Light emission in rare earth (RE)-free SnO–ZnO–P₂O₅ glasses is demonstrated. The RE-free transparent phosphate glasses show light emission with high quantum efficiency (QE) values, comparable to conventional crystalline phosphors, by excitation with deep-UV light. The broad emissions of the RE-free transparent glasses can be continuously tuned by both the amount of activator and the composition of the glasses, without reduction of the QE values. For future emitting devices, we believe that the low-melting glasses will constitute one of the most industrially favorable inorganic materials possessing transparency and emitting properties.