Email clients review. What is an email client

The site's observer has studied several email clients for Windows and tells us which programs may appeal to active email users who are tired of the Windows Live Mail or Microsoft Outlook interfaces.

Mailbird

An email client with an interface distinctly reminiscent of Sparrow for Mac OS. This is the second year the application has received the IT World award as the best email client for Windows.

The Mailbird team understands that many users want to add personality and improve the usability of the final product, and offers clients the following personalization solutions: color choice, customization of user interface panels and hotkey combinations.

The trend towards expanding the functionality of applications by connecting other applications is gaining momentum. The developers took this into account, so the application supports touch control and connection of third-party applications such as Facebook, Dropbox, WhatsApp, Twitter, Evernote, Todoist and some others.

The application is available in paid (Pro) and free (Lite) versions. Paid subscription, in turn, also exists in two versions: for a year and lifetime for $12 and $45, respectively. The paid version offers users quick previews of long messages and snooze messages.

Snooze messages allow the user to delay reading non-urgent correspondence for a specified period of time. After the grace period expires, the message reappears as unread.

The Pro version also offers the connection of an unlimited number of email accounts, versus a maximum of three in the free version. The free trial period for the Pro version is 30 days.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Cross-platform email client from the developers of the Mozilla Firefox browser.

The creators of the application laid the foundation on the OpenSource principle. The advantages of such projects are timely search and elimination of vulnerabilities, as well as rapid product updates.

The application developers did not ignore the issue of security of personal correspondence. Message encryption, digital signature and certificate verification are responsible for the confidentiality of users' personal correspondence. The powerful spam filter does its job well and can be trained.

Among the functional features, we can highlight support for modern mail protocols, RSS and Atom channels, lightweight, and extensive folder directories. Thunderbird is compatible with almost any encoding, can filter messages and work with several accounts at the same time.

According to Mozilla, the product is used by 495 thousand users in Russia and 9 million worldwide. The austerity and conceptual age of the user interface is intended to be brightened up by a large green button on the product website with the inscription “Download for free.”

eM Client

A simple and convenient email client in the style of Outlook.

Users are offered two versions of the product - Free and Pro. The $30 version offers unlimited account creation (versus a maximum of two for the free version) and a license for commercial use.

The advantages of the application include the connection of third-party services Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, iCloud, support for touch devices and custom widgets. Importing data from Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, The Bat facilitates possible transition from other email clients.

the Bat

An email client characterized by powerful security mechanisms on the one hand and a complete absence of built-in spam filters, tedious interface setup and nondescript design on the other.

Compared to free competitors, the application wins in terms of privacy, holds its own when comparing functional features, and loses miserably in usability.

In everyday correspondence, the security requirements of most users are satisfied by the standard tools offered by other email clients, which is why the price tag of 2,000 rubles for the Home version seems overpriced.

Inky

Beautiful, modern and free email client.

In addition to a well-made user interface, Inky boasts the ability to work with multiple accounts, flexible filters, cloud synchronization and convenient visualization, in which the user is asked to choose colors and icons for different accounts.

The developers have built into the application automatic sorting of incoming emails by relevance. Messages from your closest contacts are marked with a blue drop, which means the message is highly important. Less important messages and spam are marked with less bright blobs and are lowered in the list.

In practice, there are often cases when sorting occurs on a time basis, which means assigning greater importance to the most recent message. A logical simplification of the sorting system that destroys the excellent idea of ​​care and attention to each user.

From a personalization point of view, Inky is a teachable and easily customizable client.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the interesting OpenSource development Mailpile, which is in beta testing.

This application is distributed free of charge and “lives” on voluntary donations, and therefore does not contain advertising.

Concentrating on one function at a time is the key to efficiency in software. Programs that try to be created on an all-in-one basis end up being bloated, incomprehensible, and most of their additional functions do not work as well as we would like.

On the other side are programs that have a specific focus, such as Excel. Email clients are no different in this regard either.

Having a dedicated desktop client that can handle your email for you is a great way to have more free time while staying organized.

There's nothing wrong with using the popular web interfaces provided by most email services, such as Gmail and Hotmail, but having a separate client is a great option to avoid having to keep a browser tab open on your email page 24 hours a day.

Personally, I use Postbox for my email, but the program costs about $10. Luckily, there are many other affordable and free email clients you just need to look in the right places.

Thunderbird

When Mozilla Firefox arrived on the scene in 2004 (then called Firebird), it was able to take Microsoft's Internet Explorer to the next level. That same year, Mozilla released Thunderbird, which became a direct competitor to . Since then, Thunderbird has maintained its popularity and is not going to give up its position.

Thunderbird is packed to the brim with various features, but does not suffer from sluggishness due to their number. The client can work with multiple email accounts simultaneously, supports POP and IMAP, has message filters, folders for organizing emails, address labels and priorities, supports RSS and Atom feeds.

In addition, it has a system of plugins with which you can add additional functions at your own discretion. The only thing is that the program, despite its prevalence and popularity, will not install new add-ons from unknown places.

Thunderbird is open source and cross-platform. It can be installed on Windows, Linux and even Mac if desired.

eM Client

Although Thunderbird is the most popular free client for Windows, eM Client has the best feature set. It syncs perfectly with any Gmail account, including email, calendars, contacts, tasks, and even GTalk. If you are switching to this client from Outlook, then eM Client has a special tool for importing data. In addition, the client's design is made in a minimalist style and looks quite nice.

eM Client can be used without fear for your privacy, since it encrypts everything it sends. It even has a cool feature for creating your own . PC Magazine included the eM Client in the list of the best free programs three years in a row - 2010, 2011 and 2012. It is very easy to understand why this happened, you just need to start using it.

eM Client is available in two versions: Free and Pro. The Pro version costs $50 and gives you a commercial license for commercial use, as well as priority VIP support.

Also, the Pro version allows you to create an unlimited number of email accounts. Download eM Client program

Windows Live Mail

If you use on your computer, then you have the opportunity to install Windows Essentials and get an excellent free email client called Windows Live Mail. It handles all your email accounts and is very easy to set up. If you use SkyDrive, then great! Windows Live Mail syncs with SkyDrive in real time.

Windows Live Mail is only available for Windows Vista, 7 and 8. If you are using an earlier version of the operating system, such as XP, then unfortunately you are out of luck. Download: Windows Live Mail

Zimbra Desktop

Zimbra Desktop was an excellent first-class email client some time ago, but for some reason it fell out of sight and it's still not clear why this happened. Its main distinguishing features are that it can synchronize locally, so you can read all messages while offline. Plus, you can collect all your accounts in one place, no matter what kind of accounts they are: email or social networks.

Basically, you can use the Zimbra Desktop client as a place to consolidate all your communications. And even despite such impressive functionality, Zimbra Desktop does not seem like a bloated program. Even with so many features, it works surprisingly fast and looks great while doing it. I can’t even summarize all the amazing features of the client, because there really are a lot of them.

Zimbra Desktop is free and available for Windows, Linux and Mac. Download: Zimbra Desktop

Claws Mail

Claws Mail is a desktop email client built on top of GTK+. Thanks to this feature, it has a minimalistic interface and fast response time. Everything in the client’s design is intuitive and it’s almost impossible to get confused, plus you can customize it to suit yourself. In general, the program is quite reliable and easily expandable, which will allow you to satisfy all possible needs in an email client.

When using Claws Mail, you can import settings and emails from other email clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird yourself.

If after some time you want to get rid of this program, then all the data can also be easily exported.

Using plugins, you can add some functionality such as RSS reader, event calendar and some others.

The mail client is designed for processing correspondence from electronic mailboxes.

There is a great variety of software that can do this: multifunctional mail clients that combine the functions of a postal courier and a search agent.

Or simple utilities that allow the user to receive, send and store electronic messages.

The most popular email utilities for Windows OS will be discussed in this publication.

Purpose and application

It's no secret that many PC users have several email accounts, which can easily be registered on the servers of large search services.

They can be accessed through the resources on which they are registered.

If several addresses are registered on different sites, for example, Mail.ru; Yandex; Google; Yahoo, etc., then the login and authorization process must be completed for everyone.

In order to be able to work with correspondence from all mailboxes simultaneously, without much time and Internet traffic, mail clients were invented.

Before the "seven", all versions of Windows were equipped with the Outlook Express email program.

Later versions of the operating system introduced the Mail application, which allowed you to collect all your mail in one mailbox using a Microsoft account.

Basic functionality of email clients

As mentioned above, mail clients differ in their capabilities. But there are basic functions that are inherent in absolutely all such programs:

• receiving correspondence;
• sorting and grouping messages into folders;
• creating email messages in the built-in text editor;
• automation in the preparation of outgoing messages;
• the ability to receive and send attached files in an email message.

In addition to the basic functionality, almost every email client has a lot of additional features: connecting RSS feeds, organizing a full-fledged organizer, the ability to send mass letters, etc.

The top five most popular email processing programs include the following mail clients:

• The Bat;
• eM Client;
• Becky Internet Mail;
• Windows Live Mail.

Let's look at each of them in more detail. Where you can download the utility you like, look under the product description.

Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is a powerful software package that allows you to process mail, work with groups, connect news feeds, and has filters for incoming messages.

It can work with multiple accounts.

It works perfectly with all popular protocols (POP; SMTP; IMAP), and a flexible system of settings is provided by the built-in system of plugins.

The Thunderbird email client has gained particular popularity among domestic users for its convenient Russian-language interface.

The program is distributed under a free license.

The Bat

The Bat mail client takes second place in terms of frequency of use by PC users. It has a good set of functions, including:

• Possibility of connecting an unlimited number of mailboxes, which can be received simultaneously.
• Powerful incoming mail filtering system.
• Possibility of selective downloading of letters from the server.
• Support for importing messages from other email clients.
• Built-in search for letters and respondents.
• Multifunctional text editor

The Bat for Windows can encrypt messages using public key cryptography, so the user can be 100% sure that his messages will not be read by intruders.

eM Client

Most PC users highlight this particular program as the most functional and safe among similar ones.

Really, eM Client equipped with all the necessary functions for comfortable processing of correspondence: reading emails, sending messages, redirecting and sorting mail, etc.

This software package has a built-in full-fledged organizer, chat manager and many other quite interesting functions.

In addition, eM Client is Russified, supports the protocols of major mail servers and synchronizes perfectly with accounts created in Google, Yandex and iCloud services.

The only drawback of the program is that it is distributed on the basis of a paid license, although many users will be happy with the lightweight free version, which can be downloaded by following the link to the official website of the developer:

The flow of emails never stops, and to handle them requires a reliable and easy-to-use application. There are several hundred different email clients on the market, but only a few deserve your attention. If you prefer a local client to a web interface, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following selection of applications for working with mail on Windows 10.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is included in the Microsoft Office suite of office tools and is available with an Office 365 subscription (from RUB 339.00 per month), but can be purchased as a standalone Office 2019 application (RUB 6,699).

To work with the program, it is not necessary to use an address on the Outlook.com domain - Microsoft Outlook supports almost all email services. The user can add all his accounts to the application and conveniently manage them from one workspace. Outlook has calendar and task scheduling integration and offers a rich set of customizable rules to handle your incoming mail flow. Set sound alerts when a specific person sends you a message containing certain keywords, or automatically move an email to the appropriate folder if it comes from a specific recipient - ideal for separating work and personal flows.

Outlook offers an incredible number of different tools that can be confusing for first-time users. Fortunately, the product has received an updated interface in recent years, which has made it possible to organize various functions very conveniently. As you become more familiar with the program, you can also begin using the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) development environment, which allows you to create macros for your application. There are a large number of ready-made scripts available on the Internet that are designed to automate the workflow.

Mailbird

This application received the very apt name Mailbird, which perfectly characterizes it - the program is lightweight, undemanding of resources, easy to use and visually attractive. Mailbird provides flexible configuration of a huge number of interface parameters - from account icons to text color scheme. Every time you launch the application, it will please the eye.

The Mailbird developers have done a great job of removing unnecessary intermediate steps when performing various actions, which ultimately leads to increased productivity. Create quick reply templates, add attachments with drag and drop, and search messages with a simple tap on your profile picture.

Received an email from an unknown contact? In two clicks you can view a person’s profile on the LinkedIn social network. Integration with other applications is also supported: Dropbox, Facebook, Google Docs, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Import mailboxes from email services into Mailbird for easy viewing and management. The free version has limited functionality, while the paid version costs 12 euros per year, or 39 euros for a lifetime license.

eM Client

This email client has all the necessary basic functions: calendar, contacts and task manager, as well as live chat between users. The program allows you to import settings and content from many other email clients, so the transition process is easy. Keep in mind that the free version only allows you to import 2 profiles, while the Pro version costs RUB 1,795. has no import restrictions.

As for the built-in tools, eM Client is sure to offer useful features for you: spell checking, translation into other languages ​​using the Bing translator, easy sharing of calendar events and tasks with other users, flexible contact list configuration for better organization when using multiple email profiles. Built-in live chat even allows you to quickly share files.

Claws Mail

Longtime Windows users will likely feel nostalgic when they first see the Claws Mail interface. Admittedly, the application is intended for experienced users who are not afraid to configure everything manually. The application allows you to import an unlimited number of accounts, but you need to do this yourself; there is no automatic import function or even a step-by-step wizard.

Claws Mail has an active issue tracking tool that monitors for app updates and potential issues. This is an ideal application for older computers - it consumes minimal memory and does not load the processor. What you pay for this is the lack of HTML support and advanced app connectivity features. However, Claws Mail does come with several plugins built in, including SpamAssassin, which helps combat spam.

If you don't mind having to manually configure settings and are looking for an undemanding, lightweight solution for an older machine, then the free retro-style client Claws Mail is a good choice.

Zimbra Desktop

Zimbra Desktop is a free and open source email client that has gone through several major changes. Work on the program never stopped and now we have one of the best email applications for Windows 10.

A built-in calendar, contacts, and organizer help you stay productive throughout the day, while a tab-based messaging system keeps your workspace clutter-free.

Want to work offline? No problem! Zimbra allows you to work anywhere, and the results of your work will be saved to your local disk. When connected to the network, you can import Gmail, Yahoo! and Outlook for convenient organization of letters in one place.

Zimbra is a cross-platform solution for Windows, Linux and Mac OS and is distributed free of charge.

TouchMail

TouchMail is a convenient email client for owners of tablets or convertible laptops. Import email accounts other than POP3 accounts and enjoy a touch-optimized interface.

The interface is colorful, which makes TouchMail stand out from other similar applications. The user has a rich set of useful tools at his disposal. The application allows you to organize multiple messages from different accounts into one folder for quick access, and a powerful filtering system can effectively handle large flows of messages.

TouchMail will be especially useful for devices with touch screens. The application is distributed for 1,949 rubles. and also contains several in-app purchases, which looks strange compared to free analogues.

Thunderbird

Mozilla's Thunderbird is unique in that it has a built-in extension system that allows you to extend the client's functionality using numerous tools created by the Thunderbird community. The product offers extensions for almost any task and for any automation scenario.

The client setup wizard will help you import email accounts, and a powerful search engine will allow you to quickly find the necessary information. If you work with huge volumes of emails, then the built-in activity manager that tracks all activities in Thunderbird will be a useful tool. Don't remember which folder you sent the message to? Check the log and find the action you need.

To avoid confusion when writing multiple messages, Thunderbird uses a tab system to display all messages in one window. Naturally, the product contains standard email tools: an address book, an attachment handler, a spam filter and other features that make Thunderbird one of the best email clients for Windows 10.

The Bat!

We think many users will agree with us, The Bat! is also one of the best email clients. It stands out not only for its functionality, but also for its attitude towards the security of data transmitted by email. After all, the main task of the program is to protect correspondence from monitoring by third parties.

Email client The Bat! can protect your information in a variety of ways. In addition to encrypting traffic using SSL/TLS protocols (which most email clients and services can do today), the program allows you to encrypt user data on your hard drive. The price for a license starts from 2,000 rubles.

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Users are divided into two categories: those who use the Web interface to work with mail, and those who prefer to work in a software environment. I consider myself to be the latter. Mail program It’s convenient because if you have several addresses, with one click of a button you can collect all the correspondence and gradually, slowly, begin to study it. When in the first case you need to open several browser windows, there is a high probability that during work you can accidentally close the tab and you will have to re-enter passwords, logins, search for the desired letter, and all this takes time.

Email programs for Windows 10

It makes no sense to describe them all; firstly, there are quite a lot of them. Secondly, they all work on the same principle and are configured in the same way. Therefore, I will focus on the more well-known and frequently used among users. The list will include both paid and free products.

Mozilla Thunderbird

I'll start with my favorite - Mozilla Thunderbird. It's not hard to guess who the developer is by the name :)

pros: Simple interface. Virus protection. A large number of additions. Spellchecking. There is no problem with encoding at all. Blocking advertising, spam and dangerous objects in letters. Acceptability of working with RSS. There is a problem book and a calendar. Search. Import settings from The Bat and Outlook Express. Constant update. Blocking malicious objects, including images. Ignoring all various third-party codes and scripts. SMTP/POP3 protocol support

Minuses: Not noticed by me.

The Bat

Great email program. I haven't seen any analogues yet.

Positive Features: Encryption of correspondence, including via the SSL/TLS protocol. Ability to create your own letter templates. Ability to use macros and install various modules, including antispam and antivirus. Backup. Password protection of the mailbox. Supports SMTP/POP3 protocols.

Negative: Paid

eM Client

Very similar to Outlook Express, as it was developed as an alternative to it. Is an expanded version of Sylpheed.

Flattering reviews: Encrypt everything you send. User-friendly interface. Import settings from other applications. RSS. Creation of widgets. Spell check. Antispam. Antivirus. Synchronization with contacts and calendar Wonder Mail Server. Quickly search for e-mail addresses and letters. Supports SMTP/POP3/SSL protocols. Create rules and filters and much more.

Not flattering: Paid. In the free version, you can create only 2 accounts.

Claws Mail

Pros: Protocol support (POP3, SMTP, NNTP, SSL, IMAP4rev1, etc.). Data encryption. Antispam. Antivirus. Ability to use additional plugins. Like all similar applications, there is an address book. Auto-encoding. Creating templates. Spell check and much more.

Minuses: Not defined by me.

IncrediMail

What's good: A very unusual program. Can add animated characters to the text of the message, special effects and 3D design. Another feature is non-standard processing of correspondence and a set of functions that are not available in any other application of this type. For example: When a new message arrives, a lock appears in the corner of the screen and says the accompanying phrase. You can choose other characters. And also when designing a letter, you can choose animation of letters and paper. And the shipment can be issued in the form of a paper airplane. When answering, use animated emoticons. Plus, almost all the professional functions of the above utilities are included.

What's wrong: The recipient must have this utility installed. Lack of Russian language. But if you wish, you can find a crack on the Internet.