Best email apps for Mac
Apple Mail is free and built in. The alternatives here add faster triage, snoozing, shared drafts and AI replies.
Quick answer Microsoft Outlook is the top pick, followed by Mail and Spark Mail.
Top pick
Microsoft Outlook by Microsoft
Microsoft's email and calendar app; free with ads, ad-free with a Microsoft 365 plan.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $1.67/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Web
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
- Shared inbox
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $1.67/user/moTry Microsoft Outlook free
Mail by Apple
Built into macOS, iOS and iPadOS: Apple's mail app, with Apple Intelligence summaries.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free
- Works on
- Mac, iPhone
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry Mail free
Spark Mail by Readdle
Email client by Readdle with a smart inbox, AI assistant and shared team inboxes.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $8.25/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
- Shared inbox
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $8.25/user/moTry Spark Mail free
Mimestream by Mimestream
Native macOS email client for Gmail, built on the Gmail API.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- From $4.17/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac
- Accounts
- Gmail
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $4.17/user/moTry Mimestream free
Airmail by Bloop
Customizable email client for iPhone, iPad and Mac that supports most account types.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $3.33/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, iPhone
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $3.33/user/moTry Airmail free
Superhuman Mail by Superhuman
Keyboard-driven email app with AI drafting and team sharing for Gmail and Outlook.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- From $25/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Web, Chrome extension
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook
- AI features
- Yes
- Shared inbox
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $25/user/moGet Superhuman Mail
Canary Mail by Cartasec
Email app with an AI Copilot, read receipts, PGP encryption and shared inboxes.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $3/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
- Shared inbox
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $3/user/moTry Canary Mail free
Thunderbird by MZLA Technologies (Mozilla)
Free, open-source desktop email client funded by donations, now also on Android.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Linux, Android
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, Any IMAP
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry Thunderbird free
Gmail by Google
Google's email service on web and mobile, with Gemini drafting and thread summaries.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo
- Works on
- iPhone, Android, Web
- Accounts
- Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP
- AI features
- Yes
- Shared inbox
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $7/user/moTry Gmail free
Proton Mail by Proton AG
End-to-end encrypted email from Switzerland-based Proton, with a free plan.
- Works on Mac
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $3.99/user/mo
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, Web
- AI features
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $3.99/user/moTry Proton Mail free
Compare the top picks
| App | Price | Works on | Accounts | AI features | Shared inbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Outlook | Free plan · paid from $1.67/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Web | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Free | Mac, iPhone | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | – | |
| Spark Mail | Free plan · paid from $8.25/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Mimestream | From $4.17/user/mo | Mac | Gmail | – | – |
| Airmail | Free plan · paid from $3.33/user/mo | Mac, iPhone | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | – |
| Superhuman Mail | From $25/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Web, Chrome extension | Gmail, Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| Canary Mail | Free plan · paid from $3/user/mo | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Thunderbird | Free | Mac, Windows, Linux, Android | Gmail, Outlook, Any IMAP | – | – |
| Gmail | Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo | iPhone, Android, Web | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Any IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Proton Mail | Free plan · paid from $3.99/user/mo | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, Web | – | Yes | – |
How we picked
We compared 15 email apps and kept the 15 that fit this guide. We don't test apps ourselves: features and prices come from each app's own site, and the order follows what independent reviewers recommend. No app pays to be listed or placed higher, and whether an app pays us a commission never changes its place.
Questions
How are these apps ranked?
Apps that independent "best of" roundups recommend come first, the most often recommended at the top; the rest follow with the best-known first. Every app listed meets this guide's needs.
Are these links sponsored?
Links to apps whose affiliate programs have approved Build Your Toolkit are affiliate links, marked as such, so we may earn a commission if you sign up for a paid plan. It doesn't change what you pay, and no app pays to be listed or placed higher.
Where do the prices come from?
From each app's own pricing page, on the date shown next to the price. Prices for email apps change often, so check the vendor's page before you buy.