Pigeon vs Thunderbird.
Thunderbird is the open-source standard. Pigeon is what a Mac mail app looks like when it is made just for the Mac.
Thunderbird is free, local and infinitely tweakable, and it is the right answer for many people. If you want a native Mac feel, Gmail and Microsoft 365 handled properly, and a search that finds things by meaning, Pigeon is a better daily driver.
Side by side
| Pigeon | Thunderbird | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69 a year or $8 a month. Free for 14 days first | Free and open source |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 26 or later) | Mac, Windows, Linux and Android |
| Mailboxes it connects | Gmail and Microsoft 365, together in one inbox | IMAP, POP, Google, and Exchange for email |
| Where your mail lives | On your Mac. Mail comes straight from Google or Microsoft, with no Pigeon server in between | Local on your device. No vendor cloud |
| Search | Keywords and meaning together, with filters for sender, date and attachments. Answers as you type, newest first | Local search |
| Search offline | Yes. The whole index is on your Mac | Yes |
| Works with Claude | Yes. Ask Claude to find mail or draft a reply, and the draft opens in Pigeon for you to send | Not that we found |
| Blocks tracking pixels | Yes, and remote images are off until you choose to load them for a message | Not stated on their site |
We make Pigeon, so read this with that in mind. Details about Thunderbird were checked in September 2026; they change, so check Thunderbird's own site before you decide.
Where Pigeon pulls ahead
Feels like a Mac app
Pigeon is built in Swift for the Mac, with the system's shortcuts, glass and notifications. Thunderbird is cross-platform and looks it.
Meaning-aware search
Thunderbird searches the words you type. Pigeon reads what a message is about as well as the words in it. On our own test set of paraphrased queries it found the right message in the top ten 80% of the time, against 45% for keyword matching alone.
Gmail and Microsoft 365, tuned
Gmail labels and Outlook categories are first-class, and both mailboxes share one search. There is nothing to set up.
Claude drafts
Ask Claude for a reply and it opens in Pigeon's composer, for you to send.
Fair is fair
What Thunderbird does well
- It is free, open source and independent.
- Runs on Windows and Linux too.
- Add-ons let you change almost anything.
- Supports IMAP, POP and most account types.
Stay with Thunderbird if
- Free and open source are requirements.
- You need Windows or Linux.
- You depend on Thunderbird add-ons.
Questions
Is Pigeon open source?
No. Pigeon is a paid, closed-source Mac app. If open source matters to you, Thunderbird is the better fit.
Is my mail stored locally in both?
Yes. Both keep your mail on your own computer and neither runs a mail server of its own.
Try Pigeon next to Thunderbird
$69 a year, every feature, and your money back within 30 days.