Mailbird vs Thunderbird
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Mailbird
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox
Thunderbird
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
Where they differ
- 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.
At a glance
| Mailbird | Thunderbird | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $34.49 per year (Premium Yearly Plan, US Mac App Store in-app price) | Free |
| Free plan | 1 email account on 1 device, with Knowledge Base support only. No email tracking, app integrations, ChatGPT integration or Microsoft Exchange support. | The whole app is free on desktop and Android, with no ads and no paid tier. Development is funded by voluntary donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Mailbird, Inc. | MZLA Technologies Corporation |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | thunderbird.net |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Thunderbird
- People who want a free desktop email app without ads
- Linux users, and anyone moving between Windows, macOS and Linux
- Those who prefer open-source software for mail and calendar
Worth knowing
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.
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.
Key features
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.
Thunderbird
- Unified inbox for several accounts
- Keep every email account in one app and read them separately or together in a unified inbox, on desktop and on Android.
- Calendar, contacts and tasks
- The desktop app manages appointments, contacts and tasks alongside email, so scheduling does not need a separate program.
- No ads or data mining
- Thunderbird says it does not sell ads in the inbox, collect personal data or train AI on private conversations. It is funded by user donations.
- Open source and extensible
- The code is published under the MPL 2.0 license for anyone to inspect, modify and share, and add-ons extend what the desktop app can do.
- OpenPGP encryption on Android
- Advanced users can send and receive encrypted mail with the OpenPGP standard by pairing Thunderbird Mobile with the free OpenKeychain app.
- Desktop-to-mobile setup
- Desktop users can move their account settings to the Android app by scanning a QR code shown in the desktop app.
Plans
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.
Thunderbird
Free$0
Every feature of Thunderbird Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux and of Thunderbird Mobile for Android.
Ways to pay less
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.
Thunderbird
No public discounts listed.
