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Apple Mail alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Apple Mail: only runs on Apple devices, and rules and search are basic compared with power-user clients. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Apple Mail, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Spark currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Spark logoSparkFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +13 of 366.5
2Airmail logoAirmailFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS3 of 362.6
3MaMailMateFree plan + paidNomacOS4 of 457.2
4Canary Mail logoCanary MailFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +15 of 555.3
5Thunderbird logoThunderbirdOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +15 of 553.6
  1. Spark logo

    1. SparkTop pick

    Best for: People and small teams who want one smart inbox across all their devices

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Mail

    A more capable inbox with smart sorting and team features that also runs on Windows and Android.

    Pros

    • Free plan with unlimited accounts and a smart inbox
    • Shared threads, private comments and joint drafting for teams
    • Native apps on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

    Cons

    • Mail syncs through Readdle's servers
    • Best AI and team features need a per-user subscription
    • No web app
    Visit Spark Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spark a good Apple Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, unlimited email accounts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus price
    $10 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $20 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Airmail logo

    2. Airmail

    Best for: Apple users who want to customise every action and send mail to other apps

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Mail

    An Apple-only client with far more customisation, rules and app integrations.

    Pros

    • Huge range of settings, swipe actions and rules
    • Sends emails directly to task and note apps
    • Runs on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro

    Cons

    • Apple platforms only
    • Settings can be overwhelming
    • Has had stretches of slow updates and sync bugs
    Visit Airmail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Airmail a good Apple Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Platforms
    iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro
    Checked Oct 25, 2026airmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business edition
    No subscription, Pro features unlocked
    Checked Oct 25, 2026airmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Award
    Apple Design Award
    Checked Oct 25, 2026airmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ma

    3. MailMate

    Best for: Mac power users who want keyboard control, Markdown and advanced search

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Mail

    A keyboard-driven Mac client with Markdown composing and powerful smart mailboxes.

    Pros

    • Markdown composing and extensive keyboard shortcuts
    • Very powerful smart mailboxes and search
    • OpenPGP and S/MIME built in

    Cons

    • Mac only, with no mobile app
    • Dated interface
    • Slow development pace
    Visit MailMate Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MailMate a good Apple Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platform
    macOS (IMAP accounts)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freron.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    OpenPGP and S/MIME
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freron.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Markdown
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freron.com(opens source in a new tab)
    After subscription ends
    Switches to Free Mode
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freron.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Canary Mail logo

    4. Canary Mail

    Best for: Individuals who want PGP and AI features in a cross-platform client at a low price

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Mail

    Adds PGP encryption, read receipts and AI help while keeping a native Apple feel.

    Pros

    • Built-in PGP and an encrypted SecureSend option
    • One license covers all platforms
    • Low-cost paid tiers

    Cons

    • Smaller company, so updates can be uneven
    • Most useful features are in paid tiers
    • No web app
    Visit Canary Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Canary Mail a good Apple Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Growth plan
    $3/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro+ plan
    $10/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    PGP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Thunderbird logo

    5. Thunderbird

    Best for: Desktop users who want a free, private, customisable mail and calendar app

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Mail

    Free and open source, with stronger filters and add-ons, and it runs on any desktop.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and funded by donations, with no ads
    • Built-in OpenPGP, calendar, filters and many add-ons
    • Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android

    Cons

    • No web version and no released iOS app yet
    • Add-ons sometimes break after major updates
    • Exchange setups can need extra configuration
    Visit Thunderbird Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Thunderbird a good Apple Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Desktop platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderbird.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free, funded by donations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderbird.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile app
    Open-source Android app
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderbird.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Android app origin
    Formerly K-9 Mail
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Android app license
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Apple Mail alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Spark logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for most people

Spark

A more capable inbox with smart sorting and team features that also runs on Windows and Android.

Thunderbird logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for a free option

Thunderbird

Free and open source, with stronger filters and add-ons, and it runs on any desktop.

Airmail logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Airmail

An Apple-only client with far more customisation, rules and app integrations.

Thunderbird logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for open source

Thunderbird

Free and open source, with stronger filters and add-ons, and it runs on any desktop.

Mimestream logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for Mac

Mimestream

A native Mac app built for Gmail that handles labels and filters properly.

Canary Mail logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for Windows

Canary Mail

Adds PGP encryption, read receipts and AI help while keeping a native Apple feel.

Thunderbird logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for Linux

Thunderbird

Free and open source, with stronger filters and add-ons, and it runs on any desktop.

Spark logo

Best Apple Mail alternative for iPhone and Android

Spark

A more capable inbox with smart sorting and team features that also runs on Windows and Android.

Apple Mail alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Mail?

Spark ranks first right now. A more capable inbox with smart sorting and team features that also runs on Windows and Android. Airmail and Mimestream follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Mail?

Yes. Spark (free plan + paid), Airmail (free plan + paid), MailMate (free plan + paid) and Canary Mail (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Apple Mail?

Yes: Thunderbird.

Which Apple Mail alternatives work on Linux?

Thunderbird runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Apple Mail?

The complaints we hear most: only runs on Apple devices; rules and search are basic compared with power-user clients; gmail labels and categories behave awkwardly.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Apple Mail, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.