An email client is a software tool designed to make it easier to send and receive messages and to organize email through features such as creating folders and labels. Best email apps for mac offer a number of useful features, including contact management, integration with calendars, and support for multiple email accounts on a single platform.

There are three main types of email clients: desktop, mobile, and web applications. Desktop applications often offer advanced features, backup options, and enhanced security measures.
Web apps are accessed through a web browser and hosted on remote servers. They are typically free, easy to use, and require an Internet connection to function. However, they typically offer fewer features than desktop clients.

Mobile applications combine aspects of both web and desktop applications while offering compactness and ease of use. However, there are limitations to using email clients directly on mobile devices, and some features may be missing or limited.

Why do you need an email client for Mac?

An email client for Mac is an essential tool for effectively managing your digital communications. While web-based email services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Outlook.com provide basic email functionality through a browser, email clients offer a more comprehensive and efficient way to manage your email. Here are some reasons why an email client for Mac is a good idea:

• Centralized email management: an email client allows you to consolidate all your email accounts in one place, providing a unified inbox to view and manage email from multiple accounts at once. This streamlines the email management process and saves you time by eliminating the need to log in to multiple accounts separately

• Offline access: unlike web-based email services that require an Internet connection to access your email, email clients for Mac let you access and read your email even when you're offline. This is especially useful when traveling or in situations where Internet connectivity is limited or unreliable

• Advanced organization: email clients offer advanced organization features such as folders, labels, tags, and customizable filters to help you effectively categorize and prioritize your email. This helps you keep your inbox organized and ensures that important messages are easily accessible

• Customization options: most email clients for Mac offer customizable settings so you can personalize the interface, layout, and organization of your email to suit your preferences. You can adjust settings such as themes, fonts, and notification preferences to create a customized email experience

• Advanced features: email clients often come with a range of advanced features and productivity tools that are not available in web-based email services. These can include email scheduling, snooze options, read receipts, quick reply templates, and integration with calendar and task management applications

• Security and privacy: email clients for Mac offer advanced security and privacy features such as encryption, phishing protection, and spam filtering to help keep your sensitive information private and safe from online threats

• Mail archiving offline: with an email client, you can archive and store your email locally on your Mac, ensuring you have access to your email history even if your email provider's servers are inaccessible or if you switch email providers in the future

How to choose the best email client for Mac

Choosing the best email client for your Mac involves considering several key factors to ensure that it meets your specific needs and preferences. Think about what features are most important to you. Do you need advanced email organization tools, integration with other applications, or support for multiple email accounts?

Here are some tips to help you to choose the best email app for Mac:

• Interface and usability: look for an email client with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It should be easy to navigate and customize all of the options to fit your workflow. Accessibility features are also important for those with specific accessibility needs

• Features and functionality: evaluate the core features offered by each email client. Key features to look for include:

  • Email organization tools like folders, labels, and filters
  • Integration with calendars, contacts, and other productivity apps
  • Support for multiple email accounts
  • Advanced search functionality to find emails quickly

• Performance: consider the performance aspects of the email client. This includes:

  • Speed of sending and receiving emails
  • Resource usage and impact on your Mac’s performance
  • Reliability and uptime to ensure consistent access to your emails

• Security: security is critical to protecting your sensitive information. Look for features such as:

  • Strong encryption options to secure your emails
  • Clear privacy policies to ensure your data is not being misused
  • Spam and phishing protection to safeguard against malicious emails

• Compatibility: make sure your email client is compatible with your version of macOS. Some email clients may offer better integration with Mac-specific features, improving your overall experience

• Trial or free version: take advantage of trial periods or free versions to test the email client before you commit. This allows you to experience its features and performance firsthand

• User reviews and recommendations: read user reviews and get recommendations from trusted sources. Feedback from other users can provide valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of different email clients

Best email clients for Mac

eM Client

eM Client is a versatile email client for Mac users that offers a wide range of features to improve email management, productivity, and organization. It is known for its clean interface, powerful functionality, and compatibility with multiple email services.

Key features:

• Email management: eM Client supports multiple email accounts and provides advanced email organization tools such as folders, tags, and filters

• Calendar integration: the integrated calendar allows users to schedule appointments, set reminders, and manage events seamlessly

• Tasks management: users can create and track tasks, set deadlines, and organize them by priority, ensuring efficient task management

• Chat functionality: eM Client features built-in chat support for services like Google Talk and Jabber, allowing users to communicate in real-time without leaving the app

• Integration with other services: eM Client integrates with various cloud services, including Google, iCloud, and Exchange, enhancing productivity and data synchronization across platforms

Pros:

• Robust features: eM Client offers a wide range of features that cater to email, calendar, tasks, and contacts, making it a solid productivity tool

• Security: with PGP encryption and other security measures, eM Client ensures that user data and communications are well-protected

• Customization options: users can customize the interface, adjust how their emails are sorted, categorized, and displayed to fit their workflow, improving the overall user experience

Cons:

• Cost: eM Client offers a free version, but many advanced features and professional functionalities are only available in the paid version, which may be costly for some users

• Limited mobile support: eM Client is primarily designed for desktop use, and its mobile support is limited compared to other email clients that offer full-featured mobile apps

Spark

Spark is a modern email client designed to enhance email management through intelligent features and a user-friendly interface. It aims to improve productivity and streamline email workflows for both personal and professional use.

Key features:

• Smart inbox: Spark’s Smart Inbox automatically categorizes emails into Personal, Notifications, and Newsletters, helping users focus on the most important messages first

• Email collaboration: Spark allows team members to collaborate on emails in real-time, discuss drafts, and delegate tasks without leaving the app

• Customizable email templates: users can create and use email templates for frequent replies, saving time and ensuring consistency in communication

• Smart search: advanced search functionality lets users find specific emails quickly by using natural language queries and multiple criteria

• Snooze and reminders: emails can be snoozed for later and reminders can be set to follow up on important messages

• Pin and send later: users can pin important emails to keep them at the top of their inbox and schedule emails to be sent at a later time

• Integration with apps: Spark integrates with various third-party apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, Trello, and more, enhancing productivity by allowing seamless file sharing and task management

• Customizable interface: users can personalize the interface with customizable swipes, sidebar options, and email viewing preferences

• Security: Spark provides strong encryption methods to ensure user data remains secure and private

Pros:

• Smart email management: the smart inbox and categorization features help users manage their emails more efficiently, reducing inbox clutter and highlighting important messages

• Collaboration tools: Spark’s real-time collaboration features are ideal for teams, enabling seamless communication and task delegation directly within the email client

• User-friendly interface: the intuitive and customizable interface makes Spark easy to navigate, catering to both novice and experienced users

• Advanced search and organization: the powerful search functionality and customizable organization tools help users quickly find and manage their emails

• Cross-platform availability: Spark is available on macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android, ensuring a consistent experience across different devices

• Integration with other apps: Spark’s integration with popular productivity apps enhances workflow efficiency and allows for easy file and task management

Cons:

• Limited features: while Spark offers many useful features, it may lack some advanced functionalities found in some other email clients, such as extensive automation options

Airmail

Airmail is a sleek and powerful email client designed for macOS and iOS users. Known for its minimalist design and extensive customization options, Airmail aims to provide a fast and efficient email management experience. It supports multiple email accounts and integrates with a variety of third-party apps and services, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use.

Key features:

• Customizable interface: users can tailor the interface to their preferences with customizable themes, color schemes, and layout options

• Email actions and automation: Airmail offers a range of actions and automation options, including customizable swipe gestures, rules for automatic email sorting, and integrations with productivity tools like Trello and Evernote

• Snooze and schedule emails: users can snooze emails to handle them later and schedule emails to be sent at a specific time

• Quick reply and templates: the app provides quick reply options and customizable email templates to streamline communication

• Search functionality: Airmail features powerful search capabilities, allowing users to quickly find emails based on various criteria

• Security and privacy: Airmail offers support for encryption and includes privacy features to ensure secure email communication

• Integration with third-party apps: Airmail integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, including Dropbox, Google Drive, Asana, and more, enhancing productivity and workflow

Pros:

• Customization options: Airmail’s extensive customization options allow users to personalize the interface and tailor the app’s functionality to their specific needs

• Unified inbox: managing multiple email accounts is seamless with Airmail’s unified inbox, which helps users stay organized and efficient

• Automation features: the app’s automation features, including rules and customizable actions, make email management more efficient

• Integration with tools: Airmail’s integration with a wide range of third-party apps enhances workflow and productivity, making it a versatile tool for various tasks

• Security: Airmail offers strong encryption and privacy options, ensuring secure email communication

Cons:

• Cost: Airmail is a paid app, and while it offers a wide set of features, the cost may be a consideration for users seeking a free email client

• Limited user support: while Airmail offers support, some users have found the response times and support resources to be lacking compared to other email clients

Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client developed by the Mozilla Foundation. It is known for its versatility, advanced features, and strong security. Thunderbird offers a comprehensive solution for managing multiple email accounts, newsgroups, and RSS feeds.

Key features:

• Tabbed email: similar to web browsing, Thunderbird supports tabbed email, enabling users to open multiple emails in separate tabs for easier navigation

• Advanced search: the app features powerful search capabilities, including quick filters, search tools, and saved search folders, allowing users to find emails efficiently

• Email organization: Thunderbird offers robust email organization tools, such as tags, filters, and folders, to help users keep their inbox tidy

• Security features: the client supports strong security features, including end-to-end encryption (with add-ons like Enigmail), phishing protection, and automatic updates for security fixes

• Add-ons and extensions: Thunderbird’s functionality can be extended through numerous add-ons and extensions, offering additional features like calendar integration with Lightning or enhanced privacy tools

Pros:

• Free and open source: Thunderbird is completely free and open source, making it an accessible option for all users without any subscription fees

• Strong security and privacy: Thunderbird’s security features, including support for encryption and phishing protection, ensure that users’ data remains secure

• Highly customizable: the ability to personalize the interface with themes, add-ons, and extensions allows users to tailor Thunderbird to their specific needs

• Integration with other services: the inclusion of chat support and RSS feed management makes Thunderbird a versatile tool for various types of communication

Cons:

• Less polished interface: compared to some modern email clients, Thunderbird’s interface may feel outdated or less polished

• Limited user support: while Thunderbird has a strong community and extensive documentation, official support options are limited compared to some other email clients

Postbox

Postbox is a premium email client designed for power users who need a strong and efficient tool to manage their email. Available for both macOS and Windows, Postbox offers a clean, intuitive interface paired with advanced features and customization options. Its focus is on productivity and efficiency, making it a suitable choice for professionals and heavy email users.

Key features:

• Unified inbox: Postbox allows users to manage multiple email accounts within a single unified inbox, streamlining the process of checking and organizing emails

• Advanced search: the client features powerful search capabilities, enabling users to quickly find emails, attachments, and other content with precision

• Message templates and canned responses: users can create and use message templates and canned responses, saving time on repetitive emails

• Quick Bar: the Quick Bar allows for rapid access to commonly used actions, making email management faster and more efficient

• Attachment management: Postbox provides an efficient way to manage attachments, with the ability to view all attachments in one place and a dedicated attachment search feature

• Integration with third-party apps: the client integrates with various third-party applications like Dropbox, Evernote, and Slack, enhancing productivity and workflow

• Security features: Postbox supports encryption and other security measures to ensure that users’ emails and data remain private and secure

Pros:

• Robust features: Postbox’s extensive features, including advanced search, message templates, and the Focus Pane, cater to power users and professionals who need efficient email management tools

• Integration with third-party apps: the client’s integration with popular productivity tools enhances workflow and allows for seamless collaboration

• Customization options: Postbox offers various customization options, enabling users to tailor the interface and functionality to their specific needs

Cons:

• No free plan: Postbox is a paid email client with no free plan which may be a drawback for users seeking a free solution

• No mobile support: Postbox does not have a dedicated mobile app, which can be a limitation for users who need access to their email on the go

Final thoughts

Choosing an email client is a personal decision based on your unique needs and preferences. It's important to consider factors such as functionality, ease of use, availability of necessary integrations, and the level of data security and privacy offered. We recommend experimenting with different email clients to find the one that best meets your needs.