What it does
Mailvelope is an open-source browser add-on for PGP email encryption and signing. It documents webmail integrations, attachment encryption and separate business offerings for Google Workspace and Nextcloud.
Mailvelope adds client-side OpenPGP to an existing webmail account, with key management, digital signing and attachment encryption. Its product comparison says message metadata, including subject lines, headers and recipient information, remains visible to mail servers.
The FAQ places this workflow in desktop browsers and excludes current Android/iOS mobile browsers. The default key store is local to the browser and is deleted when the extension is removed, so export a backup first. A forgotten private-key password generally cannot be recovered; GMX/WEB.DE integrations have a specific recovery-code route. The extension source is published under AGPLv3.
Strengths
- Existing webmail can gain OpenPGP signing and encryption.
- Attachment encryption and PGP/MIME are documented.
- Business integrations cover Google Workspace and Nextcloud.
Watch out for
- The product page states that email metadata remains visible to servers.
Best for
- People who need OpenPGP while keeping a webmail interface
Sources
- Mailvelope: PGP for Gmail & Webmail (Oct 26, 2026)
- FAQ | Mailvelope (Oct 26, 2026)
- Mailvelope official project license (Oct 26, 2026)