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An open-source Instantly alternative you host yourself
If you like how Instantly, Smartlead or lemlist work but want the software, the mailboxes' logins and every reply on your own server, rightnow-ai is built for that. Here is an honest look at what is the same, what is different and what you give up.
What rightnow-ai covers
| Category | In rightnow-ai |
|---|---|
| Email accounts | Gmail API, Microsoft Graph and any IMAP/SMTP host, with per-mailbox daily limits, health and encrypted logins |
| Warm-up | Gradual ramp-up between your own mailboxes, inbox-placement tracking, automatic re-warm-up after a break |
| Deliverability | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX and blacklist checks, placement tests, bounce monitoring and automatic slow-down |
| Campaigns and sequences | Unlimited steps and delays, A/B variants, spintax, merge fields with fallbacks, schedules per time zone, mailbox rotation |
| Leads | CSV import with column mapping and dedupe, lists, custom fields, tags, a blocklist, optional email verification |
| Unified inbox | Every mailbox threaded in one place, reply labels, notes, reminders, replies from the original mailbox |
| CRM | Kanban pipeline, deal values, tasks, revenue attributed to campaign, step and mailbox |
| Analytics | Sends, replies, bounces, clicks, opportunities and revenue by campaign, step, variant and mailbox; opens marked as estimates |
| Automations and API | Event rules, signed webhooks and a REST API with scoped keys |
What is different
| Question | rightnow-ai | Hosted cold-email tools (Instantly, Smartlead, lemlist) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | You, on your laptop or server | The vendor, as a SaaS |
| Source code | Public, MIT license | Not public |
| Where leads and replies live | Your own PostgreSQL database | The vendor's systems |
| Cost model | Free software. You pay for your server (if any), mailboxes and domains | Subscription; see each vendor's pricing page |
| Mailboxes | Your own Gmail, Microsoft 365 and IMAP/SMTP | Typically your own mailboxes; some vendors also sell mailboxes |
| Warm-up network | Your own mailboxes only | Vendor-run shared networks are common |
| Lead database | None. Bring your own lists | Some vendors include one |
| Setup work | Docker, DNS, and your own Google/Microsoft OAuth app | Sign up and connect |
Based on each product's public website as of October 2026. Check the vendors' own pages for current details.
Free software, your costs
The software costs nothing and has no paid edition. On your own computer there is no server cost at all; for always-on sending, a small VPS (1 vCPU / 2 GB RAM is enough to start) is the only hosting bill. You still pay for your own mailboxes and domains, as you would with any cold-email tool.
What you give up
- No lead database or enrichment: bring your own lists. rightnow-ai is not a lead generation database.
- No done-for-you mailboxes, pre-warmed domains or domain purchase.
- No large shared warm-up network: warm-up runs between your own mailboxes; you can add an outside service.
- No autonomous AI agents: optional AI only drafts, and a human approves.
- You run and back up the server yourself.
Smartlead alternative
Smartlead is a hosted service for the same job: sending cold email from many mailboxes and handling the replies. rightnow-ai is a self-hosted option for that job, with your mailboxes, leads and replies in your own database. The table above shows where the hosting model differs.
lemlist alternative
lemlist markets multichannel sequences, with LinkedIn and other channels next to email. rightnow-ai is email only: its sequences send email steps and nothing else. If email is the channel you need and you want to run it yourself, compare the two with the table above.
Migrating
Export your leads as CSV from your current tool, then use the CSV import in rightnow-ai: map the columns to names, companies and custom fields, and duplicates are removed. There is no direct importer from other tools. Connect the same mailboxes, set up warm-up and DNS checks, and rebuild your sequences in the campaign editor.
Questions
Is rightnow-ai affiliated with Instantly?
No. rightnow-ai is an independent open-source project with no connection to Instantly or any other email-outreach vendor.
Can I import my leads?
Yes, as CSV. Export them from your current tool, map the columns during import, and duplicates are removed.
Will my deliverability be the same?
It depends on your mailboxes, your DNS records and your sending habits. No tool can guarantee inbox placement.
What does it cost?
The software is free (MIT). You pay only for your own server, if you use one, and your own mailboxes and domains.
rightnow-ai is an independent open-source project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instantly, Smartlead, lemlist or any other email-outreach vendor. Product names are trademarks of their owners.
You are responsible for how you use this software. Before you email anyone you need a lawful basis to do so, send only as your own, honestly identified sender, and unsubscribes are always honored. Nothing here is legal advice. Responsible use