Buyer's guide

The best email clients for Mac.

Ten Mac mail apps, ranked. We make Pigeon and it is first, so here is how we judged: fast search, mail that stays private, and a Mac app that feels like one. Every app below gets its due.

Updated September 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on each app's own site.

  1. Pigeon

    Best overall for Gmail and Microsoft 365

    A native Mac app that keeps a search index of your whole mailbox on your Mac. Search answers as you type and understands what you mean as well as what you typed. Your mail goes straight from Google or Microsoft to your Mac with no Pigeon server in between, and it works with Claude: ask for a reply and the draft opens in Pigeon for you to read and send.

    Good
    Keywords and meaning together, with filters for sender, date and attachments. Answers as you type, newest first. On your Mac. Mail comes straight from Google or Microsoft, with no Pigeon server in between.
    Not so good
    Gmail and Microsoft 365 only, and Mac only, so no iPhone app yet and no iCloud or other IMAP accounts.
    See Pigeon →

  2. Apple Mail

    Best free option, and best for iCloud

    The free app that comes with your Mac. Simple, solid, and not built around finding things.

    Good
    It is free and already installed. It runs on iPhone and iPad too, with the same accounts.
    Not so good
    Search and organisation stay basic, and there is no Claude integration.
    Pigeon vs Apple Mail →

  3. Superhuman

    Best for teams that live in the keyboard

    The fast, keyboard-driven premium client. Powerful, and priced like it.

    Good
    Keyboard-driven speed and a split inbox that fans of the app swear by. Native iPhone app, which Pigeon does not have yet.
    Not so good
    The most expensive here, cloud-processed, and limited to Gmail and Microsoft 365.
    Pigeon vs Superhuman →

  4. Spark

    Best for teams and for every-device use

    A cross-platform inbox with a real free tier and strong team features.

    Good
    It runs on every platform you own. A free tier that is genuinely useful.
    Not so good
    Some features, including team collaboration and AI, run on Spark's servers.
    Pigeon vs Spark →

  5. Microsoft Outlook for Mac

    Best for Microsoft-heavy workplaces

    Free, powerful, and built around Microsoft's cloud and calendar.

    Good
    It is free. Deep calendar and Microsoft 365 integration.
    Not so good
    Syncing non-Microsoft accounts copies your mail to Microsoft's cloud.
    Pigeon vs Outlook →

  6. Gmail (web)

    Best free option for Google users

    Google's web inbox: free, everywhere, and famous for its search.

    Good
    It is free and works on every device. Google's search and spam filtering are excellent.
    Not so good
    It is a browser tab, with no Mac app, and Google's servers process everything.
    Pigeon vs Gmail →

  7. Mimestream

    Best if you only have Gmail and want native

    The native, Gmail-only Mac client that many Mac users love.

    Good
    It is cheaper, at $49.99 a year. Close integration with Gmail's own labels and threads.
    Not so good
    Gmail and Google Workspace only, with no iPhone app yet.
    Pigeon vs Mimestream →

  8. Airmail

    Best for Apple users who like to tinker

    A customisable Apple-only client with snooze, and a free tier.

    Good
    A free tier. Runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
    Not so good
    Apple devices only, and its own pages say little about search or privacy.
    Pigeon vs Airmail →

  9. Canary Mail

    Best for low price and a lifetime licence

    Cheap, cross-platform, with local storage and a lifetime option.

    Good
    A much lower entry price, and lifetime purchases. Every platform, including Windows and Android.
    Not so good
    Its AI sends email text to third-party AI providers.
    Pigeon vs Canary Mail →

  10. Mozilla Thunderbird

    Best free open-source client

    Free, open source and endlessly extensible, if a little dated.

    Good
    It is free, open source and independent. Runs on Windows and Linux too.
    Not so good
    A dated interface, and Exchange support is limited to mail.
    Pigeon vs Thunderbird →

  11. Shortwave

    Best for AI-assisted Gmail teams

    An AI-first Gmail client with strong team features, run in the cloud.

    Good
    Strong AI assistance for drafting and summarising. A free plan, and team features such as shared threads.
    Not so good
    Your mail is processed on Shortwave's servers, and it is Gmail-centric.
    Pigeon vs Shortwave →

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