How does ToolGPA rank email apps?

From what each tool's own pages show (price, free plan, platforms, features and limits) and from what people say about it in public reviews and discussions. Not from our own testing. First place goes to the tool that suits the most people, and second and third to the best choices for the readers it leaves out.

Email Apps

Q: What are the best email apps?

ToolGPA ranks Microsoft Outlook first (for: most people), Gmail second (for: people who keep their calendar and files with Google), Proton Mail third (for: people who want email their provider cannot read). The first two are close. Microsoft Outlook and Gmail are both free, both can show ads, and each has millions of ratings behind its app. Outlook comes first because it has Windows and Mac apps, where Gmail lists no desktop app, and it takes Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud accounts in the same app. Proton Mail is third for people who want mail their provider cannot read. Spark Mail and Thunderbird sit just outside: both are free apps for accounts you already have, but Spark lists no web or Linux version and Thunderbird no iPhone app. Apple Mail is free and built in, on Apple devices only.

Email clients, shared inboxes and inbox assistants for spending less time on mail.

Our top three email apps

The first two are close. Microsoft Outlook and Gmail are both free, both can show ads, and each has millions of ratings behind its app. Outlook comes first because it has Windows and Mac apps, where Gmail lists no desktop app, and it takes Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud accounts in the same app. Proton Mail is third for people who want mail their provider cannot read. Spark Mail and Thunderbird sit just outside: both are free apps for accounts you already have, but Spark lists no web or Linux version and Thunderbird no iPhone app. Apple Mail is free and built in, on Apple devices only.

First: Microsoft Outlook
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
For: Most people
Outlook is free with an Outlook.com address and runs on the web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. The same app also takes Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and work or school accounts, and keeps email, calendar, contacts and to-do lists in one view. The free plan has 15 GB of mailbox storage, and its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 from about 9.3 million ratings. Know the limits: the free inbox shows ads, which Microsoft 365 Basic removes for $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year, no Linux app is listed, and on home plans Copilot in Outlook works only with Microsoft's own addresses, such as outlook.com and hotmail.com.
iPhone and iPad app: 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store
Microsoft Outlook pricing and details
Second: Gmail
Free plan · from $7/mo
For: People who keep their calendar and files with Google
Gmail is free with a personal Google Account and comes with 15 GB of storage, shared with Google Drive and Google Photos. Google says it blocks 99.9% of spam, phishing attempts and malware, and it suits people who already rely on Google Calendar, Meet and Drive. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 2.4 million ratings. It is second because no desktop app is listed: Gmail runs in a browser and as iPhone and Android apps, or through another mail client. Free accounts may show ads, and an address at your own domain needs Google Workspace, from $7 per user a month with a 1-year commitment.
iPhone and iPad app: 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store
Gmail pricing and details
Third: Proton Mail
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
For: People who want email their provider cannot read
Proton Mail is an email provider that encrypts messages so that Proton itself cannot read them, and it blocks email trackers. It runs on the web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, and its Easy Switch tool imports existing mail from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo or Apple accounts. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 from about 48,000 ratings. It is third because its free plan is much smaller than the two above: 1 address, up to 1 GB of mail storage and 150 sent messages a day. The desktop apps, custom domains and access from other mail apps need a paid plan; Mail Plus is $3.99 a month, billed every 12 months.
iPhone and iPad app: 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store
Proton Mail pricing and details

Ranked on Oct 5, 2026 from what each listing shows and what people say about the tool, not from our own testing. How we rank

Price

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42 tools

Airmail
Email
Customizable email client for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Free plan · from $7.99/momacOS · iOS
Apple Mail
Email
Free built-in email app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Free plan · from $0.99/moiOS · macOS · Web
BlueMail
Email
Cross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI
Free plan · from $35.99/yriOS · Android · macOS +2
Boomerang
Email
Send later, follow-up reminders and meeting scheduling for Gmail
Free plan · from $4.98/moiOS · Android
Canary Mail
Email
AI email client with PGP encryption for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android
Free plan · from $36/yrmacOS · iOS · Windows +1
Clean Email
Email
Inbox cleaner for bulk deleting, unsubscribing and auto rules
Free plan · from $9.99/moWeb · iOS · macOS +1
Drag
Email
Shared inbox for Gmail teams with kanban boards and built-in AI
Free trial · from $12/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
Edison Mail
Email
Free multi-account email app with one-tap unsubscribe
Free plan · from $14.99/moiOS · Android · Windows
eM Client
Email
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with calendar and chat
Free plan · from $39.95/yrWindows · macOS · iOS +1
Fastmail
Email
Paid, ad-free email with calendar, contacts and custom domains
Free trial · from $3/moWeb · Windows · macOS +3
Front
Email
Shared inbox and customer operations platform with AI and ticketing
Free trial · from $25/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
Fyxer
Email
AI assistant that sorts email, drafts replies and takes meeting notes
Free plan · from $37/moWeb
Gmail
Email
Google's email service, free for personal use with 15 GB of storage
Free plan · from $7/moWeb · iOS · Android
Gmelius
Email
Shared inboxes and AI agents that work inside Gmail
Free trial · from $19/moWeb
Help Scout
Email
Shared inbox and help desk with a knowledge base and AI answers
Free plan · from $25/moWeb · iOS · Android
HEY
Email
Email service and calendar with sender screening, from 37signals
Free trial · from $99/yrWeb · macOS · Windows +3
Hiver
Email
Shared inbox and AI help desk that runs inside Gmail or standalone
Free trial · from $25/moWeb · iOS · Android
Kiwi for Gmail
Email
Desktop app that runs Gmail and Google Workspace outside the browser
Free trial · from $4/momacOS · Windows
Mailbird
Email
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox
Free plan · from $34.49/yrWindows · macOS
mailbox
Email
Paid, ad-free email with cloud storage and office tools from Germany
Free trial · from €1/moWeb
Mailbutler
Email
Email tracking and team tools for Apple Mail, Gmail and Outlook
Free plan · from $4/momacOS · Windows · iOS +1
Mailfence
Email
Private email from Belgium with built-in OpenPGP encryption
Free plan · from €2.50/moWeb · iOS · Android
MailMate
Email
Keyboard-driven IMAP email client for macOS with Markdown composing
Free trial · from $10/momacOS
Mailspring
Email
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux
Free plan · from $8/momacOS · Windows · Linux
Microsoft Outlook
Email
Microsoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web
Free plan · from $1.99/moWeb · Windows · macOS +2
Mimestream
Email
Native Mac email client built on the Gmail API
Free trial · from $49.99/yrmacOS
Missive
Email
Team email client with shared inboxes, internal chat and rules
Free trial · from $14/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
Newton Mail
Email
Cross-platform email app with read receipts, snooze and send later
Free plan · from $5/momacOS · Windows · Linux +2
Polymail
Email
Email client with read tracking, follow-up reminders and scheduling
Free trial · from $10/moWeb · macOS · Windows +1
Posteo
Email
Ad-free, green-powered email from Berlin for €1 a month
From €1/moWeb
Proton Mail
Email
End-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland
Free plan · from $3.99/moWeb · macOS · Windows +3
SaneBox
Email
AI email filtering that works inside the email app you already use
Free trial · from $6.99/moWeb · iOS · Android
Shortwave
Email
AI email client for Gmail with an assistant, filters and split inbox
Free plan · from $18/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
Spark Mail
Email
Email client with a unified smart inbox, AI tools and team features
Free plan · from $8.25/momacOS · Windows · iOS +1
Spike
Email
Chat-style email app with team chat, notes, tasks and video calls
Free plan · from $4/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
StartMail
Email
Paid private email from the Netherlands with unlimited aliases
Free trial · from $4.99/moWeb · Android
Superhuman Mail
Email
Keyboard-driven email client for Gmail and Outlook with built-in AI
From $25/moWeb · macOS · Windows +2
Thunderbird
Email
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
FreeWindows · macOS · Linux +1
Tuta Mail
Email
End-to-end encrypted email and calendar from Germany
Free plan · from €3/moWeb · Windows · macOS +3
Unroll.Me
Email
Free tool to block or roll up subscription emails
FreeWeb · iOS · Android
Yahoo Mail
Email
Free email service with 20 GB of storage and AI inbox tools
Free plan · from $5/moWeb · iOS · Android
Zoho Mail
Email
Ad-free business email hosting with calendar, tasks and notes
Free plan · from $1/moWeb · macOS · Windows +3

Guides

Shortlists and alternatives for email apps.

+3
Alternatives
The best Superhuman Mail alternatives in 2026
Seven email tools that can replace Superhuman Mail, including two with free plans, lower-priced clients and options for accounts beyond Gmail and Outlook. Each pick says who it suits and where it stops.
7 tools · Updated October 2026
+5
Best of
The best email apps in 2026
Nine email tools compared: clients for Gmail and Outlook, two email services of their own, a filter for the app you already use and two team inboxes. Each pick says who it suits and what it costs.
9 tools · Updated October 2026

Our top three email apps

First: Microsoft Outlook

Second: Gmail

Third: Proton Mail

Tools

Guides