Side by side
Balsa vs Hiri
Both stand on email clients. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Linux
Balsa provides broad mailbox support, desktop email functions and message encryption without a listed charge. Its address-book limits and credential-storage differences depend on build configuration.
Visit Balsa Free trial LinuxMacWindows
Hiri combines Microsoft-focused email with tasks, calendars, contacts, delegation, and offline work. Confirm that your mail provider is supported and compare the annual or lifetime licensing terms before purchasing.
Visit HiriThe facts
| Balsa | Hiri | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Annual: $39 a year |
| Plans published | None | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Hiri |
| Website | gitlab.gnome.org | hiri.com |
| On email clients | #115 of 142 | #119 of 142 |
Balsa: what it does well
- Free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later
- Supports IMAP, POP3 and several local formats
- OpenPGP and S/MIME message protection
- TLS preferred over STARTTLS
- Can register as the system mailto handler
What to know first
- Linux desktop application only
- CardDAV support is limited
- Without libsecret, credential storage is not recommended
- Read-only LDAP address books
Hiri: what it does well
- Offline email, drafts, and message actions
- Shared calendars and Scheduling Assistant
- Active Directory Global Address List
- Seven-day trial without a credit card
- Install on multiple devices
What to know first
- Gmail and Yahoo are unsupported
- No free plan
- Purchase required after seven-day trial
- Annual licence is charged per person