Email is an essential part of our lives: personal and work-related messages, subscribed newsletters, receipts, and more.
There are many email clients with different features and capabilities, from enhanced security to user-friendly interfaces and customization.
But how do you choose the best email app? More than just sharing recommendations, we want to help you find the right email client for your needs, especially since you need a reliable and efficient communication tool to run and grow your business.
What is an email client?
An email client is a tool designed for users to compose, store, manage, and send emails. Email clients can be mobile apps, web-based, or standalone software, and they offer different ways for users to access their inboxes the way they want.
In addition to basic email functionality, email clients can also be used to filter spam, manage tasks and contacts, review calendar obligations, and more.
Email clients are perfect for managing online communications for businesses of all sizes. Email platforms provide a clear record of the leads, customers, clients, and vendors you interact with.
Like all technology, email clients continue to evolve and provide essential services for today's business environment.
A good way to choose the best email client
Having a lot of features and options is great, but too many can make choosing an email client difficult. You can simplify the process by deciding based on the following criteria
- Compatibility: Make sure the client you choose is compatible with all devices (PCs, smartphones, tablets) and operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux).
- Features and performance: Email clients vary widely in functionality, from basic management features to advanced automation tools. Choose an email service that's easy and convenient to use for sending, receiving, and searching emails. Some people like the ability to add multiple accounts, integrate calendars, and schedule email sends.
- Security: Emails can contain confidential information, so security and privacy are important when choosing an email client. Look for an email client that offers end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and spam and virus protection. The best email apps should also comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
- Integrations: Email exchanges are often part of a broader workflow, so your email client should integrate with other tools, third-party extensions, and plugins to enhance its functionality. Integrations with popular third-party services like Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, and Dropbox make workflows more efficient and open up more opportunities for collaboration.
- Offline access: Make sure your chosen client can work on email without an internet connection and that data syncs automatically when you reconnect.
- Support: Customer support is an important factor when choosing the best email client. Choose an email client that comes with detailed documentation, video tutorials, and a knowledge base. It should also have a responsive support team that can help you when you run into problems.
- Cost: Decide if you're happy with a basic free email client or if you need additional features that are only available in paid versions. Compare the prices of different email clients and choose the option that fits your budget.
- User interface: A good user interface should be simple and intuitive. It should also be visually appealing with customizable themes and color schemes. It should make it easy to search, filter, and organize your emails into folders.
Best email clients for 2024
We've already talked about how to choose the best email client, now let's explore the world of email clients and find the best email app for you.
1. Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free and open-source email client known for its flexibility and extensive customization options. Developed by the creators of the Firefox browser, Thunderbird supports multiple email accounts and integrates well with popular email services like Gmail, Outlook.com, and Yahoo Mail.
There are a variety of themes available for download, allowing you to personalize your email experience in ways that you can't with Outlook or other programs. So if you prefer an email client that's free but offers the features you need and allows you to change the look from standard vanilla, Mozilla's Thunderbird is worth a look.
Key features:
- Cross-platform compatibility: It's available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's an open source client, which means it's constantly being developed and updated by a community of volunteers.
- Advanced filtering and search: Powerful tools to quickly organize and find your emails.
- Add-ons and extensions: Customize Thunderbird to your liking with themes and add-ons. There's a huge library of add-ons to enhance and personalize your email experience for your own use.
- Security features: Supports encryption and digital signatures for secure email communication. Provides security features like end-to-end encryption for privacy-conscious users.
Its user-friendly interface and powerful features make it a strong contender for users looking for a versatile and customizable email client.
2. Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular free email clients, used by over 400 million users worldwide. Outlook is available for both desktop and mobile devices. Its biggest advantage is its integration with Microsoft Office. Outlook also integrates with other Microsoft services like OneDrive and SharePoint for secure file sharing.
Outlook's design isn't the most modern, but it's convenient for working with email, calendars, and contacts, and its high security standards make it ideal for business users.
With a subscription-based Microsoft 365 subscription, you get access to Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with at least 1 TB of cloud storage and many other Microsoft apps (Teams, OneNote, Access, Publisher, Skype, Microsoft Forms, and more).
Key features:
- All the information you need in one place: Outlook combines to-do lists, contacts, calendars, and emails to help you never miss a prospect.
- Connect your accounts: Keep all your relevant emails in one place by integrating emails from iCloud, Yahoo!, Gmail, Outlook.com, and more into your Outlook account.
- Email composing suggestions: Refine your sentences with grammar check and intelligent spell check.
- Connect with Microsoft products: Access PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and OneDrive from Outlook to use the Office 365 suite more efficiently.
Microsoft recently announced that it recommends the New Windows Mail client, which is included by default in Windows 11.
3. eM Client
eM Client has been around for 15 years and has established itself as one of the best alternative email clients for Windows during its long development. It's designed for active users who receive a lot of emails every day and is available for both Windows and macOS.
It offers a wide range of features, including calendar, contacts, chat, and more. Support is provided for all major email services, including Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Outlook.com. The latest version also offers PGP encryption, real-time backups, basic image editing, and an auto-reply feature for Gmail.
There's also a free tier, but commercial use requires the pro version, which offers VIP support and unlimited accounts (the free product is limited to two email accounts). The pro version has a one-time license fee and costs around $60. After one year, VIP support ends, but you can pay for another year of support.
You can easily migrate messages from Gmail, Exchange, iCloud, and Outlook.com by simply entering your email address and the client will adjust the appropriate settings. The eM client can also import contacts and calendars, and you can easily uncheck these options if you want to manage them separately.
A chat app is also integrated, supporting common platforms including Jabber and Google Chat, and the search functionality is far superior to the webmail interface.
Key Features:
- Support for a wide range of email technologies: From Office 365 to SMTP, Exchange, IMAP, POP3, and more, eM Client is a favorite among many.
- View attachments: Use eM's attachment feature to search for attachments in your inbox and manage them more easily to keep your storage clutter free.
- Scheduled sending: Use the scheduled sending feature to make sure your messages get to the right person at the right time.
- Undo send: If you make a mistake, you can always undo the email you sent to fix it and make it more professional.
- Check for replies: Have an email waiting for a reply? Use this feature to see the message as soon as it arrives.
- Snooze: Achieve the zero inbox policy you've worked so hard to achieve with eM Client. Mute less urgent emails until you get to them later.
- Translateemails: Language barriers are a thing of the past with eM's instant translation feature - it even spell checks!
- Encryption: Create a private key from your eM keybook and rest assured that your messages are sent with PGP encryption for added security.
eM Client is a cost-effective Windows email client with some smart features. For example, you can remove the tracking pixel so senders don't know if your emails have been read, which is great for discreet work. You can also track recipients' responses.
Be forewarned that on desktop, the eM Client can freeze and crash frequently, and sometimes the database gets corrupted, which can be frustrating and inconvenient.
4. Spike
A chat and email app for Mac and Windows users, Spike improves teamwork and email productivity, which is why it's favored by major brands from Wix to Indeed, Fiverr, Snowflake, Deel, and Spotify.
One of Spike's features, the Smart Inbox, automatically categorizes your emails into personal and work, making it easy to manage your mail and focus on important messages.
Spike also offers other useful features like email scheduling and follow-up reminders. You can create emails and schedule them to be sent at specific times, and the reminder feature helps you remember important messages or tasks that need your attention.
Key features:
- AI for email: Spike's AI features help you generate email subject lines, body content, and replies, so you can stay on top of email tasks without spending a lot of time on them.
- Shared inboxes: Unify your team with a single inbox, so you can finally empty your inbox with the power of teamwork.
- Channels and groups: Spike's channels are designed for open communication between teams, while groups are for private chats.
- Inbox prioritization: See your most important emails as soon as you start your day. Spike's prioritized inbox automatically pushes the most relevant messages to the top.
- File management: Open emails safely with Spike's file management feature, which includes previews of emails and attachments.
- Advanced search: Find the information you need in a flash with super search. Spike doesn't require you to open chat threads or emails to find what you're looking for.
Spike is a powerful email client, especially if your team is growing. The free plan offers a limited but comprehensive list of features, and paid plans allow you to get the most out of the tool.
5. ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a secure, free email client that offers end-to-end encryption to protect data privacy. This means that messages are encrypted when they're sent and only the recipient can decrypt them.
ProtonMail's servers are located in Switzerland, which has strict privacy laws, so ProtonMail users can rest assured that their data is stored securely and privately.
In addition to end-to-end encryption, ProtonMail offers other security features. For example, two-step verification requires you to verify your identity with a second device before logging into your email account.
ProtonMail doesn't track users and doesn't show ads, so your data stays private. All of this makes ProtonMail an excellent choice for those who value online security and privacy.
When you connect to ProtonMail, you can access other Proton services and tools, including a calendar, VPN, password manager, and more. ProtonMail automatically hides your IP address and prevents it from being tracked. You can also use the ProtonMail Bridge to encrypt emails received through other email applications.
Key features:
- Staysafe from spam and phishing: Phishguard blocks known phishing attempts and notifies you if an email is suspicious. Link checking prevents you from falling into malicious websites.
- Password protection: Set a password and expiration date for your emails so you can send confidential information securely, even if your contacts don't use Proton Mail.
- Hide your email alias: Create an alias when signing up for a website. Hiding your real email address prevents phishing attacks and reduces spam.
- Available on all platforms: Use Proton Mail easily and securely on any device with open source apps for web, desktop, Android, and iPhone.
- One-click unsubscribe: Unsubscribe from mailing lists with a single click and keep your inbox clutter-free.
Everyone can benefit from switching to a private email service like Proton Mail. Securing your email with end-to-end and zero-access encryption can help you regain control of your data and act as an insurance policy for your online safety in the event of future data breaches or changes in the law. More broadly, secure email like Proton Mail helps protect democracy and free speech by enabling people to exercise their right to privacy wherever they are.
Choosing the best email client in 2024 depends on your specific needs and preferences, including seamless integration with other services, advanced features like encryption, and a simple, clean interface.
Each of these email clients offers unique strengths that can improve your email management experience, whether for personal or business use. Evaluate these options based on your requirements to find the ideal email client that fits your workflow and makes your communication more efficient.
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