The 10 Best Email Clients in 2022

Microsoft Outlook is the standard of email clients by which all others are measured. It has been around since 1997 and is still the go-to by most businesses today for good reason. Right off the bat, Outlook’s calendar feature allows you to keep track of important events and tasks that need to be done. You can of course schedule appointments and meetings with it as well.

As for email management, it gives you the ability to categorize emails according to your labels and easy to follow color coding. It also allows you to create and rename folders that will help you organize emails better. Pair this with its effective filter system and you can easily locate any email or file. You can even set keyboard shortcuts for your most-used functions to make things smoother. In addition to this, Outlook also comes with a slew of complimentary applications courtesy of Microsoft 365. 

Pros:

• Includes a lot of features
• Integrated calendar and contacts functions
• Customizable user interface and shortcuts
• Web-based and installed versions
• Secure and Reliable

Cons:

• Not the most intuitive email client with its cluttered user interface (Windows)
• HTML email signatures have formatting issues (Windows and Mac)
• Most expensive email client (the annual commitment clause turns monthly subscriptions into yearly ones and also charges per user)

If Outlook is the first among email clients, then Mailbird is a close second (though only available for Windows). Although it may lack its own integrations, it more than makes up for it through multiple third-party app integrations which include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Dropbox, Google Calendar and so much more. It also has one very important feature that few others have: multi-language support. 

Mailbird said it best “We currently support 17 beautiful languages from all over the world.” But the most intriguing feature that this email program has is the ability to customize its user interface. It may not seem like much but it just screams “user-centric” and who does not want that? Being a user-focused email client makes it great for just about anyone.

The best part? Our email signature generator works flawlessly with Mailbird which is a huge bonus!

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive
• Various third-party app integrations (though limited for Mailbird Personal)
• Customizable and user-friendly interface
• Has a “Pay Once” option (Mailbird Personal)
• Live chat support through Skype (Mailbird Business)

Cons:

• Utilization of some third-party apps may make it look unprofessional
• Support prioritizes Mailbird Business over Personal
• No version for Mac (yet)

If you’re looking for an email app that is not overly complicated or cluttered but reliable then eM Client might be a perfect fit for you. It has its own calendar and task management feature which helps keep track of events and tasks. Its integrated chat allows easy communication and conversations. Contacts have personalized avatars to help easily recognize senders/recipients. You can also take down important points or ideas through its notes feature. It can even translate incoming and outgoing messages from 39 languages.

Pair these with a simple yet familiar and customizable user interface as well an automatic back-up tool, and you have yourself an email client all contained in a well-designed package. What’s more, it has a FREE (albeit extremely feature-limited) version and you can get the premium version for a one-time payment. Amazing! 

Pros:

• Compatible with all commonly-used email services
• Integrated features for easy access
• Ability to translate incoming and outgoing messages
• One-time payment for the premium version

Cons:

• The back-up feature can sometimes be disruptive (especially when starting up)
• Junk filter needs work (as even regular emails end up as “junk”)
• No version for mobile devices (both Android and iOS)

Spike is an email client that focuses on efficiency and convenience, and they certainly are right on the mark. Spike allows you to do almost anything you need without ever leaving your inbox; no tabs, no switching apps, none of that. This is further reinforced by having all of its functions integrated into a single application making it very easy and hassle-free. You can chat (individual/group), take calls, create docs/notes that you can share, use the built-in calendar for schedules and meetings, and task management for better workflow.

You can also change how your inbox presents emails: People mode which is by contacts, Inbox mode similar to traditional email clients, and Subject mode which is sorted by subject line. Probably the most unique feature of Spike is that it does away with repetitive elements and presents email messages like conversations. If you are looking for a less formal yet effective email client that works with most email services, then Spike is a good choice. 

Pros:

• Very inbox centric (no tab or app switching)
• Integrated app-like features
• Conversational email format (easier to follow)
• Has a fully functional FREE version

Cons:

• May look unprofessional due to conversational email style
• Business domains are not free (but do get a free trial)
• The non-conventional design may take some time getting used to

Are you looking for an email client that does away with all those bells and whistles but instead focuses on delivering an easy and reliable service? Then Thunderbird will fit the bill! Although it does not have as many built-in features as other email clients, it focuses more on THE core functionality of any email client: email management. With its quick filter toolbar and indexing function, you can search your emails using words or by timeline.

Its tabbed email feature allows switching between emails with ease. It also has Smart Folders which combines your Inbox or Sent folders and eliminates the need to access each of those in different accounts. However, one of its most unique features is its selection of add-ons which allows it to be customized to meet any user’s needs without the clutter that other email clients have. Along with its simple design (reminisce of earlier email clients) you have an email client that new and old users will like. 

Pros:

• Simple and clutter-free
• Add-ons allow it to be tailored to a user’s needs
• Easy account set up
• Absolutely FREE

Cons:

• Design feels dated
• Third-party add-ons present security concerns
• Very limited functionality (without add-ons)

Zimbra is one of the well-known, if not the best-known, open-source email apps available today. With a slew of its own applications and features that may very well rival even the best email clients, Zimbra offers a very effective yet user-friendly way of managing emails and much more. Pair this with its streamlined, intuitive design and you have yourself one of the very few self-contained email clients that you can possibly get.

The great thing about Zimbra is that it’s open-source, meaning that anyone can write code for it to make the application even better. On top of all this, it’s completely free to use. What’s not to like about Zimbra?

Pros:

• Free to use
• All the common features of paid email clients
• Calendar, Tasks and more collaboration features
• Offers its own full suite of mail server software

Cons:

• No Microsoft Exchange support on the free version

Have you ever wondered what an email client and helpdesk tool would be like if they were combined into one package? Front will give you more than just an answer, it will give you the best mix of both worlds. Front is an email client that focuses heavily on collaboration to make managing workflow between users much easier and quicker. Starting with the shared inbox feature which is exactly what it sounds; missing an important email is no longer an issue if everyone can access it.

Another feature unique to Front is it allows its users to comment on an email similar to social media. So instead of forwarding emails, a user can just leave a quick comment for everyone to see. It also offers over 50 integrated apps to help cover every user’s needs. With all that said, Front is definitely your go-to when it comes to a more team-centric email client. 

Pros:

• Combines both email client and helpdesk into one
• Shared inbox helps ensure that no emails are missed
• Comments feature as an alternative to forwarding emails
• Integrated apps

Cons:

• Shared inbox can cause privacy issues
• Search and filter system still need work
• The user interface can be confusing due to its hybrid nature

Are you sick and tired of managing unsorted emails and dealing with a cluttered inbox? Let Hiri take care of those so you can focus on more important tasks. “The email client that helps you Conquer your inbox” as stated by Hiri and for good reason. Instead of constantly checking your inbox for emails, Hiri’s dashboard feature shows you exactly how many unread emails you have and how many among them need immediate attention. It also allows you to separate emails between those that require action and those that are simply FYIs. All of these can be easily controlled with a click of a button; no need to dig through your settings.

In addition to this, Hiri is compatible with Active Directory that most others lack. It even allows you to sync with Office365 and Exchange calendars. With its focus on Zero Inbox (or keeping the inbox almost empty), it promises its users more time to focus on other important tasks and less time going through emails.  

Pros:

• Less time weeding out emails
• Easier email management through its Dashboard
• Action/FYI segregation and task list features
• Choose between yearly, one-time purchase, or its FREE version

Cons:

• Expensive compared to other options
• Heavily optimized for Microsoft users (less optimized for others)
• Lack of development in recent years

Ever wished that your email client had a feature that would make your email experience way better? Well, Postbox is going to make all of your wishes come true. It starts off by presenting you with a clean and simple user interface which is great for those tired of all the clutter. Next, it will present you with a wide array of features that will most likely put any other email client to shame. These include its “Quick” features which allow you to perform tasks that would normally take minutes, in just seconds, such as copying, replying, posting, etc. 

Its email management features are also impressive like tabs that allow you to switch between emails without needing to scroll all over the place. It also has “70 professionally written email responses” that are customizable to suit what you need. It even has an HTML editor which is very unique and certainly a welcome addition. One particular feature, Domain Fencing, prevents you from accidentally sending emails using the wrong account which is a life-saver. Simply put, Postbox is a simple yet powerful email client that any heavy-email user will appreciate. 

Pros:

• Clean, simple and intuitive user interface
• Can easily dominate the “Features” category of email clients
• Features make handling emails quick and efficient
• Offers a FREE trial, 1-year license, or lifetime license

Cons:

• Full utilization is a must to justify the price tag
• Technical support fee per request
• Casual users can achieve the same results with other cheaper or even FREE options

Looking for a hassle-free way of managing emails and communicating with your team without having to forward/send emails or switch to a messaging app? If so, Loop has a great solution for you. Loop utilizes a Shared Inbox feature which allows better handling of emails while making sure that no email is left unanswered. Emails can also be sorted per user or per team depending on what you need. This ensures that each member of the team knows when an email is addressed to them or not.

The main highlight of Loop is its side chat feature or loops. These loops provide teams with a quick and easy way of discussing any given email without involving any of their clients. No more forwarding emails or using messaging apps, just communicating the easy way without ever leaving your inbox. These loops also allow you to share emails to individuals or groups with just a few clicks. Top this off with Loops’ simple and intuitive user interface and you have yourself an easy-to-pick-up email program that your team would love. “Try Loop – a new perspective on email.” 

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive user interface
• Share Inbox and email assigning
• Quicker communication and sharing within teams using side chat feature
• Offers a fully functional FREE version (up to 10 members with up to 3 Shared Inboxes)

Cons:

• No web-based version
• Unable to create calendar meetings on its own
• Heavy focus on Outlook and Gmail

Conclusion

Over the last decade, many new email clients have given the good old faithful (Outlook) a run for its money – in terms of features and cost. Even though Outlook is the most popular email client for business use, that doesn’t mean it’s the only one out there.

There are quite a few email clients on this list that are worth considering. Some have so many features that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. Since most of them have a free trial, don’t be afraid to make the switch and test them out before implementing them for the rest of your team.