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Free Thunderbird alternatives

Top Email Clients & Providers like Thunderbird

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

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

Thunderbird alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
8 apps

All Thunderbird 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. 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
  3. 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
  4. Apple 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreeProprietary
    Platforms
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Tuta, 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 alternatives

    Pros

    • 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 / License
    FreemiumOpen source

Thunderbird vs its alternatives at a glance

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

Thunderbird vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAd-freeCalendar viewEnd-to-end encryptionOffline modePlugins & extensions
ThunderbirdFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, Android
Microsoft OutlookFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
MailspringFreemiumOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux
eM ClientFreemiumWindows, Mac
Apple MailFreeMac, iPhone
SparkFreemiumWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android

Thunderbird alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Thunderbird?

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

Is there a free alternative to Thunderbird?

Yes, 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Microsoft Outlook, Mailspring, eM Client, and Apple Mail.

Is there an open source alternative to Thunderbird?

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

Is Thunderbird free?

Yes, Thunderbird is free to use.

Compare Thunderbird with its alternatives

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