# Alternatives to Mailbird

Windows-first unified inbox.

Mailbird ranks #6 of 22 in Email clients, with an Alt Score of 87. It is proprietary, freemium from €2.01/user/month (billed yearly) and available on Windows and macOS. 11 of 11 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/mailbird/
Category: Email clients

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Professionals and power users who manage multiple email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, Exchange, IMAP/SMTP) and want them consolidated in one desktop app instead of switching between webmail tabs.
- **What you get**: A unified inbox that merges all connected accounts into one view, with email tracking (read receipts), snooze, one-click unsubscribe/block, and an AI writing assistant for drafting messages. It also embeds 30+ third-party apps (Slack, Google Calendar, Asana, Dropbox, and others) directly inside the email client, plus customizable themes, layouts, and keyboard shortcuts.
- **How it works**: Download the Windows or Mac app, connect your email accounts via OAuth or IMAP/SMTP, and manage all of them from a single unified inbox alongside integrated apps in the same window.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-12)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-12)
- **Starts at**: €2.01/user/month (billed yearly) (verified 2026-07-12)
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-12)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [eM Client](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/em-client.md) | 96 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 2 | [BlueMail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/bluemail.md) | 92 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS |
| 3 | [Canary Mail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/canary-mail.md) | 92 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 4 | [The Bat!](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/the-bat.md) | 92 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 5 | [Apple Mail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/apple-mail.md) | 87 | Proprietary | macOS, iOS |
| 6 | [FairEmail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/fairemail.md) | 87 | GPL-3.0 | Android |
| 7 | [Evolution](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/evolution.md) | 84 | LGPL-2.1 | Linux |
| 8 | [Mailspring](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/mailspring.md) | 84 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 9 | [Missive](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/missive.md) | 84 | Proprietary | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS |
| 10 | [Outlook](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/outlook.md) | 84 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 11 | [Thunderbird](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/thunderbird.md) | 76 | MPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 12 | [Spark](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/spark.md) | 71 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 13 | [NeoMutt](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/neomutt.md) | 68 | GPL-2.0 | Linux, macOS |
| 14 | [Shortwave](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/shortwave.md) | 68 | Proprietary | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| 15 | [Postbox](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/postbox.md) | 63 | Proprietary | macOS, Windows |
| 16 | [Mimestream](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/mimestream.md) | 60 | Proprietary | macOS |
| 17 | [Aqua Mail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aqua-mail.md) | 55 | Proprietary | Android |
| 18 | [Superhuman](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/superhuman.md) | 55 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 19 | [Geary](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/geary.md) | 50 | LGPL-2.1-or-later | Linux |
| 20 | [K-9 Mail](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/k-9-mail.md) | 47 | Apache-2.0 | Android |
| 21 | [aerc](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aerc.md) | 42 | MIT | Linux, macOS |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Email clients checklist | Mailbird | eM Client | BlueMail | Canary Mail | The Bat! | Apple Mail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | One-time | Free |
| Starts at | €2.01/user/month (billed yearly) | €39.95/year | ? | $3/month | €47.95 one-time (Home Edition) | ? |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows | macOS, iOS |
| Protocols (IMAP / POP3 / JMAP / Exchange) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Unified inbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snooze & send later | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Tracking pixel blocking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PGP / encryption support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Conversation view | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rules & filters (local) | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar integrated | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Multiple identities/aliases | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard-first shortcuts | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |

## Sources

Sources for Mailbird. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Starts at**: €2.01/user/month (billed yearly) — <https://www.getmailbird.com/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “€2.01 / user / mo — paid yearly”
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS — <https://www.getmailbird.com/mailbird-for-mac-users/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “As of late 2024, Mailbird for Mac is officially available for all users.”
- **Status**: active — <https://www.getmailbird.com/mailbird-for-mac-users/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “is fully compatible with modern macOS versions (including Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura and beyond) and optimized for Apple Silicon Macs”
- **License**: Proprietary — <https://www.getmailbird.com/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Unlimited accounts”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://www.getmailbird.com/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “1 account”
- **Protocols (IMAP / POP3 / JMAP / Exchange)**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/setup/access-office365-via-imap-smtp> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Mailbird uses IMAP or POP3 to connect to most email providers.”
- **Unified inbox**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/features/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Centralize all your messages into a single inbox to simplify email management and optimize your workflow.”
- **Snooze & send later**: Yes — <https://features.getmailbird.com/snooze> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Snoozing an email means that it will disappear for a while and then come back to the top of your inbox at a time you pick”
- **Tracking pixel blocking**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/privacy-email-settings-configuration-guide/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Disable automatic image loading for emails from unknown senders”
- **PGP / encryption support**: No — <https://support.getmailbird.com/hc/en-us/articles/15014091847575-Is-PGP-encryption-supported-in-Mailbird> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Currently, PGP encryption is not supported by Mailbird, but it is on our roadmap.”
- **Conversation view**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/email-thread/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Group messages into conversations”
- **Offline mode**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/offline-email-clients-complete-guide/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Users can read all previously downloaded emails without requiring internet connectivity, compose new messages during offline periods, review past correspondence without WiFi access such as during flig”
- **Rules & filters (local)**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/pricing/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Filters/Rules”
- **Calendar integrated**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/best-email-client-with-built-in-calendar-in-2026-why-mailbird-fits-desktop-users/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Mailbird offers both a native calendar and a calendar sidebar with Day View and Schedule View, so you can check events without opening a separate calendar app.”
- **Multiple identities/aliases**: Yes — <https://www.getmailbird.com/multi-identities-unified-inbox/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “a feature that lets you send an email from any email address you want”
- **Keyboard-first shortcuts**: Partial — <https://www.getmailbird.com/features/> (verified 2026-07-12)
  - Quote: “Save time by using keyboard shortcuts for common actions, such as composing, replying, forwarding, and much more.”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/