Mailspring brings a modern, beautiful interface to desktop email across all platforms, but its account requirement and subscription model send some users looking for alternatives.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Mailspring's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
Thunderbird is the free, open-source email client that requires no account to use, supports extensions, and handles multiple accounts with full control.
Explore Thunderbird data →eM Client provides a modern interface with email, calendar, contacts, and chat in one app, available as a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Explore eM Client data →Mimestream uses the Gmail API for a fast, native macOS email experience with full Gmail label and filter support.
Explore Mimestream data →Airmail 5 supports multi-account management, snooze, templates, and integrations with task managers and automation tools on Mac and iOS.
Explore Airmail 5 data →Spike converts email threads into chat-style conversations and adds voice notes, video calls, and collaborative docs on top of your existing email address.
Explore Spike data →Proton Mail offers a web client and desktop application with E2E encryption at rest, custom domains, and a full privacy-first experience.
Explore Proton Mail data →Users leaving Mailspring most often cite the mandatory Mailspring ID or memory usage, and tend to migrate to Thunderbird or eM Client.
Mailspring is source-available (hosted on GitHub) but not fully open source. The sync engine is proprietary and requires a Mailspring account.
Yes. Mailspring supports Linux via a .deb or .rpm package and AppImage, making it one of the few modern email clients with strong Linux support.
Mailspring Pro ($8/month) adds read receipts, link-click tracking, send later, email reminders, follow-up reminders, contact profiles, and translation.
App Vulture analyzes real user reviews and update cadence across email clients to surface the most actively maintained and user-recommended alternatives.
Business alternatives.
Smart Home alternatives.
Productivity alternatives.
Productivity alternatives.