10 Best Apple Mail Alternatives for Mac and iPhone

Oct. 30, 2020

Unlike other stock apps likeSafariandNotes,Apple Mailfor macOS hasn’t got major improvements for a long time. The email app not only lacks an intuitive interface but also some of the most essential features like “Scheduling” and “Smart inbox management”. Not to mention, it also doesn’t score well in terms of the integration with third-party productivity tools. All these shortcomings can force anyone to look for the best Apple Mail alternatives for Mac and iPhone. So, if you have decided to look beyond the stock email client for better email management, these are the top third-party email clients for macOS and iOS you should try out.

Top Apple Mail Alternatives for Mac and iPhone

While some email clients put more emphasis on enhancing customization, others give more priority to offering detailed insights into emails. Not to mention, the email apps that solely focus on providing a simplified email management experience by getting rid of email clutter.

Putting much-wanted features like customization, seamless collaboration, integration with productivity apps, and insightful email tracking at the top of the priority list, I have chosen a variety of Apple Mail substitutes. So, whether you want to go for a feature-rich alternative or a smart competitor to take on emails with ease, this lineup can let you pick the right bet. With the premise out of the way, let’s get going!

Both in terms of smart email management and ease of use, Spark stands out as one of the best email clients across platforms. The email client featuresa neat user-interfaceand comes with an intelligent email sorting feature that keeps unwanted emails away and pops up important messages so that you can take a quick glance at them without having to dig into the inbox.

As compared to the clunky interface of Apple Mail, Spark looks modern and organized. Besides, it also keeps noise away by keeping all the useless either hidden or out of sight. Moreover, you canschedule emailsto be sent later and set up follow-up reminders to ensure you don’t miss out on anything.

With the built-incalendar, Spark makes sure you don’t have to look beyond for efficient planning. What I love about this email client is thesmart searchthat makes the task of finding any email painless. Not to mention, the quick replies that allow me to communicate with ease has also found a sweet spot in my usability.

Another feature that has always appealed to me is theintegration with third-party appswhich plays a vital role inboosting productivity. Even on the collaboration front, it has a clear edge over Apple Mail. You can create emails with your colleagues using the compose editor and take advantage of the ready made templates for a fast reply to frequent messages.

Do note that, Spark’s freemium version is limited,allowing 5GB total team file storageand two active collaborators. You will need to upgrade to the Spark premium that starts at $7.99/month if you want to remove the restrictions. Taking everything into account, Spark is a top-notch Apple Mail alternative for Mac.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android

Install:(free, $7.99/month)

Microsoft Outlookis arobust email clientthat checks off almost every essential box. So, it’s hard to look beyond this powerful offering from Microsoft, if you are willing to go for an all-in-one email app.

What makes Outlook ahead of many other rivals is theintegration of email and calendarwhich plays a pivotal role in making planning, tracking events, and appointments a straightforward task. Another feature that is worth mentioning is the seamless collaboration thanks to the quick access toWord, PowerPoint, and Excel. If you are looking for ways to boost collaboration, Outlook could be a better Apple Mail substitute.

What’s more, Outlook is alsointegrated withSkypeso that you can also chat with your friends/colleagues without having to leave the email app. In terms of security and privacy, the email app has got the tools to shield your personal information. For instance, itprovides an automatic deactivationof unsafe links that consist of malware, phishing scams and also has a reliable ransomware detection and recovery for your important files.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft Outlook’s freemium tier hassome limitations like 15GB mail storage, basic security features, and only 5GB of OneDrivecloude storage. Thus, you will need to upgrade to the premium variant (starts at $6.99/month) of the email client to unlock all the powerful tools. Everything considered; it’s a complete alternative to Apple Mail for those willing to boost productivity.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and web

Install:(free, offers in-app purchases)

Going by the sheer numbers, Gmail is by far the most popular email clients across platforms. And from what I can tell after using it for several years is that it lives up to the mark in most aspects. So, if you are on the lookout for ahighly user-friendlyApple Mail substitute, you shouldn’t fail to check it out.

Probably the biggest highlight of Gmail isthe integration with G-Suite, which offers quick access to several apps likeGoogle Drive, Docs, Calendar, Maps, Translate, Photos, and more. So, if you are deep into the Google ecosystem, you won’t have to spend much time to get your done. Whether it’stranslating languages,checking nearby places, or storing files in cloud storage, you can get these things (and more) done right from one spot.

Based on your needs, you canorganize all of your emailsinto different categories such as social, promotions, updates, and more, Thus, you can take a glance at the latest messages at a glance and respond quickly. In terms of email management, Gmail has a clear edge over Apple Mail.

One of my favorite features of Gmail is the ability to view attachments, RSVP events, snooze messages even without having to open emails. Notably, Google claims that it blocks up to 99.9% of dangerous emails to enhance your security.

Overall, if you want to have a reliable web alternative to Apple Mail, Gmail has to be your top pick.

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Platform compatibility:iOS, Android, and web

Install:(free)

If I were to pick an Apple Mail competitor purely based on a fast and snappier interface, Newton Mail would comfortably top the roundup. Apart from boasting abeautiful looking interface, the email client comes with a host of top-of-the-line features that let you manage emails just the way you want.

Ever sent an email to someone and wondered whether or not that person has read your email? If yes, chances are you would appreciate Newton Mail’sread receiptfeature which lets you know when the recipient reads the email. Another feature that has called for my attention in this app is the“recap”that automatically brings back conversations that you need to reply to at the earliest. Thus, you won’t forget to reply to any messages.

As compared to Apple Mail, Newton Mail has got amore efficient tool to tidy inboxthat keeps the unwanted emails away. Hence, you can focus on the emails that matter and put the noise at bay. Thanks to the connection with severalapps like Trello, OneNote, Asana, and Evernote, it allows you to carry out tasks likemanaging projects, taking notes, and collaborating with colleagues easy going.

Features like HTML signatures, custom folder sync, dark mode, and a trusted privacy shield make Newton Mail a notable pick. Priced at $50, Newton Mail’s premium version might seem expensive. However, given the host of impressive features, you can’t go wrong with it.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android

Install:(14-day free trial,$49.99)

Airmail is designed to work seamlessly across iDevices including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. So, if you are on the lookout for an email client that is optimized to work within the Apple ecosystem, you should give serious consideration to Airmail.

You can create custom actions to speed up your tasks and also take advantage of the integration with a wide range of apps to enhance your productivity. For hassle-free email management, you can add as many email accounts as you want.

With the support forGmail, GSuite, iCloud Mail, Exchange, Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, IMAP, and POP3, it has got you fully covered. As compared to Apple Mail, Airmail offers more flexibility to manage multiple accounts, and that too without having to run from one end to the other.

On the privacy front, Airmail has looked up to the task to me. With theuseful privacy mode, it lets you block tracking pixels and also prevent images from loading automatically. Furthermore, it also supports Touch Bar and offers a variety of plugins to let you add additional features like Read Receipts, SMIME or GPG encryption, and more.

Long story short, Airmail is fully equipped to be a more versatile Apple Mail replacement for your Mac, and you shouldn’t fail to give it a shot.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, iOS, watchOS

Install:(free, $2.99/month)

Yet another Apple Mail alternative that promises to be the best email client for macOS. Having given a thorough look at what it has to offer, I must say that the email is fully equipped to be a safe bet.

Mailplane offers a straightforward way tomanage Gmail, calendar, and contactsright from one spot. So, you don’t have to take roundabout ways to take control of your emails, track calendar events, or keep a track of your contacts. One of the things that I appreciate in Apple Mail is the support for a number ofkeyboard shortcutsthat come in handy for performing common actions faster.

As Mailplane also offers several keyboard shortcuts, it didn’t take much time to get into my good books. Additionally, Mailplane’s notifier keeps you in the loop about how many unread messages are in your inboxes, right from the menu bar. Whenever a new email arrives, you can archive it or respond to it right away.

As someone who is fond of annotations, I have found its annotation tools quite helpful. They let me express with more precision. The integration withessential Mac appslike Gmail, Photos, and Evernote further enriches its profile as a full-fledged Apple Mail competitor for macOS.

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Platform compatibility:macOS

Install:($29.95 for personal license and $39.95 for Family License)

When it comes to offeringsimplified email management, Canary Mail has got the tools live up to the expectation. But what makes it a better choice is the ability to offerenhanced privacyto your personal information. So, if you want to move beyond Apple Mail but feel a bit concerned about the security of your data, this one can be worth having a go.

Canary Mailoffers end-to-end encryptionto your data so that it can remain safeguarded against prying. Notably, it also uses an open-source mail sync engine that puts privacy at the forefront. With Canary, you can add as many email accounts as required. The support for Gmail, iCloud, Office365, Yahoo, Exchange, IMAP, and ProtonMail accounts offer you the freedom to add any type of email account and keep a tab on it with ease.

Features like the read-notifications, one-click unsubscribe, snooze, templates, contact profiles, and a full-fledged calendar make it a safe bet for managing emails. Though Canary doesn’t have a rich user-interface, you will have very little to complain about. To sum up, it’s one of the best free Apple Mail alternatives for Mac.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, iOS, and Android

Install:(Free, premium version starts at $9.99)

Polymail is what you should use tosort out all of your professional emailswithout having to break any sweat. Yeah, you read that! This Apple Mail substitute puts more emphasis on boosting productivity by keeping everything straightforward.

Features like email tracking, follow up reminders, and contact profiles save plenty of your time by letting you carry out the oft-repeated tasks faster. Thanks to thesmart automation, it ensures you don’t have to spend much time dealing with repetitive manual tasks.

Another area where Polymail seems to be a fully equipped Apple Mail replacement is the knack to get rid of email clutter and provide moreorganized communication. One of my top features of this email client is the ability to get detailed insights into how and when people read emails.

Besides, the ability totrack the team’s activityand get detailed reports has also proved quite helpful for me. And I’m sure it will win you over as well if you want to have a proficient team’s activity tracking tool. Overall, Polymail is a great Apple Mail alternative for professionals.

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Platform compatibility:macOS, Windows, iOS, and web

Install:(Free, $10/month )

As the name itself suggests, Kiwi has been developed for those having multiple Gmail accounts and want to manage them faster and with more flexibility. If you are one of them, Kiwi for Gmail is for you.

Wondering what makes it a notable Apple Mail alternative? Well, it’s the ability to get the most out of Gmail, which makes it a much better bet for the people who heavily rely on Google’s offering. With this app installed on your Mac, you will feel likeusing Gmail as a desktop appon your computer.

Unlike Apple Mail, Kiwi provides a better-organized way tomanage your Gmail accounts. It lets you use up to 6 Gmail accounts simultaneously. Even better, it integrates the entire G-Suite, allowing you toaccess apps like Google Docs, Sheets, Google Drive, Slides with ease.

That’s not all, the app also lets you open various file types including gsheet, gform, gdoc, gslides, gdraw, glink and gnote. Thus, you won’t turn into the incompatibility issue. Besides, it allows offline access for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides so that you can continue to work on them without any interference. Couple that with some handy keyboard shortcuts and Kiwi for Gmail becomes really hard to beat.

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Platform compatibility:macOS

Install:(Free, premium version is available for$29.99)

Yet another Apple Mail rival that could be a favorite choice for professionals is Postbox. While this email client may not be as popular as some of its noted counterparts, it packs a solid punch when it comes to offering aneat email management experience.

Notably, Postbox iscompatible with all IMAP or POP accountsincluding Gmail, iCloud, Office 365, and more. So, it doesn’t matter which email account you have, you can use this app to manage your emails with ease. That aside, it is touted to have one of the fastest email search engines. As a result, you will be able to find files, images, and other attachments a lot faster.

As compared to Apple Mail, I have found Postbox way faster in terms of search. While the former seems quite slow in terms of offering precise search results, the latter seems to the point more often than not. Using thebuilt-in Quick Bar, it’s pretty easy to move a message, copy a message, switch folders, or even tag a message.

That’s not all, it alsocomes with a range of cool themesto let you give a nice look to the interface. In a nutshell, Postbox is an able alternative to Apple Mail.

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Platform compatibility:macOS and Windows

Install:($29.99/year)

So, that ends our article on the best alternatives to Apple Mail for Mac. Now that you have got the top email clients vying for attention, pick the one that seems to check off all of your needs.

But before you go on to set up your preferred email app, make sure to share your feedback with me. And as always, also tell us about the worthy email clients that deserve a mention in the above roundup.

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.