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Apple Mail alternatives

Top Email Clients & Providers like Apple Mail

The most popular alternative to Apple Mail is Microsoft Outlook, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Apple Mail are Spark, Gmail, Thunderbird, and Superhuman.

Most alternatives to Apple Mail are in the Email Clients & Providers category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Apple Mail alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
9 apps

All Apple Mail alternatives

  1. Microsoft 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  2. Spark 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  3. 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  4. Thunderbird 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreeOpen source
  5. Superhuman 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    PaidProprietary
  6. eM 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Platforms
  7. Mailspring 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumOpen source
  8. Proton 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumOpen source
  9. HEY 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    Free trialProprietary

Apple Mail vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Apple Mail, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Apple Mail vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAd-freeEmail aliasesSend laterTracker blockingUnified inbox
Apple MailFreeMac, iPhone
Microsoft OutlookFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
SparkFreemiumWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android
GmailFreemiumWeb, iPhone, Android
ThunderbirdFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, Android
SuperhumanPaidWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android

Apple Mail alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Mail?

The most popular alternative to Apple Mail is Microsoft Outlook: Email, calendar and contacts from Microsoft. Other great alternatives are Spark, Gmail, Thunderbird, and Superhuman.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Mail?

Yes, 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Microsoft Outlook, Spark, Gmail, and Thunderbird.

Is there an open source alternative to Apple Mail?

Yes, 3 open source alternatives are listed, including Thunderbird, Mailspring, and Proton Mail.

Is Apple Mail free?

Yes, Apple Mail is free to use.

Compare Apple Mail with its alternatives

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