A free email client, Apple Mail, comes installed and ready for use with macOS. If you’re interested in what the Mail app can do compared to other alternatives, here are the best free email clients available for macOS.

Apple Mail

The Apple Mail application that ships with macOS is an easy-to-use email client optimized to work on Macs. It can handle all your email accounts in one place and delivers convenient features such as smart folders, attachment markups, and VIP email alerts.

  • Included in the Mac operating system.

  • Supports smart folders and robust filters.

  • Markup tools for annotating photos or PDF attachments.

  • VIP user notifications.

  • Basic design with limited customization features.

  • No option to snooze emails.

While it lacks some tools such as a snooze feature, with each macOS update, the Mail app delivers solid upgrades.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is a full-featured, secure, and functional email client. It lets you handle mail efficiently with smart folders and various add-ons and filters away junk mail.

  • Flexible filtering system.

  • Many available plug-ins.

  • Tabs for navigation.

  • Easy to configure.

  • Rudimentary design.

  • Not as user-friendly as other clients.

  • No longer in development.

Thunderbird is no longer in active development except for security updates, but it supplies a streamlined interface and a powerful email experience.

Spark

Spark is an impressive email program that auto-organizes your inboxes and allows you to postpone emails easily and send quick one-click replies. The Spark Smart Inbox sends important messages to the top of your inbox and uses intuitive categories such as Personal, Notifications, and Newsletters.

  • Clean, modern design.

  • Quick Replies function for short, templated responses.

  • Smart mailboxes.

  • Supports multiple email accounts.

  • Slow tech support.

  • Questionable privacy policy.

  • Doesn’t support many services.

Spark’s scheduling feature allows you to assign a period during which it will send a particular message. Select from times later today, in the evening, tomorrow, or on any date.

Mailspring

With the free version of Mailspring, you get a clean, customizable email program that includes functions like advanced search, signatures, and translation. You can also keep track of appointments with the handy RSVP feature and choose from different layouts and color schemes.

  • Integrates with Gmail, iCloud, Microsoft 365, and others.

  • Supports snoozing.

  • Customizable with different layouts.

  • Some features limited to paid subscription.

  • Doesn’t support Exchange accounts.

  • Mandatory Mailspring ID.

Some features, such as quick replies and mail scheduling, are limited to the paid Pro edition aimed at the professional email user.

Mozilla SeaMonkey

If you’re an advanced user or a Mozilla fan, you may be interested in SeaMonkey. It’s the email component of its open-source browser on the same Mozilla platform as Firefox, which also powers Mozilla Thunderbird. It delivers HTML5, hardware acceleration, and improved JavaScript speed.

  • All-in-one internet suite that includes email.

  • Customizable toolbars.

  • Outdated interface.

  • Some features aren’t intuitive.

  • No mobile device support.

It is a solid performer, full-featured, and usable thanks to a dedicated community of users and developers.

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