The Betterbird Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Betterbird in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Betterbird
The Insider’s Guide
A fork of Thunderbird with extra features and bug fixes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Betterbird’s own pages.
Made by Betterbird project · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Betterbird’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Betterbird’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 55 of the 70 other email apps we grade
Betterbird is a fine-tuned version of Mozilla Thunderbird that adds features of its own, fixes bugs and carries some fixes Thunderbird may ship later. It can be installed alongside Thunderbird and run on the same profile. It is free to download and funded by donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Betterbird, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's run as a small project funded by donations, and the site says to avoid old release series because of unpatched vulnerabilities.
- 1
Best for a Thunderbird fork for Windows, Mac and Linux
Betterbird is a free desktop mail client built on Thunderbird with extra changes, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 2
It is free
Betterbird has no paid plan at all. Free to download and use; the project asks for donations by Stripe or PayPal.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Thunderbird base with changes
Features and bug fixes exclusive to Betterbird, listed in a feature table on its home page, such as a multi-line message view.
- 5
Install next to Thunderbird
You can run it at the same time as Thunderbird on the same profile and go back if you do not like it.
- 6
Windows, Mac and Linux builds
A Windows installer and portable version, Mac disk images for Intel and Apple silicon, and a Linux archive.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 55 of 70
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Betterbird is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Betterbird at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Betterbird project
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a Thunderbird fork for Windows, Mac and Linux
Betterbird is a free desktop mail client built on Thunderbird with extra changes, for Windows, macOS and Linux. It's run as a small project funded by donations, and the site says to avoid old release series because of unpatched vulnerabilities. Mac builds are English only unless you add a language pack.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download and use, with donations optional. A program anyone can download and run counts as free and substantial. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid edition and no trial limits. |
| Features | B | A full mail client built on Thunderbird, with add-ons, several languages and installing beside Thunderbird. Nothing on the pages shows a gap in the core email work. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It's a desktop client where you connect your own accounts first. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux desktop builds only. No phone or web version. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Betterbird is for
- Fits if you like Thunderbird and want its changes on Windows, Mac or Linux
- Works for people who keep mail in a desktop client rather than a browser
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a phone or web app, as it's desktop only
- Watch out: it's a small project funded by donations, with no paid support
- Watch out: old release series reach end of life, and the site says not to run them
- Watch out: Mac builds are English only unless you add a language pack
- Not for you if Thunderbird bugs bother you, as they can carry over
Good to know
Good for
- Thunderbird users who want fixes and options Thunderbird has not shipped
- People who want an independent open-source client without leaving the Thunderbird interface
Worth knowing
- It is a small project funded by donations, and the site says Mac builds are English only unless a language pack is added.
- Old release series reach end of life, and the site advises against running them because of unpatched vulnerabilities.
- It follows Thunderbird's code, so some Thunderbird issues can carry over.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Betterbird is free to use.
Free to download and use, with donations optional.
Betterbird
$0
Free download for Windows, macOS and Linux; paid support is not offered, and donations are optional.
The free plan
Free to download and use; the project asks for donations by Stripe or PayPal.
Read from betterbird.eu on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
A fork of Thunderbird with extra features and bug fixes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, calendar, email client.
A full mail client built on Thunderbird, with add-ons, several languages and installing beside Thunderbird.
- Thunderbird base with changes
- Features and bug fixes exclusive to Betterbird, listed in a feature table on its home page, such as a multi-line message view.
- Install next to Thunderbird
- You can run it at the same time as Thunderbird on the same profile and go back if you do not like it.
- Windows, Mac and Linux builds
- A Windows installer and portable version, Mac disk images for Intel and Apple silicon, and a Linux archive.
- Languages
- Ships in English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Czech, Polish, Swedish and Ukrainian.
- Add-ons
- Has its own add-ons page, and uses its own release series based on Thunderbird's ESR versions.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Thunderbird
Betterbird is made by Betterbird project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
55/70
Other email apps it is graded above
Betterbird's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 55 of the 70 other email apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 55 of 70) and worst on ease of use (C, above 1).
Betterbird has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 71 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Betterbird’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 51 of 70
- AFree plan and trialAbove 55 of 70
- BFeaturesAbove 45 of 70
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 70
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 70
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 67 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Betterbird is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Betterbird is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 55 of the 70 other email apps we grade.
What you could make
- Calendar: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Betterbird’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Evolution, Mailspring and eM Client
The 5 tools Betterbird is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Only Thunderbird lists an Android app.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks.
- 2.8GPA
Claws Mail
Free
Lightweight GTK email and news client, free under the GPL.
- Only Betterbird lists a macOS app.
- Betterbird also covers calendar.
- Claws Mail also covers inbox filtering.
- 2.8GPA
Evolution
Free
GNOME's free mail, calendar and address book app.
- Only Betterbird lists Windows and macOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
Mailspring
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Betterbird also covers calendar.
- Mailspring also covers templates.
- 2.6GPA
eM Client
Free plan · from $49.95/yr
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with calendar and chat.
- Only Betterbird lists a Linux app.
- Only eM Client lists iOS and Android apps.
- Betterbird is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Betterbird free?
Yes. Betterbird is free to use.
How much does Betterbird cost?
Betterbird lists one plan. Betterbird: $0.
What platforms does Betterbird work on?
Betterbird is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Betterbird have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Betterbird is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Betterbird have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Betterbird is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Betterbird open source?
Yes. Betterbird is open source, according to its own site.
What does Betterbird integrate with?
Betterbird's listing names Thunderbird. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Betterbird?
Betterbird is made by Betterbird project.
What are the alternatives to Betterbird?
The closest alternatives to Betterbird in our directory are Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Evolution, Mailspring and eM Client.
How does Betterbird compare with other email apps?
Betterbird's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 55 of the 70 other email apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Betterbird good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Betterbird A for value for money. Betterbird has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Betterbird?
Betterbird is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Betterbird’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Betterbird's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Betterbird project. Prices change, so check betterbird.eu before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Betterbird, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/betterbird
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Betterbird: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/betterbird
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/betterbird/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Betterbird, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 74 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 GPA
- GMX Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with 65GB storage, aliases and a mail collector3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Betterbird’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Betterbird is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Betterbird project. Prices and plans change: check betterbird.eu before you buy.