eM Client vs Mailbird

eM Client

• Windows and Mac users who want a full desktop mail client
• People who would rather pay once for the current version
• Companies that license email software per device

Mailbird

• Windows users who want several email accounts in one desktop app
• People who would rather buy a license once than subscribe
• Keeping chat and calendar apps in a sidebar next to email

eM Client

• The Free license is for personal, non-commercial use only, on one device with 2 email accounts.
• Thread view, notes, snooze, Send Later, undo send and message translation need a paid Personal or Business license.
• A one-time license covers the current major version only. Later major versions need a paid upgrade or the Lifetime Upgrades option.
• No Linux or web version is listed. The pricing page shows different prices by country; the figures here are the US ones.

Mailbird

• The free version covers 1 email account on 1 device and leaves out email tracking, app integrations and Exchange support.
• There is no iOS, Android, web or Linux version; the pricing FAQ says mobile apps are on the roadmap.
• Mailbird for Mac needs macOS Ventura or later and cannot connect POP3 accounts.
• Prices here are US Mac App Store in-app prices. Mailbird's website prices Premium in local currency, marked down from a crossed-out list price, and its figures can differ.

eM Client

Works with most email services

Connects to Google Workspace, Office 365, Outlook, Exchange and other services, and imports data from Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird and other clients.

Calendar, tasks, contacts and notes

Calendars, tasks and contacts are part of every license, with a sidebar agenda of upcoming events, tasks and birthdays. Notes need a paid license.

PGP and S/MIME encryption

Messages can be encrypted and digitally signed with S/MIME or PGP. The pricing table lists this on the Free license too.

Snooze, Send Later and Watch for Reply

Paid licenses add snooze, scheduled sending, undo send, a watch for replies to sent messages, mass mail and a view of all attachments.

AI and translation

AI generates messages and replies or adjusts the tone of a draft through the AI Add-on, which subscriptions include. Paid licenses also translate incoming messages.

Chat and meeting integrations

Chat and online meeting integration are built in, and paid licenses add Microsoft Teams, Slack and Rocket.Chat integration.

Mailbird

Unified inbox

Messages and contacts from several email accounts appear in one inbox. The free version is limited to 1 account, and Premium allows unlimited accounts.

Email tracking

Shows who opened a sent message and when. The comparison table lists tracking as unlimited on Premium and not included in the free version.

App integrations

Slack, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Asana and other apps open inside Mailbird, and Premium can add any app or website as a custom app.

AI email writing

A ChatGPT integration drafts email text for you. The pricing table lists it as a Premium feature.

Snooze and send later

Snooze takes a non-urgent message out of the inbox until later, and send later schedules a message for a set time. On Mac both are listed under Premium, along with undo send.

Unsubscribe and block senders

Unsubscribe from mailing lists and block unwanted senders from inside the inbox. The pricing table lists both as Premium features.

eM Client

• Free$0

  Personal, non-commercial use on one device with 2 email accounts and forum support. No snooze, Send Later, notes, thread view or translation.

• Personal (subscription)$39.95

  per year, for 1 user on up to 3 devices

  Individual use with unlimited email accounts, every feature, VIP support, new major versions and the AI Add-on included.

• Business (subscription)$49.95

  per device / year

  Company or institutional use, priced per device and lower in volume. Adds the License Manager, with VIP support and the AI Add-on included.

• Personal (one-time)$59.95

  one-time payment, for 1 user on up to 3 devices

  Never expires for the current major version and includes 1 year of VIP support. Later major versions and the AI Add-on cost extra.

• Business (one-time)$79.95

  per device, one-time payment

  Per-device company license that never expires for the current major version. Lifetime Upgrades are an optional extra.

Mailbird

• Free$0

  Basic features for 1 email account on 1 device, with Knowledge Base support only.

• Premium (Yearly Plan)$34.49

  per year (US Mac App Store in-app price)

  Unlimited accounts, unlimited email tracking, templates, app integrations, Exchange support and email support, on up to 3 devices per license.

• Premium (One-Time)$159.00

  one-time payment (US Mac App Store in-app price)

  Premium bought once. The website calls it Pay Once, shows it at 75% off a crossed-out price in local currency, and sells a Lifetime Updates add-on.

eM Client

• Lifetime license

  One-time payment instead of a subscription

  Personal at $59.95 or Business at $79.95 per device buys a license that never expires for the current major version. Optional Lifetime Upgrades extend it to all future versions.

• Nonprofit

  30% discount for NGOs

  The pricing page states that NGOs are eligible for a 30% discount, arranged by contacting eM Client.

• Education

  30% discount for schools and universities

  Schools and universities are eligible for the same 30% discount, arranged by contacting eM Client.

Mailbird

• Lifetime license

  Pay Once license instead of a subscription

  Premium is also sold as a Pay Once license with no renewals, and an optional Lifetime Updates add-on covers all future Mailbird versions. The US Mac App Store lists Premium One-Time at $159.00.

• Other savings

  Volume discounts from 2 licenses

  The pricing FAQ lists automatic discounts on multiple Premium licenses: 5% for 2 to 10, 10% for 11 to 25, 15% for 26 to 50, 20% for 51 to 100 and 25% for 101 or more.