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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
   
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-71499) of our report dated January
28, 1999, except for Note 9, which is as of March 25, 1999, relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Critical Path, Inc., which appears in such
Prospectus. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts"
in such Prospectus.     
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
San Jose, California
   
March 25, 1999     
