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License

License

Last updated June 2026

Self-hosted. Free to self-host forever; the lifetime license adds the full readable source, with two reserved rights that keep the project fundable.

This page is the plain-language summary, not the contract. The authoritative text is the LICENSE file that ships with the source; if anything here and the LICENSE ever disagree, the LICENSE wins.

1. How it’s licensed

Tinbox ships under the Tinbox License, a source-available license. In plain terms: run it for your own mail at any scale, free, forever; the readable source comes with a lifetime license, yours to audit and change. Two reserved rights keep the project fundable. The complete, authoritative text lives in the LICENSE file.

2. You’re free to

  • Self-host the free build for your own mail (personal, team, or company) at any scale, forever.
  • Read, audit, and modify every line — the lifetime license includes the full readable source.
  • Use it commercially to run your own organization's email.
  • Reshape the app layer however you like, on your own account.

3. We reserve two rights

No reselling it as a hosted service

You can’t offer Tinbox (or a fork) to third parties as a managed or hosted email service. Running it for your own organization is always fine; standing it up and charging others to use it is the right we reserve.

No stripped-down rebrand

You can’t redistribute Tinbox with its name and built-in authentication removed and pass it off as your own product. White-labeling needs our sign-off; everything else is yours.

4. Why

The two reserved rights exist to fund the project without restricting any real self-hosting user. They stop a competitor from relaunching a “hosted Tinbox” or a renamed clone off our work, while leaving everyone who runs Tinbox for their own mail completely free, at any scale, commercially, forever.

5. Need a commercial / OEM / hosting license?

Want to resell Tinbox as a hosted service, or ship it rebranded? That’s a separate, friendly conversation: email hello@tinbox.dev and we’ll work out a Hosting & OEM license. For self-host and commercial own-use, see pricing.

The authoritative, legally-binding text is the LICENSE file.