In today’s digital age, effective email management is more crucial than ever, and Moth Software is at the forefront of addressing this need.
Founded by Beatrix Willius, Moth Software began as a side project during her time as a GM and has since evolved into a full-time endeavor focused on email archiving solutions. In her recent interview with
Website Planet, Beatrix shares insights about the development of Mail Archiver, a modern macOS application trusted by major clients like Amazon and MIT.
As she continues to enhance the software and raise awareness about the importance of proactive email archiving, Moth Software aims to lead the way in providing flexible and user-friendly solutions for all.
Introduce Moth Software to our audience, please.
Moth Software essentially focuses on email archiving. I started Moth Software while I was working as a GM; it began as a side project. In 2018, I transitioned to working on it full-time.
My experience with email goes back to the early days when I was using the first email client, Eudora. At that time, I was overwhelmed by the number of emails I received, and I often faced issues accessing them. This prompted me to create my own application to streamline email management.
Over the years, the problem has only intensified. Despite receiving more emails every year, email clients still cater to a relatively low volume, which is where Moth Software comes in. We’ve developed a solution specifically for efficient email archiving, addressing a need that remains relevant today.
Share the narrative of your company: What inspired the concept, and how has it progressed to date?
When I started Mail Archiver, it was a simple application. Today, it has evolved into a modern macOS application used by customers around the world, including clients at Amazon and prestigious universities like MIT.
Initially, I was one of the first to develop a dedicated email archiving tool. Now, there are several applications in this space, each with a different focuses. Some primarily serve as backup solutions, while others function as document management systems that also archive emails.
Mail Archiver aims to be the most modern and flexible macOS solution for users globally. Each year, I strive to release two major updates, introducing significant new features to enhance the application. That is the core vision of Mail Archiver.
Could you outline the services you provide?
Moth Software primarily focuses on Mail Archiver, which is more than enough for our needs. We offer several different versions of the software.
The standard version is the most popular, used by about 90% of our users. Additionally, we have a server version that supports multiple users either on a network or simultaneously. There’s also a version available on the App Store, though it has some technical limitations; this is called Mail Archiver Easy, which serves as a lighter version of the application.
What is the overarching mission of Moth Software?
Moth Software aims to be the best email archiving solution for macOS. I am committed to continuously improving our service to meet the needs of all our customers, whether they are from large or small companies. Providing exceptional support for macOS applications is a top priority.
In the future, I plan to enhance our application’s intelligence. I want to simplify the user experience—many users often struggle with figuring out where to click or what to do next. My goal is to make this process easier by incorporating AI.
I’m also excited about the upcoming version of Sequoia and hope to integrate it into Mail Archiver next year.
What distinguishes you from other companies in the same domain?
One key distinction is the personalized service I offer. If a customer encounters a problem, they can troubleshoot it with me directly over Zoom. While I don’t do this regularly, it’s an important option for users.
Another significant difference is our approach to pricing. Mail Archiver does not follow a subscription model; instead, we provide a license with 12 months of free updates. Many users dislike subscription services, despite their popularity among some app developers. I have one competitor that charges a subscription for each account archived, whereas with Mail Archiver, users can archive as many email accounts as they want for a flat cost of $50. After 12 months, they have the option to update or continue using their current version, depending on whether they find new features valuable.
Additionally, I release two major updates each year, continually adding new features, and I provide smaller updates every three to four weeks. This approach ensures that my users see the software as current and continually improving.
What is your vision for the future of your industry?
This question threw me a bit, as I wasn’t entirely sure what my industry encompasses. The email archiving sector, particularly on macOS, is quite diverse, with many smaller companies offering various features. While larger firms often provide online backup services through subscription models, I don’t wish to compete with those big names in Windows email archiving.
My vision is to raise awareness about the importance of email archiving. For instance, many countries mandate the archiving of emails for a specific period; in Germany, it’s ten years. However, many entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even one-person companies often lack understanding of this requirement.
Users typically only think about archiving after experiencing a major issue, such as a hacked Gmail account or lost emails. Once they’ve faced these problems, the need for archiving becomes evident. I believe there should be greater awareness about the necessity of email archiving across all countries.
From my own experience as a GM, I’ve seen how crucial it is to keep emails. Many users have reported saving significant amounts of money by using my software, especially after incidents like account hacks.
Ultimately, I want to encourage proactive archiving, much like the analogy of weight loss—people know they should do it, but often wait until it becomes urgent. This is an area where I believe improvement is essential for the future of our industry.
Find out more at:
www.mothsoftware.com
