Disclosure: we make Canary Mail. We've tried to compare it with Spark as fairly as we would two apps we don't make, and we say where Spark is the better choice. Spark's prices and features were checked on sparkmailapp.com and the Mac App Store in October 2026.
Short answer: pick Spark if you work in a small team, want shared drafts and comments, or want the most capable free smart inbox. Pick Canary Mail if you want end-to-end encryption, a lower price for AI (Growth is $36 a year against Spark Plus at $99), or a native app on your Mac. Both handle every major email provider and run on Mac, iPhone, Windows and Android.
Canary Mail vs Spark at a glance
| Canary Mail | Spark | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Growth $36/year; Pro+ $100/year; lifetime licenses ($100 / $300) | Free; Plus $10/month or $99/year; Pro $20/month or $199/year (per user) |
| Free plan | Unlimited accounts on 2 devices, AI inbox sorting | Unlimited accounts, Smart Inbox, calendar |
| Accounts | Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft 365, Exchange, iCloud, Yahoo, any IMAP | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL, any IMAP |
| Platforms | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android |
| AI | Writing and summaries (Growth); AI inbox sorting on every plan | Spark +AI writing and AI Assistant (Plus); meeting notes |
| Encryption | PGP and SecureSend on Pro+ | None end-to-end |
| Read receipts | Yes (Growth) | Read Statuses (Pro) |
| Team features | Separate product: Shared Inbox by Canary | Shared drafts, private comments, shared threads (Plus and Pro) |
| Mac app | Native Mac App Store app | Built with Electron |
Inbox and organization
Spark's Smart Inbox is its best-known feature: it puts mail from people above newsletters and notifications, and Gatekeeper lets you approve or block new senders before they reach you. Snooze, send later, follow-up reminders and a calendar are all in the free plan.
Canary sorts incoming mail with AI on every plan, including the free one, and has a unified inbox for all your accounts, snooze, one-tap unsubscribe and templates. Send later and read receipts are on the paid Growth plan. Canary's calendar is full-featured on Mac, iPhone and iPad, works with Gmail calendars on Windows, and isn't available on Android yet.
Verdict: Spark, for the most complete free inbox. Canary if you want AI sorting without paying.
AI features
Spark +AI writes and rewrites emails, summarizes threads and answers questions about your inbox through its AI Assistant; it's on the Plus plan. Plus also includes 40 AI meeting notes, and Pro adds unlimited meeting notes. Spark lists Autopilot and Auto-Drafts for Pro as coming soon.
Canary's AI drafts replies, rewrites, summarizes long threads and searches your mail in plain English. Writing and summaries are on Growth ($36 a year); inbox sorting is free. Triage runs on your device, and Canary doesn't use your email to train AI models.
Verdict: Close. Spark has more extras, like meeting notes; Canary gets you AI writing for about a third of the price.
Privacy and security
This is the biggest difference. Spark processes some of your mail on Readdle's servers: notification previews, scheduled messages and anything you share with teammates, and it stores account credentials there to make that work. It has no end-to-end encryption.
Canary blocks tracking pixels by default. Its Pro+ plan ($100 a year) adds PGP encryption, SecureSend for encrypted messages to people who don't use PGP, and phishing and impersonation detection. More in our guide to PGP encryption.
Verdict: Canary, if privacy or encryption matters to you.
Teams
Spark is built for small teams. On Plus and Pro you can write drafts together, comment on emails privately and share threads, all inside the same app you use for your own mail.
Canary Mail itself is for individuals. For shared team inboxes, the same company makes a separate product, Shared Inbox by Canary, from $10 per user a month with a 14-day trial. See our comparison of the best shared inbox tools.
Verdict: Spark, for collaboration built into your everyday email app.
Apps and platforms
Both run on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows and Android and work with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo and any IMAP account; Canary also supports Exchange directly. On the Mac they're built differently: Canary is a native Mac App Store app, while Readdle built the current Spark for Mac with Electron so the same app runs on Windows, and says it may feel a little slower than a native one. See our best email clients for Mac for more.
Verdict: Canary on a Mac. Otherwise a tie.
Price
| Plan | Canary Mail | Spark |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Unlimited accounts on 2 devices, AI sorting, basic read receipts | Unlimited accounts, Smart Inbox, calendar |
| Mid tier | Growth: $36/year (or $100 once). AI writing and summaries, read receipts, send later, 5 devices | Plus: $10/month or $99/year per user. Spark +AI, AI Assistant, team collaboration |
| Top tier | Pro+: $100/year (or $300 once). Adds PGP, SecureSend, phishing and impersonation detection | Pro: $20/month or $199/year per user. Read Statuses, unlimited meeting notes, advanced team features |
| Billing | Yearly or lifetime; no monthly option; 7-day trial | Monthly or yearly; 7-day trial |
For one person who wants AI, Canary Growth costs $36 a year against $99 for Spark Plus. Spark's plans are priced per user, which adds up for teams but includes collaboration. Canary has no monthly plan, which Spark does.
Verdict: Canary for individuals. Spark if you'd rather pay monthly or need team features.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Spark if you share email with a small team, want the best free smart inbox, or prefer monthly billing.
- Choose Canary Mail if you want PGP encryption, read receipts on a cheaper plan, AI for $36 a year, or a native Mac app.
Still comparing? See Spark alternatives, Apple Mail vs Spark and Canary Mail vs Superhuman.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canary Mail better than Spark?
It depends on what you need. Canary is better for encryption, privacy and a cheaper AI plan; Spark is better for small teams and has the most complete free smart inbox. (We make Canary.)
Is there anything better than Spark?
For teams, Spark is hard to beat at its price. For privacy and encryption, Canary Mail is stronger; for Gmail-only users on a Mac, Mimestream; for keyboard speed, Superhuman. See our Spark alternatives.
What is the best email alternative to Spark Mail?
Canary Mail is the closest all-round alternative, with the same platforms and providers plus PGP encryption. Apple Mail is a good free choice on Apple devices, and Missive suits teams.
How much does Canary Mail cost?
Canary has a free plan for unlimited accounts on two devices. Growth is $36 a year and Pro+ is $100 a year, or $100 and $300 as one-time lifetime licenses, each with a 7-day trial.
Is Canary Mail free?
Yes, for unlimited accounts on up to two devices, with AI inbox sorting. AI writing, summaries and full read receipts need Growth.
Does Spark have end-to-end encryption?
No. Spark doesn't offer end-to-end or PGP encryption, and some mail is processed on its servers. Canary offers PGP and SecureSend on Pro+.
Which is better for teams, Canary or Spark?
Spark, which has shared drafts, comments and shared threads in the same app. Canary's makers offer team inboxes as a separate product, Shared Inbox by Canary.
What is the most hacked email provider?
No provider publishes reliable comparable figures, and Canary and Spark are apps rather than providers: your mail stays with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or whoever hosts it. What protects you most is a unique password, two-step verification or a passkey, and caution with phishing emails.