Alternatives · Email

Thunderbird alternatives

Thunderbird compared with 9 alternatives: Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Mailbird, Apple Mail, Mailspring and 4 more.

Thunderbird is free to use. 8 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

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

At a glance

Tool	Price	Free plan	Runs on
ThunderbirdThis tool	Free	Free	macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
Microsoft Outlook	Free plan · from $1.99/mo	Yes	Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
eM Client	Free plan · from $39.95/yr	Yes	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Mailbird	Free plan · from $34.49/yr	Yes	macOS, Windows
Apple Mail	Free plan · from $0.99/mo	Yes	Web, macOS, iOS
Mailspring	Free plan · from $8/mo	Yes	macOS, Windows, Linux
BlueMail	Free plan · from $35.99/yr	Yes	macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
FairEmail	Free plan · from $7.49 one-time	Yes	Android
MailMate	Free trial · from $10/mo	Trial only	macOS
Wino Mail	Free plan	Yes	Windows

How each one differs from Thunderbird

Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
- Microsoft Outlook starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Basic). Thunderbird is free.
- Only Microsoft Outlook lists a web app.
- Only Microsoft Outlook lists an iOS app.
- Only Thunderbird lists a Linux app.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want mail, calendar and contacts from several accounts in one app
Microsoft Outlook vs Thunderbird Microsoft Outlook pricing and details
eM Client
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with calendar and chat
Free plan · from $39.95/yr
- eM Client starts at $39.95 per year (Personal subscription, up to 3 devices). Thunderbird is free.
- Only eM Client lists an iOS app.
- Only Thunderbird lists a Linux app.
- eM Client can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Windows and Mac users who want a full desktop mail client
eM Client vs Thunderbird eM Client pricing and details
Mailbird
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox
Free plan · from $34.49/yr
- Mailbird starts at $34.49 per year (Premium Yearly Plan, US Mac App Store in-app price). Thunderbird is free.
- Only Thunderbird lists Linux and Android apps.
- Mailbird can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.
Suits: Windows users who want several email accounts in one desktop app
Mailbird vs Thunderbird Mailbird pricing and details
Apple Mail
Free built-in email app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Free plan · from $0.99/mo
- Apple Mail starts at $0.99 per month (iCloud+ with 50 GB). Thunderbird is free.
- Only Apple Mail lists a web app.
- Only Apple Mail lists an iOS app.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a mail app at no cost
Apple Mail vs Thunderbird Apple Mail pricing and details
Mailspring
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux
Free plan · from $8/mo
- Mailspring starts at $8 per month, or $85 per year (Mailspring Pro). Thunderbird is free.
- Only Thunderbird lists an Android app.
- Mailspring also covers templates.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.
Suits: Linux users who want a modern desktop email client
Mailspring vs Thunderbird Mailspring pricing and details
BlueMail
Cross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI
Free plan · from $35.99/yr
- BlueMail starts at $35.99 per year (Plus, shown as $3 per month billed annually). Thunderbird is free.
- Only BlueMail lists an iOS app.
- BlueMail is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
- BlueMail also covers templates and inbox filtering.
Suits: People who want the same email app on phone, Mac, Windows and Linux
BlueMail vs Thunderbird BlueMail pricing and details
FairEmail
Open source, privacy-oriented email client for Android
Free plan · from $7.49 one-time
- FairEmail starts at $7.49 one-time (pro features, US Google Play in-app purchase). Thunderbird is free.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- FairEmail is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.
Suits: Android users who want an open source email client with no ads or tracking
FairEmail vs Thunderbird FairEmail pricing and details
MailMate
Keyboard-driven IMAP email client for macOS with Markdown composing
Free trial · from $10/mo
- MailMate starts at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT). Thunderbird is free.
- 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.
- MailMate also covers Markdown.
Suits: Mac users who prefer writing email in plain text or Markdown
MailMate vs Thunderbird MailMate pricing and details
Wino Mail
Free, open source mail and calendar app for Windows
Free plan
- Only Thunderbird lists macOS, Linux and Android apps.
- Wino Mail also covers templates.
Suits: Windows users who miss the built-in Mail and Calendar apps
Wino Mail vs Thunderbird Wino Mail pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Thunderbird

Thunderbird Mobile is listed for Android only, through Google Play and F-Droid. No iPhone or iPad app is listed.
It is a mail client, not a mailbox: it connects to accounts hosted elsewhere. The team's own hosting service, Thundermail, is in beta behind a waitlist.
Thundermail is a separate paid subscription. Its Early Bird Plan is shown at $6 per month, paid annually, with full launch expected in 2026.
Support is community-based. Thunderbird states that donations do not buy individual technical support.

Thunderbird pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Thunderbird?

The alternatives to Thunderbird in this directory are Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Mailbird, Apple Mail, Mailspring, BlueMail, FairEmail, MailMate and Wino Mail. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Thunderbird.

Is there a free alternative to Thunderbird?

Yes. Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Mailbird, Apple Mail, Mailspring, BlueMail, FairEmail and Wino Mail have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Thunderbird alternatives work on iOS?

The Thunderbird listing does not include an iOS app. Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Apple Mail and BlueMail list one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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