Best Email Clients & Providers software
Email services and apps to manage your inbox.
15 apps
Top Email Clients & Providers apps ranked by the community
Gmail is Google's email service, used through the web and mobile apps or any IMAP client. It offers automatic spam filtering, labels and inbox categories, fast search, scheduled sending and close links with Calendar, Drive and Meet. Personal accounts are free and share storage with Drive and Photos, while Google Workspace adds custom domains and admin tools; Gemini can draft and summarize emails.
12 Gmail alternativesPros
- Excellent spam filtering and fast search
- Tight links with Google Calendar, Drive and Meet
- Free personal accounts on web, mobile and any IMAP client
Cons
- Free storage is shared with Drive and Photos and fills up quickly
- Google’s data practices raise privacy concerns
- Custom domains require a paid Google Workspace plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMicrosoft Outlook is an email and calendar app available on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web, used with Outlook.com, Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts as well as Gmail and other IMAP services. It combines mail with calendars, contacts and tasks, supports shared mailboxes and scheduled sending, and integrates with Teams for meetings. Copilot can draft replies and summarize threads on eligible plans.
12 Microsoft Outlook alternativesPros
- Email, calendar, contacts and tasks in one app
- Shared mailboxes and Teams integration for businesses
- Available on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web
Cons
- The move from classic to new Outlook on Windows has been disruptive
- Free Outlook.com accounts show ads
- Copilot features require an eligible paid plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryProton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland. Messages between Proton users are encrypted automatically, emails to others can be password-protected, and stored mail uses zero-access encryption so Proton cannot read it. Its apps are open source, paid plans add custom domains and more addresses, and it is part of a suite with Proton Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass.
9 Proton Mail alternativesPros
- End-to-end and zero-access encryption protect stored mail
- Based in Switzerland, with open source apps
- Part of a suite with Proton Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass
Cons
- Free plan is tight on storage and addresses
- Using IMAP clients requires Proton Mail Bridge and a paid plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesThunderbird is a free and open-source email client for Windows, macOS and Linux, with an Android app based on K-9 Mail. It manages multiple accounts in a unified inbox and includes a calendar, address book, chat and built-in OpenPGP encryption. Add-ons and themes customize it extensively, and it is developed by MZLA Technologies, a Mozilla Foundation subsidiary funded by user donations.
9 Thunderbird alternativesPros
- Free and open source, funded by donations rather than ads
- Built-in OpenPGP encryption, calendar and address book
- Highly customizable with add-ons and themes
Cons
- Interface feels busier than minimalist modern clients
- Getting the most out of it takes some setup and add-ons
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesSpark is an email client from Readdle that works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud and other IMAP accounts on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Its smart inbox separates personal mail, notifications and newsletters, and it supports send later, snoozing, a gatekeeper for new senders and AI writing help. Teams can share email threads, comment on them privately and draft replies together.
11 Spark alternativesPros
- Smart inbox separates personal mail, notifications and newsletters
- Shared threads and private comments for team email
- Gatekeeper screens new senders before they reach the inbox
Cons
- Sync relies on Readdle’s servers, which raises privacy questions
- AI and team features require a paid plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesSuperhuman is a premium email client for Gmail and Microsoft accounts, designed around keyboard shortcuts and speed. It offers split inboxes, reminders, scheduled sending, read statuses, snippets and AI features that draft replies and summarize threads. It targets professionals and executives who handle large volumes of email, and is sold as a subscription with no free plan.
8 Superhuman alternativesPros
- Keyboard shortcuts make triaging email very fast
- Split inboxes, reminders and snippets for heavy email users
- AI drafts replies and summarizes long threads
Cons
- Expensive subscription with no free plan
- Only works with Gmail and Microsoft accounts
- Read statuses rely on tracking pixels, a privacy concern
Cost / LicensePaidProprietaryCategoriesFastmail is an independent email provider from Australia that bundles email, calendar and contacts with no ads. It supports custom domains, aliases and Masked Email addresses generated through its 1Password integration, and works with any client via IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV. Fastmail also led the creation of JMAP, an open standard for faster email sync. It is paid, with a free trial.
9 Fastmail alternativesPros
- Ad-free service funded by subscriptions rather than advertising
- Masked Email addresses through the 1Password integration
- Standard IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV work with any client
Cons
- No free plan beyond the trial
- No end-to-end encryption like Proton Mail or Tuta
- Fewer collaboration tools than Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesTuta, formerly Tutanota, is an open-source encrypted email and calendar service based in Germany. It encrypts mailbox contents end to end, including subject lines and contacts, and uses post-quantum cryptography for new accounts. Because it relies on its own encryption, it works through Tuta's apps rather than IMAP clients. A free plan exists, and paid plans add custom domains and more aliases.
7 Tuta alternativesPros
- Encrypts subjects and contacts, not just message bodies
- Post-quantum cryptography for new accounts
- Open source apps and a free plan, with servers in Germany
Cons
- No IMAP support, so you must use Tuta’s own apps
- Free plan is limited in storage and features
- Fewer integrations and features than mainstream providers
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesHEY is a paid email service from 37signals, the makers of Basecamp, that rethinks how mail is triaged. First-time senders must be approved in the Screener, newsletters go to The Feed, receipts to the Paper Trail, and spy pixels are blocked automatically. It includes a calendar and supports custom domains for businesses, but works only with HEY addresses rather than existing Gmail or IMAP accounts.
9 HEY alternativesPros
- Screener lets you approve first-time senders before they reach you
- Spy pixels in emails are blocked automatically
- The Feed and Paper Trail set newsletters and receipts aside
Cons
- Works only with HEY addresses, not existing Gmail or IMAP accounts
- Opinionated workflow that doesn’t suit everyone
- No free plan beyond the trial
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesMailspring is a free, open-source desktop email client for Windows, macOS and Linux that works with Gmail, Office 365, iCloud and any IMAP account. It offers a unified inbox, fast search, themes and templates, and runs its mail sync engine locally rather than in the cloud. An optional Pro subscription adds read receipts, link tracking, send later and reminders.
7 Mailspring alternativesPros
- Free and open source on Windows, Mac and Linux
- Sync engine runs locally rather than through a cloud service
- Unified inbox, themes and templates in a clean interface
Cons
- Send later, reminders and read receipts require Pro
- A Mailspring ID account is required even for the free version
- No mobile apps to go with the desktop client
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesZoho Mail is an ad-free business email service from Zoho that hosts mailboxes on your own domain, with calendar, contacts, tasks and notes included. Admins get a control panel for users, security policies and retention, and the service integrates with Zoho's office, CRM and collaboration apps through Zoho Workplace. A free plan is available for small teams, with paid plans adding more storage and features.
8 Zoho Mail alternativesPros
- Ad-free business email on your own domain, with a free plan
- Admin console for users, security policies and retention
- Integrates with Zoho’s office, CRM and collaboration apps
Cons
- Free plan lacks IMAP and POP access for desktop clients
- Interface feels less polished than Gmail or Outlook
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategorieseM Client is a desktop email client for Windows and macOS that brings email, calendar, tasks, contacts and notes together in one app. It works with Gmail, Exchange, Microsoft 365, iCloud and IMAP accounts, and includes built-in PGP encryption, snoozing, send later and quick templates. A free version is available for personal use with a limited number of accounts, and the Pro license unlocks the rest.
7 eM Client alternativesPros
- Email, calendar, tasks, contacts and notes in one desktop app
- Built-in PGP encryption without extra plugins
- Works with Gmail, Exchange, Microsoft 365, iCloud and IMAP
Cons
- Free version is for personal use with a limited number of accounts
- No Linux version, only Windows and Mac
- Interface can feel dense because of its many features
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesApple Mail is the email app included with macOS, iOS and iPadOS, supporting iCloud, Gmail, Exchange and other IMAP accounts in a unified inbox. It offers send later, follow-up reminders, smart search and Mail Privacy Protection, which hides your IP address and stops senders from seeing when you open messages. With iCloud+, Hide My Email creates random addresses that forward to your inbox.
9 Apple Mail alternativesPros
- Free and preinstalled on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Mail Privacy Protection hides your IP and blocks open tracking
- Unified inbox for iCloud, Gmail, Exchange and IMAP accounts
Cons
- Only available on Apple devices
- Few power-user features or extensions compared with dedicated clients
- Hide My Email requires an iCloud+ subscription
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesFront is a customer operations platform that turns email, SMS, chat, WhatsApp and social messages into a shared inbox teams can work in together. Messages can be assigned, commented on internally and routed with rules, while analytics track response times and workload. Front AI drafts replies and summarizes threads, and the tool serves support, sales and account teams who prefer an email-like workflow.
8 Front alternativesPros
- Email-like shared inbox that feels familiar to new users
- Internal comments and assignment replace forwarding and CCs
- Rules and analytics help balance workload and response times
Cons
- Per-seat pricing adds up quickly for larger teams
- Advanced analytics and automation are reserved for higher plans
- No free plan beyond the trial
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryZoho Workplace brings together Zoho Mail, Writer, Sheet, Show, WorkDrive, Cliq and Meeting in one suite for small and mid-sized businesses. It offers custom-domain email, shared team folders and online editors that open Microsoft Office files, with the Zia assistant built in. A free plan covers a handful of users, and paid plans add storage and admin features.
9 Zoho Workplace alternativesPros
- Mail, documents, storage and chat in one business suite
- Custom-domain email, with a free plan for small teams
- Integrates with the wider Zoho app ecosystem
Cons
- Editors are less capable than Microsoft or Google apps
- Office editors run in the browser, with no desktop versions
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategories
