Maily · why I built my own mail gateway

I keep my email in good order: every message has its purpose, everything is filed. That was not the problem.

The problem was AI. Claude's Gmail connector only plugs into the account you connected, and I have several addresses. With another assistant, it was possible or not depending on the tool, and with every change I had to reconnect everything. One more app, one more connection, and never the full picture.

And above all, I did not really know where my emails went, or who saw them.

So I kept it simple: my own small app. I connect my mailboxes once (Gmail, Google Workspace or IMAP), and Maily opens them to any MCP-compatible assistant, directly on my computer. Switching AI tomorrow? Nothing to reconnect.

In practice, I ask:

“Find the electricity bill from March, whatever the mailbox, and give me the amount.”

And the assistant searches all my accounts at once, attachments included.

The choice I stand by: no Maily server. My emails stay with my provider, the connection goes through my own Google client, and the secrets are encrypted on my machine. I know exactly what goes through, and where.

I made it free, for macOS, Windows and Linux, and the code is public (PolyForm Shield 1.0.0 licence): you can use it, modify it and share it, but not resell it.

Download: maily.thanaelfontaine.eu
The code: github.com/ThanaelFontaine/Maily

If you try it, tell me what gets in the way.

Thanaël