---
title: Quickstart
description: "Sign up, add a payment method to start your free trial, connect your first IMAP account, and start reading a unified inbox."
---

> **For AI agents:** the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any page URL for its markdown version.

Get from zero to a unified inbox in a few minutes.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your Mailtidy account">
    Go to [mailtidy.net](https://mailtidy.net) and sign up with your email and a password.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Add a payment method to start your free trial">
    Open **Settings → Billing** and add a card. This starts a **30-day free trial** — you
    are not charged during the trial, and you can cancel anytime before it ends.

    <Note>
    A card on file is required before you connect your first account. Your card details go
    directly to Stripe and never touch Mailtidy's servers. See [Plans &amp; billing](/billing).
    </Note>
  </Step>
  <Step title="Connect your first email account">
    Go to **Settings → Connect a new account** and enter your IMAP details and an app
    password. Mailtidy tests the connection, then backfills your recent mail.

    <Tip>
    Most providers need an **app password** rather than your normal login password. See
    [Connecting accounts](/connecting-accounts) for per-provider instructions.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
  <Step title="Read your unified inbox">
    Your mail appears in a single newest-first stream. Connect more accounts and they merge
    into the same view automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Add more accounts

Repeat the connect step for each mailbox. Every connected account merges into the same
unified stream — filter to one account from the sidebar, or read them all together under
**All inboxes**.

## Find your way around

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="The unified inbox" icon="inbox" href="/unified-inbox">
    Views, folders, search, and threaded conversations.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Keyboard shortcuts" icon="keyboard" href="/keyboard-shortcuts">
    Move through mail without the mouse.
  </Card>
</Columns>