Kiwi for Gmail vs Mailbird
We give Kiwi for Gmail a 2.8 GPA and Mailbird a 3.2, out of 4.0. Mailbird grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kiwi for Gmail
Desktop app that runs Gmail and Google Workspace outside the browser
Mailbird
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKiwi for GmailGood | 3.2GPAMailbirdVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BStarter shows as $4 a month, low for a category where the middle is about $9. But that's 1 account, and our listing couldn't confirm whether the price is for monthly or annual billing. Several accounts, which is half the point, means Pro at $6 for up to 3 or Power Pro at $8 for up to 9. | APremium is $34.49 a year on the US Mac App Store, which is under $3 a month where the middle here is about $9. That buys unlimited accounts, email tracking, app integrations and Exchange support on up to 3 devices. Paying once is $159.00. Mailbird's own site prices in local currency, so yours may differ. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free plan. There's a 7-day risk-free trial, which the pricing page states for the yearly plans. Our listing doesn't say whether you hand over a card to start it. | BThere's a free version, but it's 1 email account on 1 device, with Knowledge Base support only. No email tracking, no app integrations and no Exchange support. Fine if you've got one address. Most people after a unified inbox have more. |
| Features | BIt does one thing: Gmail and Google Workspace as a desktop app, with Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Calendar and Chat in their own windows. The mail itself is still Gmail. The Focus-Filtered Inbox starts on Pro, and Tabbed Workspaces, global keyboard shortcuts and extensions need Power Pro. | BA unified inbox, tracking that shows who opened a sent message, snooze, send later, a ChatGPT integration that drafts for you, and apps like Slack and WhatsApp open inside it. Solid. But most of that is Premium, and Mailbird for Mac can't connect POP3 accounts. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, so a B is our ceiling. It's Gmail, so there's nothing new to learn, and your accounts sit side by side without signing in and out or switching browser profiles. | BNo rating on record, so a B is our ceiling. It's a desktop app you install and add your accounts to. The Mac version needs macOS Ventura or later. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac and Windows, with one license covering both. The site offers no mobile app or web version. Power Pro adds extensions such as Boomerang, Grammarly and Zoom. It only works with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. | BWindows and Mac only. There's no iOS, Android, web or Linux version, and the pricing FAQ says mobile apps are on the roadmap. On the desktop it opens Slack, WhatsApp, Google Calendar, Dropbox, Asana, Trello and Microsoft Teams inside the app. |
| Best for | Gmail as a desktop app, with several accounts | a cheap unified inbox on Windows or Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Kiwi for Gmail and Mailbird. How we grade
Where they differ
- Kiwi for Gmail starts at $4 per month (Starter; monthly or annual billing basis not confirmed). Mailbird starts at $34.49 per year (Premium Yearly Plan, US Mac App Store in-app price).
- Mailbird has a free plan. Kiwi for Gmail does not, though it has a free trial.
- Mailbird can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Kiwi for Gmail also covers inbox filtering.
At a glance
| Kiwi for Gmail | Mailbird | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $4 per month (Starter; monthly or annual billing basis not confirmed) | $34.49 per year (Premium Yearly Plan, US Mac App Store in-app price) |
| Free plan | None | 1 email account on 1 device, with Knowledge Base support only. No email tracking, app integrations, ChatGPT integration or Microsoft Exchange support. |
| Free trial | 7-day risk-free trial, stated for all yearly plans | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Zive, Inc. | Mailbird, Inc. |
| Price read from | kiwiforgmail.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Kiwi for Gmail
- Heavy Gmail users who want email out of the browser
- People juggling several Gmail or Google Workspace accounts
- Google Workspace users who prefer Docs and Sheets in desktop windows
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
Worth knowing
Kiwi for Gmail
- It works only with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts; other email providers are not supported.
- It is a desktop app for Mac and Windows only; the site offers no mobile app or web version.
- Starter is limited to 1 account and Pro to 3; using up to 9 accounts and Tabbed Workspaces needs Power Pro.
- Prices sit behind a Monthly/Annually switch on the pricing page, and the 7-day trial is stated for yearly plans.
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.
Key features
Kiwi for Gmail
- Gmail as a desktop app
- Runs Gmail in its own Mac or Windows application instead of a browser tab, and one license gives the same interface on both platforms.
- Several accounts side by side
- Starter covers 1 Gmail or Workspace account, Pro up to 3 and Power Pro up to 9, used together without signing in and out or switching browser profiles.
- Focus-Filtered Inbox
- Narrows the inbox to mail from today, the past 2 days or the past week, and to Important, Unread, Starred or messages with attachments. Included from the Pro plan.
- Workspace apps in their own windows
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Calendar and Chat open as separate desktop windows, and a recent-documents list reopens files across all of your accounts.
- Tabbed Workspaces
- Groups related documents and windows into tabs by project, urgency or account so they are one click apart. Available on the Power Pro plan.
- XO assistant
- A GPT-4 powered assistant inside Kiwi that drafts emails, summarizes meeting notes and outlines documents. It requires an active Kiwi subscription.
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.
Plans
Kiwi for Gmail
Starter$4
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Gmail and Google Workspace as a desktop app for 1 account, with one license covering both Mac and Windows.
Pro$6
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Up to 3 accounts, plus the Focus-Filtered Inbox, the Zen Switch do-not-disturb mode, an at-a-glance widget and a desktop Google Meet app.
Power Pro$8
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Up to 9 Gmail and Workspace accounts, plus Tabbed Workspaces, global keyboard shortcuts, cloud search and extensions such as Boomerang, Grammarly and Zoom.
Kiwi for TeamsCustom
Discounted pricing for groups of users, with a team admin portal for user management and billing, and priority support contacts.
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.
Ways to pay less
Kiwi for Gmail
- Other savings
Discounted pricing for teams
The pricing table lists Kiwi for Teams with discounted pricing for groups of users. The amount is not published; teams request a quote or demo through a form.
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.
