Gmail Email Client For Mac
Best Email Client For Mac
Free Mail Client For Mac With Google Calendar
Thunderbird Email Client For Mac

Email, calendar, contacts all in one place. Work efficiently with email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and more—together in one place. Office integration lets you share attachments right from OneDrive, access contacts, and view LinkedIn profiles. Here are our picks for the best alternative email clients. Not only does Mailplane feature a built-in Google Calendar. (Windows/Mac OS X/Free) Opera Mail. If after trying Gmail and Google Calendar on the Web, you decide that you do want to use Outlook, Mac Mail or iCal, the UW Oshkosh Academic Computing Helpdesk does provide limited support to assist in syncing UW Oshkosh Google Apps Mail, Contacts and Calendar with the Windows and Mac email and calendar clients listed below.

As awesome as Microsoft Outlook can be, there are good reasons to consider an alternative. Maybe it offers too many features you’ll never use. Perhaps you can’t afford the $110 price tag. Or you simply don’t want to indulge in Microsoft’s confusing mess of email products.

So what are your best options?

There are some who say that all desktop email clients are bad and should be replaced with web apps. Others, myself included, believe that web apps can’t match the power and versatility of desktop email clientsYou Should Ditch Webmail for a Desktop Email Client If...You Should Ditch Webmail for a Desktop Email Client If...A few years ago, webmail was all the rave. Wonder whether it's time to switch back to a desktop email client? Look no further. We show you the merits of a local mail service.Read More. Therefore, in this article, we’ll focus on the latter.

1. EssentialPIM

Like Microsoft Outlook, EssentialPIM is more than just an email client: it’s a personal information manager (hence the name). It aims to be a one-stop shop for handling all of your communications and tasks in one central location. This streamlines and eases your workflow.

The email component of EssentialPIM is exactly what you’d expect: sleek, modern, and functional, with a layout reminiscent of almost every other desktop email client you’ve used before. The free version has all the basic features:

Unlimited number of email accounts.
Folders and filters for flexible email organization.
Import and export formats: XML, CSV, iCal, vCard, and more.
Synchronization with Android and iOS.

Upgrading to the Pro version can unlock much more:

Synchronization pack: Google, Outlook, iCloud, and more.
AES 256-bit encryption for advanced security and privacy.
Advanced backups so you never lose data.
Threads that group related emails into conversations.
Professional and customizable email templates.

To learn more, check out the full comparison of Free vs. Pro. And in addition to email, EssentialPIM has Calendar, Tasks, Notes, Contacts, and Password management features.

For $2 per month or $20 per year, you can get an EssentialPIM Cloud plan that stores and synchronizes all of the non-email features above. It’s securely encrypted, acts as a backup, and allows you to access your data from anywhere with just a web browser.

One final note: EssentialPIM comes in a portable version, which you can load onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive and use on any computer. Great for students and those who travel often.

Download: EssentialPIM for Windows (Free, Pro version for $40) | Android (Free) | iOS (Free)

2. Thunderbird

Thunderbird is completely free and open source. It suffers a bit in the interface and aesthetics department but excels in terms of features and functionality. If you want an information management solution without any restrictions or cost, this is the one for you.

Thunderbird has a number of features that make it a suitable choice as a Microsoft Outlook replacement:

Tabbed emails for managing multiple conversations.
An address book that’s extremely easy to use and manage.
Smart folders and filters for productive organization.
Advanced search features to find the exact emails you need.
PGP encryption to keep your emails safe and private.
Built-in Lightning extension that grants calendar functionality.

Though Thunderbird development was officially deprioritized in 2012, it still receives updates as of this writing. You can also add additional features through third-party addons.

Download:Thunderbird (Free)

If you want something like Thunderbird but not quite the same, consider SeaMonkey. It shares a history with Thunderbird in that they’re both derived from the Mozilla Application Suite. However, it differs in that SeaMonkey is community-developed instead of Mozilla-driven.

Download:SeaMonkey (Free)

3. Gmail

Wait a minute. Gmail isn’t a desktop email client!

While that’s technically true, you’ll be surprised to know that Gmail can be used in “desktop mode” with a few easy tweaks. In fact, when used in this way, Gmail ends up being better than most other desktop-based solutions (except in complex business environments).

Truth is, Gmail can be set up to replicate many desktop client features and functions. For example:

Create a desktop shortcut and run in its own window.
Automatically associate and open email links.
Switch between multiple email accounts.
Access and read emails even when offline.
Organize emails using labels and filters.
Navigate using keyboard shortcuts.

If you want to give it a shot, check out our guide to setting up Gmail as a desktop email clientHow to Use Gmail Like a Desktop Email Client in 7 Simple StepsHow to Use Gmail Like a Desktop Email Client in 7 Simple StepsWould you ditch your default desktop email client, if Gmail had more desktop-like features? Let us show you how you can set up Gmail to behave more like a desktop email client.Read More. It’s very easy and only takes a few minutes. There’s a chance that it won’t be “desktop enough” for you, but more likely you’ll love it and even prefer it to traditional clients. And by the way, you can forward your Outlook emails to GmailHow to Forward Your Outlook Email to GmailHow to Forward Your Outlook Email to GmailNeed to forward email from Outlook to Gmail? We'll show you how to import Outlook to Gmail and bring everything with you.Read More.

And as a Google user, Gmail makes it easy to stay integrated with Google’s other productivity web apps, including the ever-useful Google Calendar9 Google Calendar Features You Should Be Using9 Google Calendar Features You Should Be UsingGoogle Calendar has more tricks up its sleeve than you may realize. Our tips will help you organize events and reduce the time you spend managing your calendar.Read More, the lightweight Google Keep for tasks10 Creative Ways to Use Google Keep Every Day10 Creative Ways to Use Google Keep Every DayGoogle Keep is a simple note-taking app. But its simplicity hides its usefulness. Here are ten tips and ideas to use Google Keep for the little everyday things in life.Read More, and my personal favorite, the convenient Google Docs suite10 Google Docs Tips That Take Seconds and Save You Time10 Google Docs Tips That Take Seconds and Save You TimeLearn some secrets that'll boost your Google Docs productivity with the help of these quick and simple tips.Read More.

Website:Gmail (Free)

Other Notable Mentions

Windows 10 Mail: Though not as advanced or complex enough to replace a powerhouse like Microsoft Outlook, the Mail app that’s built into Windows 10 can be more than enough for casual users. You might be surprised by all of the Mail app’s nifty features7 Superior Windows 10 Mail Features You Probably Didn't Know About7 Superior Windows 10 Mail Features You Probably Didn't Know About

Free Mail Client For Mac With Google Calendar