Best Email Clients in 2026
Updated
In short: Mozilla Thunderbird is ranked #1 of 143 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Zoho Mail and Spark Mail. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Zoho Mail. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Zoho Mail at $0.08/mo.
Email clients can shape how you handle multiple accounts, messages, and related tasks such as calendar use. Compared on account limits, app coverage, calendar tools, and unified inbox support, these entries also include details on offline access and scheduled sending. Consider which arrangement suits your routine: one combined inbox or separate account views, access when offline, or sending messages at a chosen time. Mozilla Thunderbird, Zoho Mail, and Spark Mail are among the clients shown. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide additional points to compare, while app coverage can help you check compatibility with the devices you use.
143 email clients ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
24 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 1 has open-source code on record, and 1 has full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mozilla ThunderbirdWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Full bars | 4 of 6 | Free | 9.6 | ||
| 2 | Zoho MailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $0.08/mo | 8.4 | |
| 3 | Spark MailWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $8.25/mo | 8.2 | |
| 4 | eM ClientWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $3.33/mo | 8.2 | |
| 5 | SpikeWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $4/mo | 8.1 | |
| 6 | Mailbutler Smart AssistantWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $7/mo | 8.1 | |
| 7 | MailspringWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 8 | Newton MailWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $5/mo | 8.0 | |
| 9 | Canary MailWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $3/mo | 8.0 | |
| 10 | Epistles MailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $2.92/mo | 8.0 | |
| 11 | AirmailMac · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 7.7 | |
| 12 | VeloWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.6 | |
| 13 | DoveWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $20/mo | 7.6 | |
| 14 | SaymailWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | €3.25/mo | 7.6 | |
| 15 | EmailOpsWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 16 | TwobirdWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 17 | MailMateMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $10/mo | 7.3 | |
| 18 | MailbirdWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $5.75/mo | 7.3 | |
| 19 | Ferry EmailWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 20 | InkMailWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.1 | |
| 21 | Metis MailWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $12/mo | 7.1 | |
| 22 | BlueMailWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 7.0 |
| 23 | MailFlowWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $500/mo | 7.0 | |
| 24 | EpicMailWeb · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $0.99/mo | 7.0 | |
| 25 | POP PeeperWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.9 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which email client is ranked first on Freedom251?
Mozilla Thunderbird is ranked #1 of 143 with a score of 9.6. Zoho Mail is second and Spark Mail third.
How many of these have a free plan?
24 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Zoho Mail has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.