The 7 Best Mailspring Alternatives in 2026 (and What Mailspring Lacks)

Short answer: the best Mailspring alternative for most people is Thunderbird: it's free and open source like Mailspring, runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and adds a full calendar, encryption and an Android app. If the thing you miss is a phone app, which Mailspring doesn't make, pick an app that runs everywhere: Canary Mail (ours), BlueMail or Spark. eM Client suits people who want an Outlook-style suite without Outlook.

Disclosure: we make Canary Mail, one of the apps below. Prices and features were checked on each vendor's own site, documentation or app store listing on October 16, 2026.

Mailspring in 2026: what it does and what it costs

Mailspring is a desktop email app for Mac, Windows and Linux, made by Foundry376 and used, it says, by more than 800,000 people. It's open source, built on Electron, and still actively developed: version 1.26.0 arrived on October 1, 2026 with a rewritten sync engine.

• Free: unlimited accounts, a unified inbox, fast search across accounts, mail rules, signatures, templates, themes and contacts. You don't even need a Mailspring ID unless you want the Pro features.
• Pro ($8 a month or $85 a year): unlimited read receipts, link tracking, send later, snooze, follow-up reminders and contact profiles. Free users get a small weekly allowance of each, such as 15 snoozes and 5 scheduled sends.
• Accounts: Gmail and Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com, Yahoo, iCloud, Fastmail and any IMAP account. Mailspring doesn't support Exchange protocols or POP, and says POP won't be added.
• Calendar: not a finished feature yet. Mailspring shows meeting invites you can accept, and a read-only Calendar Preview for Google accounts.

Is there Mailspring for Android or iPhone?

No. Mailspring's own documentation says the technology it's built on "doesn't translate easily to mobile", that a phone version would have to be a separate product, and that the team is focused on the desktop app for now. That's the most common reason people go looking for an alternative: if you want the same inbox on your phone, you need a different app on at least one device. Thunderbird has an Android app; Canary Mail, BlueMail, Spark, eM Client and Outlook all have Android and iPhone apps.

Other reasons people switch

• Work accounts on Exchange. Mailspring only reaches Exchange through IMAP, and only if your company allows it.
• A real calendar. Mailspring's calendar is still a preview.
• Weekly limits. The free allowance of read receipts, send later and snooze runs out fast if you use them daily.
• Gmail tabs. Mailspring can't show Gmail's Social and Promotions categories, because Google doesn't expose them to third-party apps.

Mailspring alternatives compared

The 7 best Mailspring alternatives in 2026

1. Thunderbird: Best free, open-source alternative

Thunderbird is what most Mailspring users end up comparing it with, and it fills Mailspring's gaps: a full calendar, contacts and tasks, OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption, POP support, add-ons, and direct Microsoft Exchange mail support. Thunderbird for Android is available, and an iPhone app is in public beta on TestFlight (not yet on the App Store). It's free, with no ads and no paid tier.

• Who it's for: Mailspring users who want more features without paying, including on Linux
• Price: free
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
• Downside: it looks busier and more old-fashioned than Mailspring, and its iPhone app is only an early TestFlight beta.

2. Canary Mail: Best for the same inbox on desktop and phone

Disclosure: we make Canary Mail.

Canary fixes Mailspring's biggest gap: it has apps for iPhone, iPad and Android as well as Mac and Windows, on one licence. It works with Gmail, Outlook and Microsoft 365, Exchange, iCloud, Yahoo and any IMAP account. AI sorts your inbox on the free plan; Growth adds AI writing and summaries, unlimited read receipts, send later and a calendar; Pro+ adds PGP. Tracker blocking is on by default.

• Who it's for: people who want Mailspring's read receipts and send later on their phone too
• Price: free for unlimited accounts on 2 devices; Growth $36/year; Pro+ $100/year; lifetime $100 or $300
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android
• Downside: no Linux version, and paid plans are yearly or lifetime, with no monthly option.

3. BlueMail: Best for one free app on every platform, Linux included

BlueMail is the only app here with versions for Linux and for iPhone. The free plan covers unlimited accounts, a unified inbox and PGP. Its privacy policy says it doesn't handle your credentials on desktop; on mobile, instant push means it processes sign-in tokens on its servers.

• Who it's for: Linux users who also want a phone app
• Price: free; Plus $5/month or $36/year; a team tier at $12/month or $99/year
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
• Downside: the design is busier than Mailspring's, and mobile push relies on BlueMail's servers.

4. eM Client: Best Outlook-style suite

eM Client puts mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, notes and chat in one window, connects to Microsoft 365 and Exchange, and includes PGP and S/MIME on every plan. Version 11 (October 2026) added built-in AI. Its iPhone and Android apps are free.

• Who it's for: people who want a full desktop suite without Microsoft 365
• Price: free for 2 accounts, home use; Personal $24.95/year or $39.95 once (3 devices); Business $29.95/year per device
• Platforms: Windows, Mac; free iPhone and Android apps
• Downside: no Linux version, the free plan stops at two accounts, and the interface is crowded.

More: eM Client alternatives.

5. Betterbird: Best for Linux users who want Thunderbird, refined

Betterbird is a free, fine-tuned version of Thunderbird that follows Thunderbird's extended-support releases. It's still updated often; a new release shipped on October 13, 2026.

• Who it's for: Linux and Windows users who like Thunderbird but want a more polished build
• Price: free (donations welcome)
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Downside: no mobile app, and the Mac version is English only.

6. Spark: Best for a smart inbox and small teams

Spark's Smart Inbox puts mail from people above newsletters, Gatekeeper screens new senders, and snooze, send later and a calendar are free, which covers much of what Mailspring charges for. Teams can share drafts and comment on emails.

• Who it's for: people who want Pro-style features free, on desktop and phone
• Price: free for unlimited accounts; Plus $10/month or $99/year; Pro $20/month or $199/year, per user
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android
• Downside: no Linux version, some mail is processed on Readdle's servers, and like Mailspring it's built on Electron.

More: Canary Mail vs Spark.

7. Microsoft Outlook: Best for Windows and Microsoft 365

If you left Mailspring because your work account is on Exchange, Outlook is the safe choice. The new Outlook comes free with Windows, has a full calendar, and also runs on Mac, phones and the web.

• Who it's for: Windows users and anyone whose work runs on Microsoft 365
• Price: free with ads; Microsoft 365 Basic ($19.99/year) removes them
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, web
• Downside: ads in the free version and no Linux desktop app.

More: Outlook alternatives.

On Linux, GNOME's Evolution is another free option with mail, calendar and contacts in one app. For more free picks, see our best free email clients.

Mailspring vs Thunderbird

Both are free, open source and run on Windows, Mac and Linux. Mailspring looks cleaner and is easier to set up, and its Pro plan adds read receipts, link tracking and send later. Thunderbird does more out of the box: a finished calendar, encryption, POP accounts, Exchange mail, add-ons and an Android app, all free. If you want a simple, good-looking inbox, Mailspring is fine. If you want one app to handle everything, Thunderbird is the better pick. See also our Canary Mail vs Thunderbird comparison.

How to switch from Mailspring

Mailspring connects to your accounts over IMAP and doesn't support POP, so your mail stays on your provider's servers. Add the same accounts to your new app and your folders appear. Set up signatures and rules again by hand.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mailspring free?

Yes. Mailspring is free for unlimited accounts on Mac, Windows and Linux. Mailspring Pro ($8 a month or $85 a year) makes read receipts, link tracking, send later and snooze unlimited; free users get a few of each per week.

Is Mailspring any good?

For a clean, fast desktop inbox, yes, and it's actively developed. Its gaps are the lack of mobile apps, no Exchange or POP support, and a calendar that's still a preview.

Is Mailspring better than Thunderbird?

Mailspring is simpler and better looking; Thunderbird has more features, including a calendar, encryption and an Android app. Most people who need more than email will prefer Thunderbird.

Does Mailspring work with Gmail?

Yes. You sign in with your Google account, and Mailspring works with Gmail and Google Workspace over IMAP. It can't show Gmail's category tabs such as Promotions.

Is there a Mailspring app for Android or iOS?

No. Mailspring is desktop only, and says a mobile app would be a separate product it isn't working on right now.

Does Mailspring support Outlook and Exchange?

It supports Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts by signing in with Microsoft, but not Exchange protocols. Some Exchange servers can be added over IMAP.

What is the best free alternative to Mailspring?

Thunderbird for desktop, including Linux. BlueMail if you also want free phone apps.

Sources

• Mailspring
• Mailspring: How much does Mailspring cost?
• Mailspring: What's included in the free version?
• Mailspring: When will Mailspring be available for iOS or Android?
• Mailspring: Supported email providers
• Mailspring: Does Mailspring have a calendar?
• Mailspring: Gmail categories
• Mailspring 1.26.0 release notes
• Thunderbird
• Thunderbird for iOS: a first look
• Betterbird
• BlueMail pricing
• BlueMail privacy policy
• eM Client pricing
• Spark pricing
• Microsoft 365 Basic
• Canary Mail pricing