare.com is only the account door. It is not the inbox.
What cf-mail is actually good at
cf-mail’s web client covers inbox, sent, archived, and spam, plus search, conversations, contacts, and a blocklist. Plus-addressing is included. Web Push and optional APNs are there, and agent mailboxes can use allowlists. There is no IMAP. Sending needs Workers Paid. The README says $5 a month with 3,000 emails a month included at time of writing.
That is a clear personal server. It is also yours to keep online. FlareMail’s price is the published domain plan, not a Workers Paid line item you manage.
Which one to pick
Pick cf-mail when you want the bits in your account and you will operate them. Pick FlareMail when you want the inbox without becoming the person who provisions Worker, D1, and R2.
Start on onboarding and use the setup guide. First three domains are free. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited.
Other FlareMail comparisons
The same hosted-versus-self-host question, for the rest of the field:
- FlareMail vs Mailflare
- FlareMail vs Agentic Inbox
- FlareMail vs Quickinbox
- FlareMail vs Orange Inbox
- FlareMail vs Email Explorer
- FlareMail vs Postern
- FlareMail vs Doota
- FlareMail vs Reccado
- FlareMail vs cloudflare-email
- FlareMail vs AgentBox
Create an account on onboarding, then follow the setup guide. The guide’s outside step is an Email Routing rule to the flaremail-api Worker.
FlareMail is free for your first three domains. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited.
3 DOMAINS FREE · $10/MO PRO
Sources and context
- Cloudflare Email Service routes incoming emails to custom addresses, Workers, or external destinations.
- Cloudflare routing rules can send mail to an email address, send it to a Worker, or drop it.
- Cloudflare Workers can send email through send_email bindings.
- Cloudflare documents sending and routing as related but separate email setup paths.
- Cloudflare Email Routing can route mail to Workers for custom handling.
FAQ
Is cf-mail multi-user?
No. It is single-user by design. Login is one bearer token.
Does cf-mail include IMAP?
No. The README says there is no IMAP.
What does FlareMail cost?
First three domains are free. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited.
Three domains free. Pro is $10/month for 12 domains, then $1 per extra domain. Agency is $60/month unlimited.
3 DOMAINS FREE · $10/MO PRO