Despite many other digital means of communication we’ve got nowadays, email is still one of the most popular ones. In fact, the amount of global email users is quite staggering. According to Statista, in 2022, there were over 4.36 billion email users, and this number is growing every year.
💡 Whether you’re using email for personal or professional needs, choosing the right email client is key to effective and streamlined communication with your friends, partners, clients, and businesses.
In this article, we’ll review the 8 best free email clients with their features, pros, and cons. In the context of this article, the term “email client” refers to desktop-based and mobile-based email providers rather than the standard web-based ones you can access from any browser.
Why Do You Need a Free Email Client?
Chances are you’re already using an email provider. You’re likely using one of the best free business email like Gmail or Yahoo! Mail. What’s more, you probably didn’t even think about it much when you chose to create your email with one of these providers. They’re the most popular ones available on our mobile devices by default.
💡 But are they fulfilling your email needs, or are you just settling for the convenience of the default app or the email account you created 15 years ago?
If your current email provider isn’t providing you with a smart email experience that can help you make your communication more efficient, you may need to consider switching to a desktop-based email client.
How to Pick the Best Free Email Client?
If you’re using email for business communication, you might wonder whether you should choose a free or a paid email client. A free email client can be enough for your needs if you’re a small business or entrepreneur who doesn’t require multiple corporate email accounts and advanced email features.
A good free email client for both personal and business communication should:
- Be easy to use with an intuitive interface
- Be available to download and use on various devices (like desktop and mobile)
- Offer a generous amount of storage for your emails and attachments
- Offer access to other apps, like a calendar or a task app, for a comprehensive experience
- Offer a unified inbox where you can connect multiple email accounts
- Provide great email organization and management features
Overall, the best email provider for you should help you make your email experience smarter and more efficient.
Top 8 Free Email Clients in 2024
With so many providers on the market, choosing the best free email client for your needs can be overwhelming. So, to help you make the right choice, we’ve prepared this list of the 8 best free email clients with their features, pros, and cons.
If you don’t want or have the time to read it all, skip ahead to the comparative table at the bottom of the article.
1. Mailbird - Best Desktop-Based Email Client
Mailbird is a desktop-based email client that integrates with a multitude of other apps, including social media platforms, task management apps, and messaging services. It offers a unified inbox to manage all your emails in one place, custom sounds, and shortcuts. One of its unique features is the multiple layouts tailored to match individual user preferences.
🛠️ Mailbird Features
Mailbird stands out with its elegant design and support for various email providers. Aside from that, the app has a range of handy features, such as:
- Customizable email workspaces & templates
- AI-powered email authoring
- Centralized email management
- Message snoozing
- Speed reading technology
- Attachment search
- Multilanguage support
👍🏻 Pros:
- Seamless integration with a wide range of apps, including WhatsApp, Twitter, Dropbox, and more.
- Customizable layout and appearance to suit your personal preferences.
- Supports multiple accounts and offers a unified inbox.
- Integrates with various email providers, such as Gmail and Outlook.
👎🏻 Cons:
- It’s a desktop client, so there’s no mobile app available.
- Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
💰 Mailbird Pricing
Mailbird is free to download and use. It has two paid plans: the Standard Pay One plan at $99 and the Premium Pay Once plan at $399. Both plans give you access to Mailbird's premium features for a lifetime.
💬 Mailbird Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.4/5
G2 Rating: 3.8/5
2. Thunderbird – Best Open-Source Email Client
Thunderbird is an open-source email client developed by Mozilla. It offers a range of features, such as an integrated calendar, task management, and a large library of add-ons for additional functionality. It supports POP and IMAP protocols and is known for its robust privacy features. Thunderbird's flexibility and commitment to security make it a popular choice for those who prioritize customization and control in their email management.
Being open-source, it supports various add-ons and extensions, allowing users to integrate third-party services and enhance the functionality of the email client. While it may not have the extensive integration capabilities of some other email clients, the availability of add-ons provides a degree of flexibility.
🛠️ Thunderbird Features
Thunderbird offers a range of features, such as:
- An integrated calendar
- Task management options
- A large library of add-ons for additional functionality
- Tag feature for easy organization
- A unified inbox to manage multiple email accounts
👍🏻 Pros:
- Open-source and fully customizable with a wide range of add-ons.
- Integrated calendar and task management features.
- Strong privacy and security features, including automatic encryption.
- It supports POP and IMAP protocols
- Available to download for Windows, Mac, and Linux
👎🏻 Cons:
- The interface can feel outdated compared to other modern email clients.
- Some users report that it can be slow and resource-intensive.
💰 Thunderbird Pricing
Thunderbird is free to download and use, being an open-source project. While the app is free forever, users have the option to donate a desired amount to its creators.
💬 Thunderbird Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.5/5
G2 Rating: 4.3/5
3. Postbox - Best for Apple Users
Postbox is a third-party email client for Mac and PC that focuses on email productivity. It offers a modern, user-friendly interface with numerous features that simplify email organization and management. Postbox's strength lies in its clean and logical layout.
Although it works well on macOS and Windows, Postbox offers a set of features specifically designed for Mac.
🛠️ Postbox Features
Postbox’s features zero in on email organization, management, and composition. Here are some of its main features:
- Email tracking
- Send later
- Built-in calendar
- Real-time message filtering
- Swipe gestures on macOS
- Mailing list unsubscribe
- One-click archive
- Smart folders
👍🏻 Pros:
- A visually appealing and intuitive interface
- Supports numerous third-party integrations
- Features a powerful search function
- Works with any IMAP or POP account
👎🏻 Cons:
- Lacks some critical functionalities
- No AI features
💰 Postbox Pricing
Postbox offers a free 30-day trial available for Mac and Windows. After your 30-day trial expires, you can purchase Postbox’s lifetime license for a one-time fee of $49 per user.
💬 Postbox Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.8/5
G2 Rating: 3.5/5
4. eM Client - Best Feature-Rich Email Client
Designed for power users, eM Client is packed with features. It's free to download and use on Windows and macOS, as well as iOS and Android in the beta version (at the moment of writing this article). What’s more, eM Client supports all major email services, including Gmail, Exchange, iCloud, and Outlook.
eM Client focuses on improving email productivity by bringing together anything you might need to keep track of your messages, tasks, and meetings in one place, from the email platform to chat, calendar, and task apps.
🛠️ eM Client Features
eM Client is a great choice for users who want a feature-rich email client that supports a wide range of email services, like Gmail, Exchange, iCloud, and Outlook. Some of the features eM Client offers are:
- An integrated chat
- Advanced email rules and filters
- A built-in calendar and tasks module
- Message encryption for increased safety
- Snooze emails
- Schedule emails
- Undo send
- Built-in translation tools and spell-checker
- Secure communication protocols like SSL/TLS email encryption
👍🏻 Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Rich in features for streamlined communication
- Supports a wide range of email services
- Advanced email rules and filters for efficient email management
👎🏻 Cons:
- The free version is limited to two email accounts.
- Some users report issues with large volumes of email.
💰 eM Client Pricing
eM Client is free for personal and non-commercial use. There are two pro versions, starting at $29.95 (one-time payment per device).
💬 eM Client Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.2/5
G2 Rating: 4.0/5
5. Mailspring - Best For Email Organization & Management
Mailspring is a desktop email client that supports multiple accounts from all IMAP providers, including Gmail, Office 365, and Yahoo. It’s known for its user-friendly and intuitive web app and features like touch and gesture support, which are quite unique among free email clients.
🛠️ Mailspring Features
Mailspring offers a range of features, like email tracking and scheduling, that make your email experience smarter and more efficient. Here are some of its main features:
- A unified inbox to manage multiple email accounts
- Touch and gesture support
- Advanced shortcuts
- Lightning-fast search
- Undo send
- Read receipts, link tracking, and more
- Mac, Windows, and Linux support
- Multiple themes and layouts (including dark mode)
- Rich integrations with other services
👍🏻 Pros:
- Supports a wide range of email providers.
- Offers a clean, modern interface with multiple themes.
- Advanced features like snoozing, scheduling, and tracking emails.
👎🏻 Cons:
- Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
- No mobile application.
💰 Mailspring Pricing
Mailspring is free to download and use, with a Pro version available for $8 per month that offers additional features like read receipts, link tracking, and quick reply templates.
💬 Mailspring Reviews
Capterra Rating: 5/5
G2 Rating: 3.8/5
6. Airmail - Best Email Client For Apple Users
Airmail is an email client designed specifically for iOS, macOS, and watchOS and can be used on all Apple devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro. Its interface is indeed reminiscent of Apple’s aesthetics through its sleek design and fast speed. It even won the Apple Design Award in 2017.
What’s more, Airmail offers a unified inbox for all email service providers, including Gmail, GSuite, iCloud Mail, Exchange, Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, IMAP, and POP3.
🛠️Airmail Features
Airmail boasts a range of powerful features, including
- A unified inbox
- Smart folders for efficient organization
- Customizable swipe actions
- Integrations with popular productivity apps
- Undo send function
- Email snooze function
- A built-in calendar
- Automatic newsletter filtering
- Privacy Mode
👍🏻 Pros:
- Works with all primary email providers
- Security with Face and Touch ID
- Syncs with iCloud across all Apple devices
- Uses Siri shortcuts to send emails
- Integrates with apps like Todoist, OmniFocus, Fantastical, Calendar 5, Dropbox, and OneDrive
👎🏻 Cons:
- Can only be used by Apple users
- Interface may not be very intuitive for some users
💰 Airmail Pricing
Airmail is generally free to use on Mac, iPhone, and iPad with limited features. If you want access to more advanced features, Airmail Pro subscription for $9.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly. Prices may vary based on your region.
💬 Airmail Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.6/5
G2 Rating: 3.6/5
7. Microsoft Outlook - Best For Microsoft Users
Microsoft Outlook is an email client designed for Microsoft users that allows you to manage all emails in one app. It's a comprehensive productivity tool that integrates email, calendar, contacts, and attachments.
While not entirely free, Microsoft Outlook is a powerhouse. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and offers a comprehensive suite of features.
🛠️ Microsoft Outlook Features
Microsoft Outlook supports multiple accounts, and its built-in analytic engine automatically prioritizes important emails based on your communication patterns. Aside from that, it offers other handy features like:
- Scheduling emails
- Do Not Disturb settings
- A focused inbox to prioritize important emails
- Quick swipe controls
- Smart folders
👍🏻 Pros:
- Seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 suite
- Free forever plan for email and calendar apps
- Available for Windows, Mac, web and mobile
- Enterprise-grade security
👎🏻 Cons:
- Some users may find the interface less intuitive compared to other email apps.
- The search function could be improved, as some users report difficulties in finding specific emails.
💰 Microsoft Outlook Pricing
Outlook is free to use. However, it has multiple plans for the Microsoft 365 subscription, starting at $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year.
💬 Microsoft Outlook Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.5/5
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
Consider Canary Mail - The Most Advanced Email Client
Although using a free email client may be tempting, what most of them provide may not be enough for your business needs. Investing in a paid email client may turn out to be more beneficial for your business in the long run, allowing you to create a smarter email experience and improve your communication with clients, team members, and partners.
If you’re open to investing in a paid email client, give Canary Mail a try. Canary Mail is a modern email client that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to transform your email experience. What’s more, it allows you to easily sync all your email accounts from various platforms, like Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, ProtonMail, and more - right into one place!
🛠️ Canary Mail Features
All in all, Canary Mail, as an app for all email accounts, helps you stay organized and productive while ensuring that no critical updates go unseen, thanks to the list of its unique features, such as:
- AI-based features, including an AI email writer
- One-click unsubscribes
- Push notifications for important emails
- Email snooze option
- Read receipts
- Compatible with all major email services
- Impersonation detection
- Biometric app lock
👍🏻 Pros:
- AI-based features for writing and managing emails
- Robust security features, like PGP and end-to-end encryption
- Modern and intuitive interface
- 28-day free trial
👎🏻 Cons:
- It may take time to learn
- Some might find the AI suggestions either too intrusive or unnecessary
💰 Canary Mail Pricing
Canary Mail offers a free forever plan for personal use. Our paid plans start at $49 per year.
💬 Canary Mail Reviews
Capterra Rating: 4.7/5
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
Free Email Clients Apps Comparison Table
| Features | Canary Mail | Mailbird | Thunderbird | Postbox | eM Client | Mailspring | Airmail | Microsoft Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Version | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Storage | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15GB |
| Pricing | Canary Mail pricing page | $99/lifetime | Free | $49/lifetime | $29.95/device | $8/month | $9.99/month | $1.99/month |
| AI | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |  |
❌ |
| Read Receipts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
✅ |
| Snooze Option | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Biometric App Lock | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Push Notification for Important Emails | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Best Free Email Clients, the Bottom Line
Choosing the right email client can significantly improve your emailing experience. The right email client can make email organization and management more efficient, helping you save time on unnecessary and often tedious tasks like searching through your inbox for specific information, labeling emails, and cleaning your inbox from unwanted newsletters.
We hope this article has given you enough information about the best free email clients on the market for you to make an informed decision.
Using a Free Email Client, the FAQs
❓ What is the difference between a web-based and a desktop email client?
A web-based email client is accessed via a browser, while a desktop client is software installed on a computer or mobile device.
❓ Are there email clients that support both IMAP and POP3?
Yes, many email clients, including Airmail and Canary Mail, support both IMAP and POP3.
❓How does AI enhance the email experience?
AI can categorize emails, detect spam, suggest replies, and optimize email schedules, making email management more efficient.
❓ Are all email clients free?
While many email clients offer free versions, some might have premium features available for a fee.
❓ Can I manage multiple email accounts with one client?
Yes, most modern email clients allow users to manage multiple accounts in one unified inbox.