The MailMate Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MailMate 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.
MailMate
The Insider’s Guide
Keyboard-driven IMAP email client for macOS with Markdown composing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from MailMate’s own pages.
Made by Freron Software · checked Oct 6, 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 MailMate’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MailMate’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 2 of the 51 other email apps we grade
MailMate is an IMAP email client for macOS made by Freron Software in Copenhagen. Emails are written in a plain text editor with optional Markdown, and the app is built around keyboard control, detailed search conditions, smart mailboxes and tagging, with OpenPGP and S/MIME for encryption and signing. A license key comes from a $10 subscription billed every 3 months, and the app keeps working in a Free Mode if the subscription is cancelled.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MailMate, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for keyboard-and-Markdown email on a Mac
MailMate is a Mac email app for people who'd rather type than click: you write in plain text with Markdown, drive everything from the keyboard, and build mailboxes out of conditions on any header.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
- 3
You can try it first
Trial Mode: every feature, currently for 14 days of active use
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Markdown composing
Emails are written in a plain text editor. Optional Markdown is converted to HTML for lists, tables, code segments and inline images, with a preview of what recipients will see.
- 6
Keyboard control
The app is designed to be driven from the keyboard, with shortcuts for searching, moving messages to a mailbox and tagging, and support for custom key bindings.
- 7
Smart mailboxes and search
Smart mailboxes are built from conditions on any message header, with nested All/Any rules, and any search can be saved as one. Clicking a name or subject runs a related search.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 2 of 51
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace MailMate you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
MailMate at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Trial Mode: every feature, currently for 14 days of active use
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Freron Software, since 2010
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for keyboard-and-Markdown email on a Mac
MailMate is a Mac email app for people who'd rather type than click: you write in plain text with Markdown, drive everything from the keyboard, and build mailboxes out of conditions on any header. It's $10 every 3 months, with a Free Mode after you cancel for non-business use. It's macOS and IMAP only, the recommended download is a beta, the last public release is over 4 years old, and support replies aren't guaranteed.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $10 every 3 months, about $3.33 a month plus any VAT, which is inside the lowest-priced quarter of this category and includes every feature. Cancel and it drops to Free Mode with the features intact for non-business use. Businesses are required to keep paying. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan to start on. Trial Mode gives you every feature, currently for 14 days of active use, and then you need a license key. Free Mode only arrives after a subscription ends, and it labels your outgoing mail "MailMate Free Mode" in its headers. |
| Features | C | Markdown composing with a preview, custom key bindings, saved mailboxes built from conditions on any header, OpenPGP and S/MIME, and bundles for other apps. The listing's gaps: IMAP accounts only, a plain-text composer, and a last public release more than 4 years old. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and this one asks you to learn its ways: formatting comes from Markdown rather than buttons, the app expects to be driven from the keyboard, and the download it recommends is a 2.0 beta. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system. macOS only, connecting to mail over IMAP, with no phone, Windows or web version at all. Bundles hook it up to task managers, calendar apps and text editors, and it works with BusyContacts and HoudahSpot. That's the lot. |
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 MailMate is for
- Fits if you'd rather write email in plain text or Markdown than use a formatting toolbar
- Works for people who run their whole inbox from the keyboard and saved searches
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want the same app on your phone or a Windows PC, as it runs on macOS only
- Not for you if you like formatting buttons, because the composer is plain text and Markdown only
- Too light for a business that needs support on call, as the subscription doesn't guarantee a reply
- Watch out: the recommended download is a 2.0 beta, and the last public release is more than 4 years old
- Tight if your mail isn't on IMAP, as IMAP accounts are the only kind it connects
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who prefer writing email in plain text or Markdown
- People who want to run their inbox from the keyboard
- Building detailed smart mailboxes and saved searches
Worth knowing
- It runs on macOS only and connects to email through IMAP accounts.
- The composer is plain text only: formatting comes from Markdown rather than from toolbar buttons.
- The recommended download is a 2.0 beta that needs macOS 10.12 or later; the last public release is more than 4 years old.
- Businesses are required to stay in Paid Mode, and the subscription does not guarantee a reply to support emails.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start
MailMate is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $10 every 3 months (local-currency equivalent plus any VAT).
Cancel and it drops to Free Mode with the features intact for non-business use.
Paid Mode
$10
every 3 months, plus any VAT
The MailMate Development subscription issues the license key and pays for ongoing development. All features are included, and business use requires it.
Free Mode
$0
After a subscription ends, all features keep working for non-business use, and outgoing mail is labelled "MailMate Free Mode" in its headers.
Trying it first
Trial Mode: every feature, currently for 14 days of active use
Read from freron.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Nonprofit
Non-profit use can stay in Free Mode
The pricing page says non-profit use does not require Paid Mode, so the subscription can be cancelled and MailMate keeps all of its features in Free Mode.
Stated on freron.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Keyboard-driven IMAP email client for macOS with Markdown composing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: keyboard-first, Markdown, email client.
macOS only, connecting to mail over IMAP, with no phone, Windows or web version at all.
- Markdown composing
- Emails are written in a plain text editor. Optional Markdown is converted to HTML for lists, tables, code segments and inline images, with a preview of what recipients will see.
- Keyboard control
- The app is designed to be driven from the keyboard, with shortcuts for searching, moving messages to a mailbox and tagging, and support for custom key bindings.
- Smart mailboxes and search
- Smart mailboxes are built from conditions on any message header, with nested All/Any rules, and any search can be saved as one. Clicking a name or subject runs a related search.
- OpenPGP and S/MIME
- Messages can be encrypted and signed with either OpenPGP or S/MIME from within the client.
- Bundles for other apps
- Bundles connect MailMate to third-party task managers, calendar managers and external text editors. They are fetched and updated separately from the app itself.
- Alternative layouts
- Besides the standard view there is a widescreen layout, a Correspondence layout showing related messages, a Statistics layout that counts header values, and Thread Arcs.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- BusyContacts
- HoudahSpot
MailMate is made by Freron Software, and has been around since 2010.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/51
Other email apps it is graded above
MailMate's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 2 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 29 of 51) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 12 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. 16 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 52 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. MailMate’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 29 of 51
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 51
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 51
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 51
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 51
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 50 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. MailMate 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
To replace MailMate you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 43 of the 51 other email apps grade higher. It costs $40 a year.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. MailMate’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
Apple Mail, Mimestream, Airmail, Thunderbird and Mailspring
The 5 tools MailMate is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Apple Mail
Free plan · from $0.99/mo
Free built-in email app for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Apple Mail has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Apple Mail lists a web app.
- Only Apple Mail lists an iOS app.
- 2.0GPA
Mimestream
Free trial · from $49.99/yr
Native Mac email client built on the Gmail API.
- Mimestream also covers templates.
- 2.2GPA
Airmail
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Customizable email client for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Airmail has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Airmail lists an iOS app.
- Airmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Thunderbird has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Thunderbird is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Mailspring
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Mailspring has a free plan. MailMate does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Mailspring lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Mailspring 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
13
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 MailMate free?
No, MailMate is a paid product, but you can try it first. Trial Mode: every feature, currently for 14 days of active use.
How much does MailMate cost?
MailMate lists 2 plans. Paid Mode: $10 every 3 months, plus any VAT.
What platforms does MailMate work on?
MailMate is available on macOS.
Does MailMate offer any discounts?
MailMate publicly lists the following: Non-profit use can stay in Free Mode.
Does MailMate have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. MailMate is listed for macOS.
Does MailMate have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. MailMate is listed for macOS.
Is MailMate open source?
MailMate is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does MailMate integrate with?
MailMate's listing names BusyContacts and HoudahSpot. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes MailMate?
MailMate is made by Freron Software. It dates from 2010.
What are the alternatives to MailMate?
The closest alternatives to MailMate in our directory are Apple Mail, Mimestream, Airmail, Thunderbird and Mailspring.
How does MailMate compare with other email apps?
MailMate's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 2 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 6.
Is MailMate good value for money?
ToolGPA grades MailMate B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 12 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of MailMate?
To replace MailMate you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MailMate’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MailMate's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-03.
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 Freron Software. Prices change, so check freron.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- MailMate, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mailmate
- 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, "MailMate: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mailmate
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mailmate/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after MailMate, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 52 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
- Thunderbird Insider's GuideFree, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android3.2 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 MailMate’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. MailMate is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Freron Software. Prices and plans change: check freron.com before you buy.