After recent Thunderbird update (v60) which screwed HTML composing even more, to unusable state, I decided to review alternative Windows desktop email clients to replace it. Once again. I have an intention to replace Thunderbird for a long time but there are no real competitors. Does something change in 2019?
https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/
Let's review Thunderbird itself first to use it as a base for comparison:
Pros:
+ It has everything modern email client has to have
+ If it doesn't have something you can extend it with numerous add-ons
+ Embedded calendar add-on with support of external calendars (Google, ical)
+ Support of external contact books (Google)
Cons:
- The only major flaw is its HTML editor. It was not ok previously but they made it even worse in version 60.
Verdict:
Everything is ok but, damn, is it possible to incorporate some decent HTML editor in it?
https://www.office.com/
The obvious choice is Outlook, the most famous (?) email client ever. Taking into account I already have Office 365 subscription it is a way to go.
Pros:
+ High quality and stability. Large business rely on it.
+ It has everything modern email client has to have
+ Very good HTML editor
Cons:
- [!] It is absolutely isolated product: no import from other email clients, no full support for external calendars and contacts
- No support for 2-factor authentication, so no secure way to use Gmail
- Packing formatted mails in winmail.dat format by default which is unreadable by other email clients
Verdict:
Good choice for the person who relies on Microsoft services only. No way to use it with 3rd party services. Since I have a lot of information stored on external calendars and contact books, use Gmail it doesn't suit me. Unfortunately.
Thunderbird
https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/
Let's review Thunderbird itself first to use it as a base for comparison:
Pros:
+ It has everything modern email client has to have
+ If it doesn't have something you can extend it with numerous add-ons
+ Embedded calendar add-on with support of external calendars (Google, ical)
+ Support of external contact books (Google)
Cons:
- The only major flaw is its HTML editor. It was not ok previously but they made it even worse in version 60.
Verdict:
Everything is ok but, damn, is it possible to incorporate some decent HTML editor in it?
Outlook
https://www.office.com/
The obvious choice is Outlook, the most famous (?) email client ever. Taking into account I already have Office 365 subscription it is a way to go.
Pros:
+ High quality and stability. Large business rely on it.
+ It has everything modern email client has to have
+ Very good HTML editor
Cons:
- [!] It is absolutely isolated product: no import from other email clients, no full support for external calendars and contacts
- No support for 2-factor authentication, so no secure way to use Gmail
- Packing formatted mails in winmail.dat format by default which is unreadable by other email clients
Verdict:
Good choice for the person who relies on Microsoft services only. No way to use it with 3rd party services. Since I have a lot of information stored on external calendars and contact books, use Gmail it doesn't suit me. Unfortunately.
Mailbird
This client is shown at the top of Google search. I never heard about it before, let's try.
Pros:
+ Modern UI design
+ Import from other email clients
+ Interesting approach of unified account
+ Support for Google documents, calendar, contacts
+ Plugins (not that many yet)
Cons:
- [!] No filtering. Really? How to use it at all? Should I review all 200+/day spam, subscription, notification, receipt emails in the single feed?
- No sorting
- Limited search
- Cannot mute folders (do not show unread messages in spam folder)
Verdict:
Well, it is not bad, I like it. But it is in early development stage right now. It has very good potential in the future. But now it is not yet ready for prime time. Also it worth mentioning that developers are actively ask their users on what to implement next. I'll keep fingers crossed.
Postbox
Another client I know nothing about. Evaluating it I realized that it is just a Thunderbird fork. The limited and outdated one. No add-ons support.
Pros:
+ It is Thunderbird, so it has all benefits of it which don't rely on add-ons.
Cons:
- [!] Pay for a cut version of free product? What's the point? If they provide support they have to take money for support, not for the product.
- [!] No calendar
Verdict:
I didn't understand this product. Looks like a commercial version of Thunderbird for enterprises which for some reason don't use Outlook. Weird.
eM Client
Looks nice. I have to test it.
Pros:
+ Import from other clients (but very slow)
Cons:
- [!] No Gmail support
Verdict:
I stopped testing it right after realizing it doesn't support Gmail. Useless.
The Bat!
I used The Bat! long time ago and it was ok. It also had major issues with HTML composing but on another hand it had very comprehensive filtering and color labeling. Nowadays they shifted to "secure mail" niche; probably for the reason they cannot compete in "general mail" niche.
Pros:
+ It works
Cons:
- [!] The only tested client that had BUGS during general use
- No import from other clients
- Doesn't cleanly uninstall :)
Verdict:
No, I cannot use every day a program that has obvious bugs. How can I entrust valuable data to it? In general, looks like development of this software was stopped long time ago.
Eudora
The only reason Eudora is included into this review is the fact Google still includes it in the search output. Actually it is a history artifact but not a usable software.
Pros:
+ I don't know, sorry
Cons:
- Absolutely outdated
Verdict:
Let it reside in computer history museum. Google, please stop suggest it as an alternative to modern email clients!
Conclusion
So... Looks like I have to stick to Thunderbird for another couple of years until one more attempt to get rid of it :)
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