Best Free Email Client for 2025

What Is an Email Client and Why Should I Use One?

Email management can often feel like a never-ending task, especially if you’re sifting through hundreds of messages each day. Most people rely on the free email clients that come with their devices. Now, while these free email programs are pretty proficient with the basics of email management, they might not have all the tools you need to maximize your email experience.

Further down in this article, we’ll be talking more about the features of Clean Email and how you can use it to support your productivity best. For now, check out this video on cleaning up your inbox with Clean Email to see how it can transform your email experience:

Key Decision-Making Factors for Choosing an Email Client

With dozens of email clients free for use online, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for you. We’ve narrowed them down to the top 13 email clients, analyzing each one using a list of essential criteria. These are the key considerations that went into determining the best free email client:

After evaluating numerous options, we recommend the following as the best free email clients:

1. Apple Mail: Apple’s default mail system that seamlessly integrates with all Apple services and tools.
2. Thunderbird: a fully free open-source email client with strong privacy and security features.
3. Clean Email: robust email management tool that seamlessly integrates into email.
4. ProtonMail: best for privacy-conscious users with its encrypted email services.
5. Zoho Mail: freemium email client that’s a favorite among SMEs because of its productivity suite.
6. GMX Mail: web-based email client with basic email features.
7. Spike: chat-style email interface that speeds up communication between teams.
8. AOL Mail: straightforward, web-based email client with a large capacity for attachments.
9. eM Client: freemium email client with a comprehensive toolset for in-depth email management.
10. Mailspring: email management client with robust basic features.
11. Airmail: highly customizable email software for Apple devices.
12. Postbox: paid email client with a free trial for Windows power users.
13. Canary Mail: an ultra-secure email client for Apple devices.

13 Best Free Email Clients

1. Apple Mail (iOS, macOS)

Coming in at the top spot, Apple Mail is the best free email app because of how simple and reliable it is for macOS users. It provides support for iCloud, allowing for unlimited storage and access to the full Apple ecosystem.

You can even set rules in Apple Mail to customize the client according to how you want to receive and view your emails.

Compared to previous iterations, search in Apple Mail has better functionality, enhanced support for dynamic notifications, and improved compatibility with third-party apps.

This is the best free mail app for Apple users because you can seamlessly sync and access your mail across all Apple devices, which is a functionality not all other mail clients have.

2. Thunderbird (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android)

This fully free email client for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android was developed by Mozilla, and it’s a favorite among users who are looking for a non-Outlook option for their emails. It’s highly customizable and has robust privacy features that allow for add-ons and spam filtering.

Because the app can be highly personalized according to your preferences, you can select multiple views and set specific filter rules in Mozilla Thunderbird. This makes email management a breeze, and it makes sure your user experience is seamless.

Thunderbird’s recent updates have made the email client free from security issues, and its speed has significantly improved. Its address book feature has also become easier to navigate, and the set-up process is more streamlined.

Because of the modernized views and features, Thunderbird is a strong competitor to popular mail clients such as Outlook and Mailbird.

4. ProtonMail (Web, iOS, Android)

ProtonMail is one of the most secure email providers because it provides you with encrypted email services that prioritize your privacy. This free mail client uses end-to-end encryption, so only you and your recipient can read your messages, and it even offers self-destructing emails for those extra-sensitive convos.

The interface is clean and easy to use, making it a great fit for beginners and privacy pros alike.

While a free ProtonMail account has all the essential features, it does come with limited storage. This might require a paid upgrade for those who deal with higher email volumes. But, if you’re looking for heightened security, this is the best free email program for the job.

ProtonMail stands out with its unique features like end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and enhanced privacy settings that keep your data protected 24/7.

Recent updates have focused on improving app stability and making the user interface more intuitive. Additionally, ProtonMail has enhanced its privacy controls, and now has even better data protection for its users.

5. Zoho Mail (Web, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android)

Zoho Mail is a solid choice for small businesses seeking a free mail client that’s ad-free and equipped with essential tools. It integrates seamlessly with the Zoho productivity suite, offering features like robust spam filters and a clean interface.

Newsletters and notifications have an automatic filter, so you get to keep your inbox segregated.

The tool’s updates have introduced collaborative tools and expanded integrations with Zoho's CRM and other applications.

While the free plan is pretty generous, Zoho Mail’s paid options offer additional storage and business features.

6. GMX Mail (Web, iOS, Android)

If you’re looking for an alternative to the standard email clients, GMX Mail is a strong, web-based software that’s a popular choice for a free email client for Windows and iOS.

It has standard features like spam filters and support for multiple email accounts. It also has a built-in antivirus protector.

Compared to previous versions, the updated GMX Mail has enhanced attachment handling capabilities and smoother performance. However, when it comes to user privacy, other email clients place a higher emphasis on user privacy.

This is the tool to choose if your main priority is getting a free email client that comes with a lot of storage from the get-go.

7. Spike (Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)

The free plan of Spike is considered one of the best free email software because it turns your email inbox into a chat box. The chat-style email interface is similar to how instant messaging apps appear, and it integrates with Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox for storage and attachments.

Since it’s compatible with all types of processing systems, it’s one of the best email apps for Android and Apple devices.

When you’re working with a team, Spike’s real-time collaboration features allow you to work together seamlessly from anywhere. You can also use the app for text-to-speech and to send out voice messages, so it’s easier for you to communicate while you're on the go.

Since Spike is a “conversational email” platform, it combines email functionality with productivity tools, offering an alternative to platforms like Slack and Asana through seamless email integration. Some organizations may not have the capacity to implement these tools, which are separate entities from their emails. With Spike, you can get all the features they need from these platforms by just using your email.

8. AOL Mail (Web, iOS, Android)

AOL Mail has stood strong over the years as one of the best free email clients because of how simple and reliable it is for its users. It offers the basic functions of sending and receiving messages, as well as basic organization features for your inbox.

It also allows you to manage emails coming from other domains like Yahoo Mail and Google, so you can easily navigate and manage multiple inboxes.

While its most recent iteration shows off a cleaner, more updated user interface and smart features, it’s still quite dated and doesn’t offer as many handy tools as other email clients.

However, it can be equipped with email management tools like Clean Email to supercharge its functionality. For example, Clean Email can easily clean your AOL Mail Inbox and help you filter through messages more efficiently.

9. eM Client (Windows and macOS)

eM Client is a feature-packed email client for Windows and macOS, which makes it one of the best email clients for Windows 10 and 11. It’s an excellent choice for those who receive a steady flow of emails every day. Its free version does have limited features, but it still has several handy tools like the built-in calendar, chat, and task management.

It works with all major email services and can be deployed from the cloud with server settings pre-configured thanks to its support for the MSI package format, which is one reason why so many businesses swear by it.

If you're already using a different email client, such as Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird, you can import most data with a few clicks instead of having to manually set everything up from the ground up.

eM Client’s most recent update has given the tool enhanced cross-device syncing and better integration with clients like Outlook and Gmail.

Its free version is highly recommended for personal use, but those looking to use it for business would need to purchase a premium plan.

10. Mailspring (Windows, macOS, and Linux)

If you're looking for an easy-to-use free email client that runs on all major operating systems, Mailspring is a fantastic option because it has everything you need to efficiently manage your email messages across multiple inboxes.

Mailspring's free version offers a range of features to enhance email management, including customizable themes, a unified inbox, advanced search, fast sync speeds, and improved support for handling multiple accounts.

It also includes touch and gesture support, advanced shortcuts, built-in spell check, and translations in multiple languages, all within a smoother user interface in its most recent version.

Heavy email users should consider paying for Mailspring Pro because it comes with multiple useful features that are not included in the free version.

For example, Mailspring Pro can automatically retrieve information about unknown contacts from social media and the web, and track how your contacts engage with the emails you send them. Just know that Mailspring Pro is relatively expensive compared with other best email clients.

11. Airmail (macOS and iOS)

In our opinion, Airmail is one of the best email apps for iPhone and other Apple devices because it looks and feels like it was developed by Apple.

The tool was awarded the prestigious Apple Design Award for outstanding design and innovation, which tracks since its integrated to-do list makes going through emails much easier to organize based on priority.

Just like most of the other email client software applications featured in this article, Airmail lets its users add as many email accounts as they like, and it supports both IMAP and POP3. Regardless of how many email accounts you have, you can see all your email messages at once with the unified inbox feature.

Its strong customization capabilities allow you to tailor your inbox according to your preferred view, and it has excellent speed.

Airmail’s most recent update allows it to integrate with macOS features Reminders and Calendar, which help with overall management. Its iOS version is also quite stable, preventing glitches and lags.

12. Postbox (Windows, macOS)

While Postbox is technically not a free email client for Windows or Mac, we included it in this list because it offers a generous 30-day free trial and extensive customization options. Through the free trial, you can explore all of its features and see how it best fits with your workflow.

Postbox’s user interface is clean and sleek, making navigation a breeze.

Compared to its previous iterations, the UI is more customizable according to the view and style that you prefer. It also offers enhanced support for larger mailboxes, so that you can filter through messages in bulk.

Postbox allows you to filter messages in real time, organize by tags or contacts, or send large files as links to Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and various other cloud storage services.

This modern email client even comes with a large selection of pre-canned snippets of text, images, and blocks of HTML, all of which you can insert into your emails with just a few keystrokes and customize them as you see fit.

13. Canary Mail (macOS, iOS, Windows, Android)

Canary Mail stands out as one of the best Outlook alternatives for desktop, combining top-notch security with modern AI-powered features. Its end-to-end encryption and secure authentication make it a go-to choice for privacy-conscious users who want their emails protected without sacrificing functionality.

Compared to other email clients, it’s one of the few on the market that’s powered by AI. If you’re in need of AI assistance to facilitate tasks and manage your email, this is the tool to choose.

The Focused Inbox helps you organize your inbox more efficiently, while a built-in AI assistant enables faster responses and creates communications aligned with your business decisions.

Recent updates have brought enhanced security, a redesigned Focused Inbox for better prioritization, and powerful AI-based tools that streamline everything from composing emails to organizing your inbox.

While its advanced business features require a paid plan, it is a valuable option for individual users who value privacy and efficiency.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you find an email client that suits your needs and allows you to be more productive. With a great email client and a capable inbox cleaner such as Clean Email, email can once again be the useful communication tool it was before spam made it difficult to use.