The best email client for Mac depends on your accounts and how you work: a native Gmail app if you live in Gmail, a keyboard-driven client for power users, a shared inbox for teams, or a free all-rounder with a calendar built in. This page lists ten in no particular order, plus what you'd lose by leaving Apple Mail.
Apple Mail does the basics well. People usually go looking for something else when they're juggling several accounts, sharing an inbox with a colleague or wanting faster search and full keyboard control, and each of those needs points to a different kind of app.
Here are ten Mac email apps in alphabetical order and in no particular order, from free open source clients to Gmail-only apps and team inboxes. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If your real problem is volume rather than the app, my short guide to clearing an inbox with AI may help more than switching.
Mac email apps compared
Free plan follows each app's own wording: Yes for a free plan, free mode or free home-use option, Trial only for a time-limited trial, and No where neither is stated. Several free options are limited to personal or non-business use, so read the terms if it's for work.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canary Mail | Security-focused email app | Read receipts, snooze and a unified inbox | Yes |
| eM Client | Desktop email, calendar and tasks | Email, calendar and tasks in one app | Yes |
| MailMate | Keyboard-driven Mac email client | Power users who live on the keyboard | Yes |
| Mailspring | Cross-platform desktop email client | Read receipts and send later for free | Yes |
| Mimestream | Native Gmail client for Mac | A fast native Mac app for Gmail | Trial only |
| Missive | Team email and shared inbox | Teams sharing mailboxes and conversations | Trial only |
| Polymail | Sales-focused email app | Tracking, snooze and a shared inbox | Trial only |
| Shortwave | AI email app for Gmail | AI search and bundles for Gmail | Trial only |
| Spark | Smart inbox email app | Many accounts in one smart inbox | Yes |
| Thunderbird | Open source email client | Free open source email and calendar | Yes |
Ten email apps for macOS
Canary Mail
Best for: Privacy-minded users wanting read receipts, snooze and one-click unsubscribe, with a free core inbox for personal use.
eM Client
Best for: People who want email, calendar, contacts and tasks together in one desktop app, with a free home-use option limited to two accounts.
MailMate
Best for: Keyboard-first Mac users after Markdown composing, advanced search and smart mailboxes in an IMAP client, with a free mode intended for non-business use.
Mailspring
Best for: Mac users wanting a fast, free client with multiple accounts, read receipts, link tracking and send later, with Pro features to add afterwards.
Mimestream
Best for: Gmail users who want a native Mac app built on the Gmail API for speed instead of a web tab, and are happy to subscribe after a trial.
Missive
Best for: Small teams sharing an inbox who want to chat, assign and comment on emails alongside SMS and social accounts.
Polymail
Best for: Sales and business development people who want snooze, tracking and a single inbox for several accounts on a Mac.
Shortwave
Best for: Gmail users on a Mac who want an AI-assisted inbox, smart search and bundles, after a 14-day trial.
Spark
Best for: Individuals juggling multiple accounts who want a smart inbox with unlimited accounts and smart notifications free, with team features as upgrades.
Thunderbird
Best for: Anyone wanting a free, open source desktop email, calendar and contacts app on macOS with no account lock-in and add-ons for extras.
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The Mail Drop limits Apple Support lists
Here's what people forget they rely on until they switch. Apple Support's page on Mail Drop limits says Mail Drop can send attachments up to 5 GB, each attachment expires after 30 days, there's a 1 TB storage limit, and Mail Drop attachments don't count against your iCloud storage.
Mail Drop is an Apple Mail feature, so if you move to another app, find out how it handles large files before your next big send. Look for a built-in way to send large files as a link, or plan to share them from cloud storage instead. Either way, know your route before a client is waiting on a long video file.
Choosing by the way you handle email
- Mostly Gmail: an app built on the Gmail API feels more at home than a general IMAP client.
- Several accounts: a unified inbox saves flicking between them all day.
- Keyboard person: look for full keyboard control and powerful search.
- Shared inbox: a team app lets you assign and comment on emails instead of forwarding them.
- Calendar too: an all-in-one client keeps email, calendar and contacts together.
Switching email apps on a Mac without losing anything
- List every account you use and check the new app supports each one, including work accounts.
- Install the free version or trial and add one account first.
- Let it fully sync before judging its speed or search.
- Recreate your signatures, rules and folders.
- Decide how you'll send large attachments without Mail Drop.
- Run both apps side by side for a week before turning off the old one's notifications.
Things to check before you commit
- Where your data goes. Some apps process mail on their own servers, so read the privacy page.
- Business use terms. Free modes may be for personal use only.
- Offline access. Check how much mail is stored on your Mac.
- Other devices. If you want the same app on iPhone or Windows, confirm it's available.
And if you're thinking about speed more than features, my take on using AI to triage email rather than write it explains where the real time savings sit.
Do you make email apps for Mac? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for Mac users leaving Apple Mail
Start with the account you use most. If that's Gmail, try a native Gmail client; if it's a mix, try a free all-rounder with a unified inbox. Give it a full week of real use before deciding, because every new app feels odd for the first couple of days.
If you share an inbox with a team, skip personal apps and try a shared-inbox tool from day one. And read the terms of any free mode if the email is for business, as several are intended for personal use only.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free email client for Mac?
Yes. Several have a free plan, free mode or open source version, though some free options are for personal or non-business use only.
Is a third-party email app better than Apple Mail?
It depends on your needs. Other apps add things like shared inboxes, native Gmail support or keyboard control, but you'll lose Apple Mail features such as Mail Drop.
What is the Mail Drop size limit?
Apple Support says Mail Drop sends attachments up to 5 GB, and each one expires after 30 days.
Can I use Gmail in a Mac email app?
Yes. Most Mac email apps support Gmail, and some are built only for Gmail.
Are Mac email apps safe?
Check each app's privacy page, especially whether your mail is processed on its servers, and use two-factor authentication on your accounts.
Can I run more than one email app at once?
Yes. You can run two side by side while you decide, though you'll get double notifications until you turn one off.
