Alternatives · Email
Evolution alternatives
As of Nov 12, 2026, the highest-graded Evolution alternative is Thunderbird (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Evolution compared with 4 alternatives: Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Betterbird and Mailspring.
Evolution is free to use. All 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| EvolutionThis tool | Free | Free | Linux |
| Thunderbird | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| Claws Mail | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| Betterbird | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Mailspring | Free plan · from $8/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Evolution has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 4 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Thunderbird and Betterbird score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Evolution
Thunderbird
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
- Thunderbird is free.
- Thunderbird also lists Windows, macOS and Android apps.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks.
Suits: People who want a free desktop email app without ads
Claws Mail
Lightweight GTK email and news client, free under the GPL
- Claws Mail is free.
- Claws Mail also lists a Windows app.
- Claws Mail also covers inbox filtering.
- Claws Mail does not cover calendar, which Evolution does.
Suits: Linux users who want a fast, low-resource mail client
Betterbird
A fork of Thunderbird with extra features and bug fixes
- Betterbird is free.
- Betterbird also lists Windows and macOS apps.
Suits: Thunderbird users who want fixes and options Thunderbird has not shipped
Mailspring
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux
- Mailspring starts at $8 per month, or $85 per year (Mailspring Pro).
- Mailspring also lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Mailspring also covers templates.
- Mailspring does not cover calendar, which Evolution does.
Suits: Linux users who want a modern desktop email client
Limits worth knowing in Evolution
- The pages read list Linux distributions and Flatpak only; no Windows or macOS builds are mentioned.
- Support is by mailing list, GNOME Discourse and IRC, not a vendor help desk.
- Exchange access needs the separate, optional evolution-ews package.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Evolution?
The alternatives to Evolution in this directory are Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Betterbird and Mailspring. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Evolution.
Is there a free alternative to Evolution?
Yes. Thunderbird, Claws Mail and Betterbird are free to use. Mailspring has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Evolution alternatives work on Windows?
The Evolution listing does not include a Windows app. Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Betterbird and Mailspring list one.
Which Evolution alternatives work on macOS?
The Evolution listing does not include a macOS app. Thunderbird, Betterbird and Mailspring list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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