Mboxreader – easily view your Gmail Takeouts

Hacker News

Hey HN, Did you know you can download all your emails (and attachments) from GMail into a .mbox format using Google Takeout ( https://takeout.google.com )? I did this and for the longest time my .mbox backup just sat around. I built a web app that can take an .mbox file and load it into a UI that looks like GMail: threaded conversations, original labels and categories, contacts, attachments, and full-text search. The mail never leaves your machine: the upload and parsing happens in a Web Worker in your own browser, and the archive is stored in browser storage on your device. Close the tab and it's wiped. There's no account required to try it out, and if you still don't trust it there's a built-in demo mailbox — no file needed. Try it out at https://mboxreader.com . Let me know if you have any questions or any constructive feedback. Thanks in advance! Pre-emptive FAQs: 1. "If 'no account required' why is there sign up?": I'm curious if there is a "power user" use case that needs support for larger backups and advanced features. But again, there's no need to sign up to try out the app. 2. "Why make it a web app instead of something I can run locally and privately?": There's less friction to try it out as a web app and local setups don't eliminate privacy concerns either.

Visit product View on Hacker NewsJul 24, 2026

Share card

Actual performance

7points

Made the leaderboard

Launch Intel predictions

Analyze your own launch →

Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Missing: supports, reddit linkedin, podcasting

80%80% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

best fitHighest predicted score across all platforms for this description.

Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: mac, google, user · Missing: agents, macos, agent

77%77% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Hacker NewsMay not resonate with HN audience · Strong signals: io · Missing: https docs, excited, just released

49%49% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.

AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Missing: plus, platform, intuitive

44%44% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Strong signals: google · Missing: mobile apps, ios, personal

27%27% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Missing: arr, mrr, revenue

13%13% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Missing: web3, chat, crypto

0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Incorrect prediction on native model

Similar products

CachedView – View Google Web Cache Easily57%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

CachedView – View Google Web Cache Easily

Hacker News11

Slick Checkbox for Gmail50%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Slick Checkbox for Gmail

Hacker News1

I Cloned Gmail50%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

I Cloned Gmail

Hacker News1

Gmail Thread Splitting60%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Gmail Thread Splitting

Hacker News59

Gmail on Rails45%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Gmail on Rails

Hacker News2

Show HN IRL (Mountain View, California)55%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Show HN IRL (Mountain View, California)

Hacker News5

An alternate view for mindmaps44%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

An alternate view for mindmaps

Hacker News2

A Dystopian View of San Francisco56%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

A Dystopian View of San Francisco

Hacker News6

Polis – view and discuss congressional votes44%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Polis – view and discuss congressional votes

Hacker News1

Hyperlapse View of Hong Kong Protests44%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Hyperlapse View of Hong Kong Protests

Hacker News2

Browse all products Analyze your launch