Short answer: Apple Mail doesn’t offer a user-facing read-receipt feature. Outlook (Microsoft 365/Exchange) or third-party clients, as CanaryMail, can request receipts, but success depends on the recipient’s setup.
Read receipts can be genuinely useful, but Mac email apps do not all support them in the same way. Apple Mail does not provide a built-in, reliable read receipt experience for most everyday use cases, especially if you want something that works consistently across accounts.
In this guide, you’ll learn what read receipts actually confirm, what Apple Mail can and cannot do, and the simplest way to get read receipt functionality on Mac without turning your inbox into a tracking tool.
What are Read Receipts?
Read receipts are notifications that inform the sender when a message or email has been opened by the recipient. They must be requested by the sender and may not always be sent, as the recipient can choose to decline or disable them.
While Apple Mail doesn't provide a built-in read receipt feature like WhatsApp, there are still ways to track if someone has opened your email. In this article, we’ll explore 5 third-party tools you can use to enable read receipts on Mac Mail.
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Does Apple Mail Support Read Receipts?
Apple Mail does not offer a simple built-in read receipt feature the way some modern email clients do. In some work environments, you might see “read receipt” style behavior through Exchange or organization-level settings, but for most personal and mixed-provider inboxes, Apple Mail does not give you a consistent read receipt workflow.
If read receipts matter for your work, sales follow ups, or important confirmations, the most practical solution is using an email client that supports read receipts directly and lets you control when they are requested.
The best way to get read receipts on Mac
If you need read receipts on Mac, look for an email client that gives you control and avoids surprise tracking. The most useful setup is:
- You decide when to request a read receipt (not every email by default)
- You can see status clearly without digging through headers
- It works across common providers you already use
- The app also covers privacy basics like blocking trackers and protecting sensitive email
Canary Mail supports read receipts as an opt-in feature and is designed around privacy-first email workflows. That means you can use read receipts when they matter, without turning them into a permanent surveillance layer.
Pros and Cons of Using Read Receipts in Apple Mail
Read receipts can be a valuable tool for email tracking, but they also come with certain drawbacks. Understanding both the advantages and limitations will help users make an informed decision on whether to enable this feature in Apple Mail.
Pros of Using Read Receipts:
- Email Acknowledgment – Read receipts confirm that the recipient has opened your email, eliminating uncertainty and reducing follow-ups.
- Improved Communication Efficiency – Knowing when an email has been read allows for better timing in follow-ups and decision-making.
- Enhanced Productivity – Professionals, especially in sales, HR, or customer support, can track engagement and optimize communication strategies.
- Better Client & Team Coordination – Ensures critical messages are acknowledged, particularly in business and project management settings.
- Strategic Follow-Ups – Helps users schedule responses more effectively, avoiding unnecessary reminders when the recipient hasn’t yet read the email.
Cons of Using Read Receipts:
- Lack of Native Support in Apple Mail – Unlike Outlook and Gmail, Apple Mail does not offer built-in read receipt functionality, requiring third-party tools.
- Privacy Concerns – Some users perceive read receipts as intrusive, potentially affecting trust in professional or personal interactions.
- Inconsistent Functionality – Many email clients allow recipients to disable read receipts, making them unreliable for confirmation.
- Limited Effectiveness with Image Blocking – Read receipts often rely on tracking pixels, which can be blocked by privacy-focused tools like Apple Mail’s Mail Privacy Protection.
- Not Universally Supported – Some corporate environments or security policies restrict read receipts, limiting their effectiveness in professional settings.
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5 Third-Party Tools That Allow You to Send & Receive a Read Receipt with Apple Mail
Given that the native Mac Mail application doesn’t support read receipts, you might want to explore more advanced third-party options for email tracking that enable you to see if someone has read your email.
Here are 5 third-party email tools you can use to enable the “read receipt” feature on Apple Mail.
1. Canary Mail - The Best Tool Overall for Read Receipts ✅
Canary Mail supports read receipts on Mac as an opt-in workflow. You can request a receipt for specific messages where confirmation matters, and keep it off for everyday email.
It is also built for people who want a clean Apple-friendly interface with stronger privacy controls. If you are switching from Apple Mail, the workflow should feel familiar, but with modern features like unified inbox, optional AI assistance, and security-first defaults.
💰 Pricing: Canary Mail offers a free forever plan for personal use. Our paid plans start at $49 per year.
2. iReceiptMail - Best for Read Receipts on macOS
iReceiptMail is one of the most popular third-party apps for read receipts in Mac Mail. In a nutshell, this tool allows users to integrate read receipts into Apple Mail on their Mac computers. It allows users to send read receipts in the language of the sender and request read receipts from the recipient of their email.
After installing this tool, you'll see iReceiptMail icons in the Menu Bar at the top of the screen and the Dock at the bottom of the screen. When evaluating third-party tools, it's helpful to consider the broader landscape of best email clients for Mac to find the right fit for your needs. From there, you can request and send read receipts whenever you need.
💰 Pricing: iReceiptMail offers a free 7-day trial. After that, you’ll need to purchase a subscription plan, starting at $16.99 per year for a single user.
3. Mailbutler - Best for Email Tracking on Apple Mail, Gmail & Outlook
Mailbutler is an email extension that adds more handy features to Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook. Aside from email tracking, it offers email signatures, email templates, send later, email snooze, and more features.
Mailbutler’s read receipts feature for Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail is quite advanced. In addition to telling you if your email has been opened, it also shows you when, where, and how many times your emails and links were opened.
If you’re worried about privacy issues when it comes to email tracking, Mailbutler takes care of that, too, by being 100% compatible with Apple Mail’s Privacy Protection.
💰 Pricing: Mailbutler offers a free 14-day trial. After that, you’ll need to purchase one of its subscription plans, which start at $4.95 per month (billed annually).
4. Mail Tracer - Best for Read Receipts on iPhone
Mail Tracer is a mobile app for iPhone and iPad that allows you to see which of your emails sent with Apple Mail have been read. In addition to a standard read receipt, Mail Tracer also shows you when, where, on which device, and how many times your emails have been opened.
💰 Pricing: Mail Tracer offers a free version with unlimited email tracking and real-time alerts when your emails are opened. You can also purchase a premium version with more features at a one-time fee of $29.99 for lifetime access.
5. iTrackMail - Best for Read Receipts on iPad
iTrackMail is an email tracking app for Apple Mail designed for iPad. Although it’s pretty basic, it fulfills its main function, which is to notify you whenever someone opens your email. When they do, iTrackMail will simply send you a push notification. If you’re an iPad user, this app may be handy.
💰 Pricing: iTrackMail is completely free to download and use on your iPad.
How to Turn Read Receipts On & Off in Apple Mail
Since Apple Mail does not support read receipts natively, users must rely on third-party apps or extensions to enable and manage this feature. Below is a guide to enabling or disabling read and delivery receipts in different scenarios:
1. Using Canary Mail (Recommended)
- Enable Read Receipts:
- Install and open Canary Mail on macOS.
- Go to Settings > Read Receipts.
- Toggle “Enable Read Receipts” to ON.
- When composing an email, ensure the read receipt tracking option is enabled.
- Disable Read Receipts:
- Open Canary Mail and go to Settings > Read Receipts.
- Toggle the “Enable Read Receipts” option to OFF.
2. Using Mailbutler (Apple Mail Extension)
- Enable Read Receipts:
- Install Mailbutler and connect it to Apple Mail.
- Navigate to Mailbutler Preferences > Tracking.
- Enable Email Tracking to activate read receipts.
- Disable Read Receipts:
- Open Mailbutler Settings.
- Under Tracking, toggle off the Email Tracking option.
3. Using iReceiptMail for Apple Mail
- Enable Read Receipts:
- Install iReceiptMail and configure it with Apple Mail.
- In the Preferences menu, enable the Request Read Receipts option.
- Disable Read Receipts:
- Open iReceiptMail Preferences.
- Disable the Request Read Receipts feature.
4. Read Receipts for Gmail, Outlook, and Other Accounts in Apple Mail
- Gmail:
- Read receipts are only available for Google Workspace accounts. Enable them via the Admin Console or use third-party tools like Mailtrack.
- Outlook:
- Outlook for Mac supports read receipts, which can be enabled via Mail > Preferences > Tracking (available in Microsoft 365 versions).
Tips to Use Apple Mail Read Receipts Ethically
Read receipts can be a double-edged sword. While they offer the sender some level of assurance, they can sometimes be seen as intrusive by the recipient. Therefore, it’s essential to use them judiciously.
Here are some tips you may want to follow to use Apple Mail read receipts in an ethical way:
- Always respect the privacy of the recipient. If someone has explicitly asked not to be tracked, honor that request.
- Be aware that you may not always get a read receipt, even if you have requested one. Beyond tracking, implementing effective strategies for organizing your email inbox can help reduce the anxiety that makes read receipts feel necessary.
- There are ethical considerations to keep in mind when using read receipts, especially in sensitive or confidential communications. Always adhere to best practices and legal guidelines related to email tracking.
Apple Mail Read Receipt, the Bottom Line
Read receipts are most useful when you control them. If Apple Mail does not give you a clear way to confirm opens, the simplest option is an email client that supports read receipts directly and keeps privacy in mind.
If you want read receipts on Mac without sacrificing a calm workflow, Canary Mail is a strong option to consider. Before switching, review pricing and device coverage so your setup stays consistent across devices.
Related
- Spark alternatives
- Apple Mail alternatives
- Email read receipts (general guide)
Read Receipts in Apple Mail, the FAQs
Does Apple Mail have read receipts?
No official, user-facing setting exists in Apple Mail on macOS. If you need receipts, consider Outlook (Microsoft 365/Exchange) or a third-party client; results still vary by the recipient’s server and privacy settings.
Can I request a read receipt in Apple Mail without third-party tools?
No. Apple Mail doesn’t natively offer read-receipt requests. Some users switch to Outlook for Mac (M365/Exchange) or try third-party tools such as Canary Mail; reliability still depends on the recipient’s setup.
Are read receipts reliable?
Not universally. Many providers block or ignore read-receipt requests, and privacy features (like Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection) limit open tracking.
What’s the difference between a delivery and a read receipt?
Delivery receipt: the recipient’s server accepted your message.
Read receipt: the recipient opened it (not guaranteed and often blocked).
How can I improve certainty without read receipts?
Use measurable links (UTMs or tracked links), ask for a short reply, set a follow-up cadence, and consider apps with send-delay/undo-send to reduce mistakes.
How do third-party email tracking tools work?
They typically embed a small tracking pixel. When images load, the pixel pings a server to log an “open.” If images are blocked, tracking may fail.
Is it ethical to use email tracking tools?
It depends on context and expectations. Consider privacy, applicable laws, and (where appropriate) inform recipients you’re using tracking.
How can I tell if my email was read if the recipient blocks images?
You usually can’t rely on opens. Use link-click tracking, reply prompts, or follow-ups instead.
Can I track link clicks within my emails?
Yes. Many tools support click tracking and you can also use UTM parameters or redirect links to measure engagement.
How to turn off read receipts in Messages for Mac (iMessage)? (Related, not Mail)
Open Messages → Settings (or Preferences) → iMessage tab → uncheck Send read receipts. Note: this controls iMessage, not Apple Mail.
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