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Alternatives · Email

MailMate alternatives

MailMate compared with 5 alternatives: Apple Mail, Mimestream, Airmail, Thunderbird and Mailspring.

MailMate is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT). 4 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
MailMateThis toolFree trial · from $10/moTrial onlymacOS
Apple MailFree plan · from $0.99/moYesWeb, macOS, iOS
MimestreamFree trial · from $49.99/yrTrial onlymacOS
AirmailFree plan · from $7.99/moYesmacOS, iOS
ThunderbirdFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, Android
MailspringFree plan · from $8/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux

How each one differs from MailMate

  1. Apple Mail

    Free built-in email app for iPhone, iPad and Mac

    • Apple Mail starts at $0.99 per month (iCloud+ with 50 GB). MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
    • Apple Mail has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Apple Mail lists a web app.
    • Only Apple Mail lists an iOS app.
    • Apple Mail also covers inbox filtering.

    Suits: iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a mail app at no cost

    Apple Mail vs MailMateApple Mail pricing and details

  2. Mimestream

    Native Mac email client built on the Gmail API

    • Mimestream starts at $49.99 per year, or $4.99 billed monthly. MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
    • Mimestream also covers templates.

    Suits: Mac users whose email lives in Gmail or Google Workspace

    Mimestream vs MailMateMimestream pricing and details

  3. Airmail

    Customizable email client for iPhone, iPad and Mac

    • Airmail starts at $7.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (US App Store in-app prices). MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
    • Airmail has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Airmail lists an iOS app.
    • Airmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Airmail also covers inbox filtering.

    Suits: Apple users who want to tailor swipes, actions and layout in their email app

    Airmail vs MailMateAirmail pricing and details

  4. Thunderbird

    Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    • Thunderbird is free. MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
    • Thunderbird has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Thunderbird lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
    • Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.

    Suits: People who want a free desktop email app without ads

    Thunderbird vs MailMateThunderbird pricing and details

  5. Mailspring

    Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux

    • Mailspring starts at $8 per month, or $85 per year (Mailspring Pro). MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
    • Mailspring has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Mailspring lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Mailspring is open source, according to its own site.
    • Mailspring also covers templates.

    Suits: Linux users who want a modern desktop email client

    Mailspring vs MailMateMailspring pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in MailMate

  • It runs on macOS only and connects to email through IMAP accounts.
  • The composer is plain text only: formatting comes from Markdown rather than from toolbar buttons.
  • The recommended download is a 2.0 beta that needs macOS 10.12 or later; the last public release is more than 4 years old.
  • Businesses are required to stay in Paid Mode, and the subscription does not guarantee a reply to support emails.
MailMate pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to MailMate?

The alternatives to MailMate in this directory are Apple Mail, Mimestream, Airmail, Thunderbird and Mailspring. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with MailMate.

Is there a free alternative to MailMate?

Yes. Thunderbird is free to use. Apple Mail, Airmail and Mailspring have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which MailMate alternatives work on Windows?

The MailMate listing does not include a Windows app. Thunderbird and Mailspring list one.

Which MailMate alternatives work on Linux?

The MailMate listing does not include a Linux app. Thunderbird and Mailspring list one.

Is there an open-source alternative to MailMate?

Thunderbird and Mailspring are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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