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- Works with many email clients
- Uses multiple filters
- Free
- Difficult for novices to configure
- Not very user-friendly
- Lacking regular updates and support
Spamato gets some attention from reviewers of anti-spam software thanks to its unusual mix of filters. Spamato combines six different ones, running them at the same time to weed out spam very well. It can work with both POP and IMAP accounts as a proxy, or it can be used as a plug-in for Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. Spamato is open-source software. The upside is that it's free, but the downside is that Spamato hasn't been updated lately, and inexperienced users can't count on much support. Reviewers add that Spamato's wealth of customization options make it daunting for novices but rewarding for the technically inclined.
Although Spamato has been available for many years, it hasn't received much recent press. However, anti-spam experts at About.com and Gizmo's Freeware continue to recommend the software, and anecdotal evidence from bloggers backs up their assessments.
Our Sources
1. About.com
About.com provides a detailed review of Spamato. Heinz Tschabitscher, About.com's guide to email, doesn't say how he tests, but it's clear his recommendation comes from hands-on use. Tschabitscher also warns that novice users may find the program difficult. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Spamato 0.99 - Free Spam Filter, Heinz Tschabitscher, Not Dated
For Gizmo's Freeware, Spamato comes in just after POPFile, another free spam filter program, for advanced users. Spamato's unusual mix of Bayesian filters is cited as its strength, though the editors aren't crazy about needing to install extra plug-ins for Outlook or Thunderbird.
Review: Best Free Spam Filter for Experienced Users, Editors of Gizmo's Freeware, Nov. 7, 2011
3. APCMag.com
This rather old blog post provides more humor than analysis, but it recommends Spamato as a supplement for the filters that come with Thunderbird and Outlook.
Review: You Say Tomato, I Say Spamato!, Lachian Grant, Aug. 1, 2006