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readpst vs Mailward

readpst, without the command line

readpst turns a PST into MBOX — if you are comfortable installing libpst and working flags in a terminal. Mailward does the same conversion in your browser: drop the file, see the folders, pick what to convert. Nothing is installed or uploaded.

Drop your archive here
or click to choose · parsed locally in this tab
PST
Ready — 0 bytes uploadedFile API · Web Worker
STEP 01

Drop the .pst file — no Homebrew, no install, nothing uploaded.

STEP 02

Browse the folder tree and preview messages before converting.

STEP 03

Convert one folder to .mbox free, or the whole archive with Pro.

STEP 04

Import the MBOX into Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a Gmail migration.

Why it matters

readpst, without the command line

readpst (from the open-source libpst project) is the classic answer for PST conversion on Mac and Linux — and for terminal-comfortable people it still works. But it means installing Homebrew, then libpst, then reading a man page, all to run blind against a file you cannot preview.

Mailward covers the same job visually: the PST is parsed locally in your browser, you see every folder and message before converting, and the output is the same standard MBOX (or EML) that Thunderbird and Apple Mail import. One folder converts free; whole archives are the one-time paid step.

If you live in the terminal and script your conversions, keep readpst — this page is for everyone who just wants their mail out of a PST today.

On a Mac? macOS ships nothing that opens PST — readpst needs Homebrew and a terminal, and new Outlook for Mac won't export mail files. A browser tool needs no install at all.

Questions

Converting this file

Q. Does Mailward produce the same output as readpst?

Both write standard MBOX (and per-message EML) that Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and migration tools import. Mailward adds a visual preview of folders and messages before you convert.

Q. Is the conversion done on a server?

No — exactly like readpst, everything runs on your own machine. The browser parses the PST in a Web Worker; the file is never uploaded.

Q. When should I use readpst instead?

If you script bulk conversions, run headless servers, or prefer the terminal, readpst is free, open source, and automatable. Mailward is for the no-install, see-what-you-have workflow.

Q. What does Mailward cost?

Reading, search, and single-folder conversion are free. Whole-archive and multi-file batch export is a one-time $19 license — no subscription.

Pricing

Simple, one-time pricing

Opening, reading, searching, and single-message export are free forever. Batch conversion is a one-time unlock — no subscription, no recurring fees.

Free
$0

Everything you need to open and read an archive.

  • Open & read PST, OST, MBOX, EML — locally
  • Full-text search across every folder
  • Export a single message
  • Files never leave your device
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