The Best Thunderbird AlternativesTop Email Clients & Calendar Apps like Thunderbird

Thunderbird is described as 'Free, open source, cross-platform e-mail, news and instant messaging client. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox' and is a leading Email Client in the office & productivity category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Thunderbird for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone apps. The best Thunderbird alternative is K-9 Mail, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Thunderbird are Claws Mail, Evolution, SeaMonkey and Geary.

filter to find the best alternatives

Thunderbird alternatives are mainly Email Clients but may also be Calendar Apps or RSS Readers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Thunderbird.
Thunderbird iconThunderbird
  2408
  • ...

Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail, news and instant messaging client. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox.

More about Thunderbird
Thunderbird alternatives page was last updated Nov 4, 2024
    Mailbird icon
    Mailbird icon

    Mailbird

    Sponsored

    Streamline your email experience by managing multiple accounts, integrating apps like Slack and Google Calendar, and using AI-driven features like drafting and spam prevention. Customize your workspace with themes, notifications, and tools for improved productivity and a modern interface.

    66 Mailbird alternatives
    Mailbird screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
  1. K-9 Mail icon
     345 likes

    K-9 is an open source email client for Android with multi-folder sync, email signatures, Bcc-to-self, return-address configuration, keyboard shortcuts, Exchange Support, message flagging, IMAP deletes, saving attachments, configurable notifications and more.

    44 K-9 Mail alternatives
    K-9 Mail screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Configurable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  IMAP Support
    3.  Multiple Account support
    4.  POP3 Support
    5.  One view multiple accounts
    6.  PGP Encryption
    7.  Unified inbox
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10.  Contacts
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Dark Mode
    K-9 Mail iconThunderbird Icon

    K-9 Mail VS Thunderbird

    Is K-9 Mail a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about K-9 Mail as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Comment summary: K-9 Mail serves as a strong alternative to Thunderbird for Android devices, praised for its OpenKeyChain integration and PGP encryption. It is valued for being open source and user-friendly with options for both POP3 and IMAP. However, criticism centers around its exclusivity to Android, which limits its capability to fully replace desktop-focused Thunderbird for some users.
    kiminariyamamoto

    Keeps the style of working with email as it should be, like we are used to from proper desktop Mail clients. It's unlike modern fancy clients with couple of buttons without even providing an option to view headers.

    Top positive commentMar 25, 2018
    7
    ByteRanger

    K-9 Mail is not for desktop operating systems, only Android. So you can't replace Thunderbird unless you are also replacing your desktop with a mobile device.

    Top negative commentJul 25, 2023
    2
    sbeiermann

    not understanding the negative comments or why most of the positive comments are being heavily downvoted. i came here looking for something that works like thunderbird but for my android phone. i found it, but i guess i'm using the website wrong.

    Positive commentApr 24, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 20 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    K-9 Mail icon
    • Most users think K-9 Mail is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • K-9 Mail is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Thunderbird.

    • K-9 Mail is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Thunderbird.

    • K-9 Mail is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
    • K-9 Mail is Privacy focused and LightweightThunderbird is not according to our users
  2. Claws Mail icon
     100 likes

    Claws Mail is an email client (and news reader), based on GTK+, featuring

    Quick response Graceful, and sophisticated interface Easy configuration, intuitive operation Abundant features Extensibility Robustness and stability.

    79 Claws Mail alternatives
    The main window

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Multiple Account support
    3.  IMAP Support
    4.  Spam Filter
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Portable
    9.  Calendar Integration
    10.  GPG Encryption
    11.  Import/Export OPML Feeds
    12.  Built-in RSS reader
    Claws Mail iconThunderbird Icon

    Claws Mail VS Thunderbird

    Is Claws Mail a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about Claws Mail as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Jonathan DUMONT

    Despite the style, Claws is super fast and allow you to programs it with Perl and Python which is great for marketing automation.

    Top positive commentAug 1, 2019
    9
    Guest

    No HTML compose is the only reason I don't switch to it. We're not in 1980 anymore.

    Top negative commentSep 28, 2018
    18
    SViN

    I think most people are using gmail accounts or outlook accounts to access their emails. Claws supports Oauth2 to access said accounts but the implementation, is a complete PAIN.

    I can only realistically recommend something like this if your email provider is not forcing Oauth2.

    I would like for the devs to get to work into making the experience of setting up an account with oauth as painless as thunderbird.

    CommentSep 20, 2023
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    Claws Mail icon
    • Most users think Claws Mail is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • Claws Mail is the most popular Windows & Linux alternative to Thunderbird.

    • Claws Mail is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
    • Claws Mail is Lightweight and Privacy focusedThunderbird is not according to our users
  3. Evolution icon
     201 likes

    Evolution is a personal information management application that provides integrated mail, calendaring, address book and task list functionality.

    77 Evolution alternatives
    Mail

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • S/MIME
    • GNOME
    • OpenPGP

    Top Evolution Features

    1.  Calendar Integration
    2.  Contacts
    3.  CalDAV Support
    4.  Calendar View
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Spam Filter
    7.  Multiple Account support
    8. Google Calendar icon  Sync with Google Calendar
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  GPG Encryption
    Evolution iconThunderbird Icon

    Evolution VS Thunderbird

    Is Evolution a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about Evolution as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Michel Th.

    I use both Thunderbird and Evolution, sometimes Claws-Mail. Evolution is the only one that can show the real "received" date in scams I have been receiving for months. In a today's scam Evolution shows "sent date" (falsified) 14-12-2019 and "received date" 30-01-2023 (evidently true). Thunderbird and Claws-Mail show 14-12-2019 in both columns.

    Top positive commentJan 30, 2023
    1
    Matthew Bulfinch

    As someone who is forced to use M365 at work (but ditching it at home, I let my subscription lapse) this is the closest visually to Outlook. That's important to me. The workflow is essentially identical.

    Positive commentOct 16, 2024
    0
    Syntevo GmbH

    Unfortunately, only available on Linux, not on Windows, not on MacOS. Otherwise promising.

    CommentNov 18, 2022
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    Evolution icon
    • Most users think Evolution is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • Evolution is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
  4. SeaMonkey icon
     233 likes

    Web-browser, advanced e-mail, newsgroup and feed client, IRC chat, and HTML editing in one application. Itis built on the open source Mozilla Gecko engine, the same code which underlies Thunderbird and is the base for the Firefox browser.

    247 SeaMonkey alternatives
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Integrated Email Client
    2.  Built-in RSS reader
    3.  Add-ons
    4.  Built-in Download Manager
    5.  WYSIWYG Support
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Portable
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Support for Firefox extensions
    10.  Modular System
    SeaMonkey iconThunderbird Icon

    SeaMonkey VS Thunderbird

    Is SeaMonkey a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about SeaMonkey as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Guest

    SeaMonkey is both a WEB BROWSER and EMAIL CLIENT. It's the successor of Mozilla Application Suite or Netscape Communicator, resp. Further it includes also a news client program, an HTML editor (SeaMonkey Composer) and an IRC client (ChatZilla).

    Positive commentNov 16, 2017
    21
    apostolfaliagas

    It has all of Thunderbird's features and many more.

    Positive commentFeb 19, 2018
    15
    Guest

    Unfortunately doesn't support synchronization with CardDAV address books.

    Negative commentMar 28, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    SeaMonkey icon
    • Some users think SeaMonkey is a great Thunderbird alternative, some don't.

    • SeaMonkey is the most popular Mac alternative to Thunderbird.

    • SeaMonkey is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
    • SeaMonkey is Lightweight and Privacy focusedThunderbird is not according to our users
  5. Geary icon
     105 likes

    Geary is an email application built around conversations, for the GNOME 3 desktop.

    49 Geary alternatives
    Main window

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Multiple Account support
    2.  Conversational email approach
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  IMAP Support
    5.  Ad-free
    6. Gmail icon  Gmail integration
    7.  Email Organizer
    8.  Spam Filter
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Labels for content
    11.  SMTP Support
    12.  Multiple languages
    Geary iconThunderbird Icon

    Geary VS Thunderbird

    Is Geary a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about Geary as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Kelson V

    Geary is a lot lighter than Thunderbird, so it's a good choice on lower-end hardware. IMAP features are basic, but 90% of what most people will need. It relies on GNOME for contacts, but the mail app itself can run on any Linux desktop.

    Positive commentNov 28, 2023
    0
    Guest

    Doesn't have an address book

    Negative commentApr 23, 2017
    1
    Guest

    Only IMAP. No support for local folders.

    Negative commentSep 28, 2018
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    Geary icon
    • Most users think Geary is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • Geary is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
    • Geary is Lightweight and Privacy focusedThunderbird is not according to our users
  6. Betterbird icon
     39 likes

    Betterbird is a drop-in replacement for Mozilla Thunderbird. Betterbird has more features and more fixed bugs than Thunderbird.

    28 Betterbird alternatives
    Calendar view with custom thundirbird dark theme

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Chocolatey

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Multiple Account support
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Unified inbox
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Portable
    7.  PGP Encryption
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Spam Filter
    10.  Calendar Integration
    11.  Specific for 64-Bit
    12.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    Betterbird iconThunderbird Icon

    Betterbird VS Thunderbird

    Is Betterbird a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about Betterbird as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    Sam Lander

    Betterbird does everything that Thunderbird does (it's a soft fork), while improving bugs and features.

    Because it's a soft fork, it retains the security implementations of Thunderbird.

    Thunderbird actually implements many of the bug fixes created by Betterbird, but at a much slower pace.

    Positive commentMay 31, 2023
    2
    HOT EARTH

    Its Thunderbird, just Better. No Import needed, as it uses the same profile Folder!

    Positive commentSep 5, 2022
    4
    Guest

    It has many fixes for long existing bugs

    Positive commentJun 20, 2024
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    Betterbird icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Betterbird is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • Betterbird is Free and Open SourceThunderbird is also Free and Open Source
    • Betterbird is Privacy focused and LightweightThunderbird is not according to our users
  7. Mailspring icon
     105 likes

    Boost your productivity and send better email with Mailspring, a beautiful, fast email client for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Mailspring is free to use and an optional pro version adds read receipts, send later, reminders and more.

    42 Mailspring alternatives
    Clean design with integrated search and swipe gestures

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Unified inbox
    2.  Multiple Account support
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Email tracking
    5.  Snooze Mail
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Theme Customization
    8.  Built-in translation
    9.  Email Organizer
    10.  Built-in themes
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Auto Update
    Mailspring iconThunderbird Icon

    Mailspring VS Thunderbird

    Is Mailspring a good alternative to Thunderbird?
     
    Comments about Mailspring as an Alternative to Thunderbird
     
       
    3psilon

    Great alternative, especially for casual users. Simple, streamlined UI, feels fresh.

    Top positive commentMay 2, 2018
    1
    Guest

    Need to create an account on a third-party company to access your email.

    Top negative commentSep 28, 2018
    59
    Matt Schaefer

    Unable to even find an address book or ability to import a csv file from previous mail client. You lose me when things are made so "modern-clean" that I have to consult a manual or Google things.

    Negative commentJul 15, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Thunderbird Icon
    Mailspring icon
    • Most users think Mailspring is a great Thunderbird alternative.

    • Mailspring is Freemium and Open SourceThunderbird is Free and Open Source
    • Mailspring is CustomizableThunderbird is not according to our users
8 of 89 Thunderbird alternatives