The Foxmail Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Foxmail 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.
Foxmail
The Insider’s Guide
Free desktop email client for Windows and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Foxmail’s own pages.
Made by Tencent · checked Nov 13, 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 Foxmail’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Foxmail’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade
Foxmail is a free desktop email client from Tencent for Windows and Mac. It works with Tencent Exmail business accounts and QQ Mail, and adds a notepad that syncs with QQ Mail on web and mobile.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Foxmail, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is built around Tencent's own accounts, some business features need your administrator's say-so, and there is no phone or Linux app.
- 1
Best for a free desktop app for QQ Mail and Exmail
Foxmail is a free desktop mail client from Tencent for Windows and Mac, with a notepad that syncs with QQ Mail.
- 2
It is free
Foxmail has no paid plan at all. Free to download for Windows and for Mac.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 4
Notepad
Notes recorded in Foxmail are kept in sync with QQ Mail on the web and on mobile.
- 5
Tencent Exmail features
With Exmail accounts it offers auto-configuration, a company address book, email recall and sending on behalf of others.
- 6
Calendar
Meeting invitations and meeting emails can be processed in the built-in calendar, per the Windows changelog.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 88 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Foxmail is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Foxmail at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Tencent
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free desktop app for QQ Mail and Exmail
Foxmail is a free desktop mail client from Tencent for Windows and Mac, with a notepad that syncs with QQ Mail. It is built around Tencent's own accounts, some business features need your administrator's say-so, and there is no phone or Linux app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download for Windows and Mac. That is under 60% of the cheapest paid email tool, so it is an A for value. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no paid tier shown on the download pages. |
| Features | C | A mail client with a notepad, calendar, large mailboxes and large attachments, working with QQ Mail and Tencent Exmail. Some Exmail features need an administrator to authorise them. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You install it and connect a QQ or Exmail account, so there is an account to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows and Mac only. The download pages list no mobile or Linux app. |
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 Foxmail is for
- Fits if your mail is on QQ Mail or Tencent Exmail and you want a desktop app for it
- Works for Windows or Mac users who also want a notepad synced with QQ Mail
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you use mostly Gmail or Outlook accounts, as the listing only names QQ Mail and Exmail
- Skip it if you need a phone or Linux app, as none is listed
- Watch out: some Exmail features need authorisation from the account's administrator
- Watch out: the Windows build no longer supports Windows XP
Good to know
Good for
- Users of QQ Mail or Tencent Exmail accounts
- People who want a free desktop client on Windows or Mac
Worth knowing
- The download pages list Windows and Mac only; no mobile or Linux app.
- Some Exmail features need authorization from the account's administrator.
- The Windows build no longer supports Windows XP.
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
Foxmail is free to use.
Free outright with no paid tier shown on the download pages.
Free
$0
Free download; the Mac version is on the Mac App Store.
The free plan
Free to download for Windows and for Mac.
Read from foxmail.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Free desktop email client for Windows and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: notes, calendar, email client.
A mail client with a notepad, calendar, large mailboxes and large attachments, working with QQ Mail and Tencent Exmail.
- Notepad
- Notes recorded in Foxmail are kept in sync with QQ Mail on the web and on mobile.
- Tencent Exmail features
- With Exmail accounts it offers auto-configuration, a company address book, email recall and sending on behalf of others.
- Calendar
- Meeting invitations and meeting emails can be processed in the built-in calendar, per the Windows changelog.
- Large mailboxes
- The Windows page says it stays responsive with mailboxes of up to millions of messages.
- Large attachments
- The Mac page says extra-large attachments can bypass server attachment size limits, with authorization.
- QR code login
- The changelog lists logging in to QQ Mail or Exmail accounts by scanning a QR code.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
- QQ Mail
- Tencent Exmail
Foxmail is made by Tencent.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
88/122
Other email apps it is graded above
Foxmail's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 97 of 122) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Foxmail has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Foxmail’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 88 of 122
- AFree plan and trialAbove 97 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 122
- CEase of useAbove 20 of 122
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Foxmail 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
Foxmail 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 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade.
What you could make
- Calendar and notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Foxmail’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, eM Client, Mailbird and Microsoft Outlook
The 4 tools Foxmail 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 Linux and Android apps.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
- Foxmail also covers notes.
- 2.6GPA
eM Client
Free plan · from $49.95/yr
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with calendar and chat.
- Only eM Client lists iOS and Android apps.
- eM Client can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- eM Client also covers tasks.
- 2.2GPA
Mailbird
Free plan · from $34.49/yr
Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox.
- Mailbird can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Foxmail also covers notes and calendar.
- 3.6GPA
Microsoft Outlook
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Microsoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web.
- Only Microsoft Outlook lists a web app.
- Only Microsoft Outlook lists iOS and Android apps.
- Foxmail also covers notes.
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 Foxmail free?
Yes. Foxmail is free to use.
How much does Foxmail cost?
Foxmail lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Foxmail work on?
Foxmail is available on Windows and macOS.
Does Foxmail have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Foxmail is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Foxmail have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Foxmail is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Foxmail open source?
Foxmail is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Foxmail integrate with?
Foxmail's listing names QQ Mail and Tencent Exmail. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Foxmail?
Foxmail is made by Tencent.
What are the alternatives to Foxmail?
The closest alternatives to Foxmail in our directory are Thunderbird, eM Client, Mailbird and Microsoft Outlook.
How does Foxmail compare with other email apps?
Foxmail's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 11.
Is Foxmail good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Foxmail A for value for money. Foxmail has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Foxmail?
Foxmail 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 Foxmail’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Foxmail's own pages on 13 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 Tencent. Prices change, so check foxmail.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Foxmail, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/foxmail
- 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, "Foxmail: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/foxmail
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See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Foxmail, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 126 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- AOL Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with news and weather in a companion mobile app3.2 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 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 Foxmail’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. Foxmail is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Tencent. Prices and plans change: check foxmail.com before you buy.