A program for sending mail from a computer. Alternatives to Outlook: Review of Email Clients for Windows
The efficiency of your work largely depends on how convenient, functional and demanding your computer resources are. Therefore, of course, choosing it correctly is very important. Today we will talk about the most popular email programs.
Mozilla Thunderbird: Free and Universal
Mozilla offers powerful free softwareThe brother of the Firefox browser is open source and available for free. This is one of the most popular email programs, with more than 25 million installations.
Thunderbird can manage email accounts from any service provider and will walk you through setup using the appropriate setup wizard.
The program supports virtual folders, which allow you to save search queries into folders. The interface adapts to your taste using different themes. Thunderbird also provides a customizable and very robust spam filter.
With the Lightning extension, you add a calendar function to the software. Here you can easily subscribe to Google calendars.
You can install the full version of Thunderbird, but there is also a portable version.
Microsoft Outlook: the flagship among email programs
Outlook is the de facto standard in the business sector Outlook is part of the Microsoft Office suite, but can also be purchased and installed separately. The program offers a wide range of functions and is aimed primarily at business users. By tightly integrating email, address book, calendar, and task functions, Microsoft Outlook makes collaboration easy. Thus, a central repository of personal and resource mailboxes, calendars and employment information makes it easier to organize meetings or rent rooms.
As part of the Microsoft Office Suite, this email program easily pairs for use in combination with other MS Office software, such as Excel, OneNote or Skype.
Disadvantage: The retail price of MS Outlook is 8,199 rubles for the single-user version in the Microsoft Store - it is by far the most expensive email program.
eM Client: A Less Expensive Outlook Alternative
eM Client also offers many Outlook features Like Microsoft Outlook, eM Client offers a complete suite of solutions for mail, contacts, calendars and other tasks, and even supports a chat function. Most services are supported automatically.
The program has its own backup tool. Of particular note is the simple setup of email encryption. The corresponding functions for PGP and S/MIME are activated with just a few clicks of installation.
The eM client is free for private use and supports two email accounts in this option. In the advanced version, the number of accounts is unlimited. It costs 1795 rubles.
The Bat!: For safety
The Bat!: An email client with tradition The Bat! from the developers Ritlabs has been on the market for many years and is very popular. This email program is intended for private users and business clients.
It supports multiple user accounts, each with its own folders, templates, and IDs.
The software comes with numerous security features: PGP based on OpenSSL; encrypted email database, etc. Plus, The Bat! has its own HTML viewer, making it independent of Windows features.
An interesting point for use in a business environment: The Bat! supports tokens for authentication on the mail server.
“Bat” is available in a home version for 2,000 rubles, which allows it to be widely used in private use. Pro Edition costs 3,000 rubles and is convenient for commercial use. In combination with the Pro version, The Bat mobile email client is also available! Voyager.
Windows Mail: Built-in Windows 10
Mail App: Integrated into Windows 10 Windows Mail is the integrated email client for Windows 10. Actually, it's just mail. The program's interface is laconic and limited to basic functions; there is no direct integration of calendars and contacts, but you can launch corresponding applications from Windows 10. Encryption features are only available for email accounts connected to Exchange.
The Mail app for Windows 10 is free. Recommended for those who do not have special requirements for functionality and security, but who are looking for an easy-to-use and well-organized program.
For ordinary people who do not use email for commercial purposes, the capabilities of the web interface of email services are often sufficient. These provide basic functionality for working with mail and in most cases are presented in a user-friendly interface aimed at beginners. Some email services, such as Yandex.Mail, can even offer a choice of design themes. But when using email in a commercial environment, greater efficiency can be achieved due to the capabilities of a special type of software - email clients, programs that are installed in the operating system, receive data from the email server and present it to the user in its own interface. Such email programs, as a rule, are capable of providing multi-account work with email and can offer flexible settings, filtering, sorting and other capabilities for working with large volumes of correspondence. Many mailers, in addition to this, also provide organizational functions such as a calendar, scheduler, contact database, etc.
In this article, we will look at current offers on the market of email clients for the Windows 7, 8 or 10 operating system. Not all of the email clients discussed below are functional tools. The review also includes minimalistic products, such as email applications included in the latest versions of Windows. Let's start the review with them.
1. Mail app included in Windows 8.1
The Mail program, which appeared in Windows 8, then migrated to its upgrade version Windows 8.1, became one of the aspects of Microsoft’s global idea - to offer the user a new format of the operating system with the old familiar and new simple tools designed for the average person on board. The built-in Windows 8.1 mailer is a product in the Modern UI (Metro) interface style, and, as befits mail programs of this format, it contains only basic functionality and a minimum of settings. The Mail program, being initially focused not on functionality, but on the convenience of working with email on touch devices with small screens, can do little: it supports working with several mailboxes, provides receiving, sending mail, moving it inside the mailbox, and the ability to customize the display letters in the order they were received or by type of conversation and a couple of other little things.
The Windows 8.1 email client has not grown into anything more since the introduction of version 8 of the system. The reason for this is the short time of relevance of Windows 8/8.1 itself. The evolution of the email client has already taken place in the Windows 10 version.
2. Mail app included in Windows 10
The Windows 10 email client has been constantly changing since the official release of this version of the system, and users who did not disable updates could periodically find new options in the settings. However, the mail client on board Windows 10 differs little from the Windows 8.1 mailer. Significant differences include the choice of interface colors, background images, and greater capabilities when creating emails, in particular, text formatting and working with tables.
3. Microsoft Outlook 2016
Native Windows email applications will never evolve into functional email clients, otherwise they will bury Outlook as part of the paid Microsoft Office software package. We will see everything that Microsoft is capable of as the creator of an email client in the current version of Microsoft Outlook 2016. In addition to a functional email client, Outlook also includes an RSS client, contacts, notes, a calendar, and a task scheduler. Among the functional advantages of the mail client module are developed systems for tagging, filtering and sorting correspondence, applying notification rules to new letters and automatically moving them to the desired folders, choosing the layout of the Outlook window for convenient presentation of mail, auto-archiving and other features.
Microsoft Outlook is an ideal product for the marketing industry. The mailer not only contains extensive tools for formatting text when creating emails; it essentially has a stripped-down version of Microsoft Word built into it. When creating letters, you can work with tables, autotext, shapes and express blocks, use Wordart and other functions of a text editor from Microsoft. The text of letters is pre-installed with a spell check, a built-in translator, a word count, and an intelligent search function.
4. Windows Live Mail
Another solution from Microsoft is a free client application for working with email services, part of the Windows Live software package. It appeared as a result of the separation of the Windows Mail email client on Windows Vista into a separate product. In terms of functionality, Windows Live Mail can be classified as something between Microsoft Outlook and the minimalistic email applications included in Windows 8.1 and 10. While Microsoft Outlook is a product aimed at the corporate user, Windows Live Mail is a product for the average person. It is created in the Ribbon interface format (with a toolbar divided into horizontally oriented tabs), provides, in addition to the email client, RSS client modules, databases with contacts, and a calendar with the ability to schedule events.
The functionality of the Windows Live email client is a stripped-down version of the capabilities of Microsoft Outlook. When working with mail, you can configure a convenient layout of the client window, apply filters, selections, sorting options, use the conversation type view of letters, create rules for automatic deletion of letters, moving them to the desired folders, forwarding to individual recipients, etc. The form for creating emails, compared to Microsoft Outlook, has a more meager arsenal, however, the necessary text formatting options are present, and among the insertion functions there is even the ability to create a photo album inside the letter.
5. The Bat!
Let's start our review of third-party email clients with the market leader - The Bat! , the most functional program of all presented in this article. The Bat! can offer the user a customizable interface, mail sorting, advanced search through the contents of the mailbox, an RSS client, a database with contacts, protection against viruses and spam, setting a password for accessing mail, checking spelling when creating letters and other features. One of the key features of this email client is templates, a more advanced analogue of the rules of conduct in Microsoft Outlook. Using The Bat! You can create template letters and set rules for the mailer.
The Bat! – an email program, a paid product, there is a monthly trial version to evaluate all the features.
6. Mozilla Thunderbird
Opera Mail consists of three modules - the mail section, the RSS client and the newsgroup client. For the mailer window, you can choose a convenient layout for presenting letters. Directly for working with electronic correspondence, Opera Mail can offer a tagging system, mail sorting, and the use of a contact database. The options for creating letters are minimal - text without formatting and attaching attachment files.
8. eM Client
The last participant in the review is the eM Client email client. Organizationally and functionally, it is similar to Windows Live, but, in addition to the modules of an email client, a calendar planner, a database with contacts, and an RSS client, it also provides a chat function. To the eM Client chat you can connect accounts of such services for exchanging text messages as: Jabber, ICQ, IRC, MSN, Yahoo!, GaduGadu, etc. Among the capabilities of the email client we will find a standard set of functions such as mail sorting, tagging, a developed search system, etc. filtering inside mailboxes. It is possible to work with rules for automatic deletion, forwarding, moving correspondence to the desired folders, etc. The eM Client interface is customizable: you can choose a design theme, adjust the layout of windows and the position of the sidebar on the right to your preferences.
While all previous participants in the review, except for the paid The Bat!, allow you to connect an unlimited number of mailboxes as part of the free use of programs, the freeness of eM Client is limited to only two connected mailboxes.
Have a great day!
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 allows you to import only 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.
What email client are you using?Found a typo? Press Ctrl + Enter
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 lose 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 for this case. 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.
Sooner or later, any Internet user gets a mailbox. You can work with it directly in the browser or using special programs - email clients. All users are familiar with the web interface, one way or another. At a minimum, you need to use it to register a mailbox. There are dozens of programs for working with e-mail, and understanding them in order to choose one worthy of attention is not so easy. Today we will look at free email clients for Windows and the opportunities they offer the user.
To put the programs under consideration on an equal footing, each was subject to the same set of requirements.
- Easy to install and configure.
- Ability to connect Russian accounts.
- IMAP/POP protocol support.
- Integration with cloud services and social networks.
- Implementation of transfer or import of contacts.
- Convenience of the interface.
Mozilla Thunderbird
The development of Burevestnik is carried out by Mozilla Corporation, the same one that produces the Firefox browser. The program is cross-platform and distributed under a triple free license.
Setting up Thunderbird begins during installation. During the process, you can independently select the set of required components.
At the first launch, you are prompted to integrate with the system. In addition to the standard function of an email client, the program can receive newsletters in Atom or RSS formats.
Mail setup is performed in semi-automatic mode. To connect your Google, Yandex or Mail.ru accounts, you just need to indicate your existing address and access password. Thunderbird takes the parameters for connecting to the server from its own database. The protocol is selected manually. By default, the connection is made in IMAP mode.
To communicate on social networks, chat accounts are set up. It is possible to integrate with Facebook and Twitter. IRC and Jabber/XMPP protocols are supported. In the Russian-speaking segment of the network, they have lost popularity, giving way to mobile messengers.
Sending large attachments can be done using the cloud service Box (not to be confused with Dropbox). Upon registration, the user receives 10 GB of disk space. On a free account, the uploaded file size is limited to 250 MB.
You can transfer data, including contacts, messages, and filters from another email program, using the wizard.
If you have not used an email client before, you can import your contact database from the web version by first saving it to a file.
The Thunderbird interface was developed using the same XUL markup language as the Firefox browser. Thanks to this, the application is able to adapt to the environment in which it is used. As a result, by installing an email client for Windows 7, you will receive Aero-style frames and colored window control buttons.
Tabbed technology allows you to use all built-in features in one window. Additionally, the appearance of the program can be changed using themes, and the functionality can be expanded using add-ons.
As a result of installing Thunderbird, the user receives a flexible email client with many settings. Online help is available, entirely in Russian. The presence of a portable version, placed on a flash drive, allows you to use the program on any computer with network access.
eM Client
The young American company positions its software product as a replacement for MS Outlook. Users familiar with its interface from the Microsoft Office suite will find it easy to adapt to.
Once installation is complete, the program is ready to completely replace the standard email client for Windows 10.
The eM Client email client is available in two configurations: Free and Pro. Initially, the user gets a month to fully test the capabilities. Before it expires, you need to decide whether you will purchase a license or receive a free key for the free version. If you do not take into account VIP support and the ability to use for commercial purposes, the only difference between them is the number of supported accounts. The free version requires you to limit yourself to two active email addresses.
At launch, the user is prompted to transfer existing accounts or configure them themselves. The demo version has no restrictions and recognized all three test accounts. After entering the “@” sign, you are prompted to substitute the domain ending, including Russian servers.
There is no choice between transmission protocols. The program is automatically configured in IMAP mode.
The user has a choice of integration with five online calendar services, including Google and iCloud. To download a list of contacts, integration with these services is also possible. Thus, you can synchronize the contact database accumulated on your mobile device with your email program. Linking to iCloud in a Windows environment is a rare phenomenon, and it will be in demand by users of Apple mobile devices.
Implemented support for the XMPP protocol and connection to Hangouts chats. In the calendar settings there is the ability to integrate with the AccuWeather weather server.
The user's location can only be indicated in English, but the forecast is accurate and updated in real time. As a result, weather icons appear next to the dates; clicking on them opens a brief weather report.
The program does not have built-in support for cloud services, but it does implement a convenient function for previewing and quickly saving the contents of attachments.
In addition to supporting popular contact storage services, the user has the option of manually transferring them from another program or service.
eM Client provides several presets for displaying the address book. In addition to the traditional list, you can view contact cards and even sort them by geographic location.
The appearance of the program can be changed using ten built-in themes. Additional changes made to the preset style can be saved. The principle of implementing this feature is similar to how personalization settings work in Windows.
The appearance style and location of the main controls have been redesigned, but the general focus on replacing the office email client is visible.
Despite the fact that the eM Client interface has been completely translated into Russian, you will have to understand the additional features of the program by studying the English help. The paid version with support for an unlimited number of accounts will cost the user 1,795 RUR. If you can manage with two boxes, you can get a free license key.
Opera Mail
The mail program for Windows Opera Mail is actually a separate M2 client, which was previously built into the browser of the same name. Users who have used it will recognize the design style.
Of all the programs considered, Opera has the smallest distribution size. Installs quickly and is the only one to place its icon in the Windows taskbar.
With such intrusiveness, the program initially determined the OS version and bit depth incorrectly.
As part of testing, we enter all accounts manually, not allowing settings to be imported. Opera's first problems appeared when setting up Google mail. As it turned out, Good Corporation included the program in the list of unreliable applications. After making the necessary changes in the security settings, the account was connected.
Of the Russian servers, Opera easily connected only to Yandex. For Mail.ru, all connection parameters had to be entered manually.
One good thing worth noting is the ability to manually select a protocol between POP3 and IMAP.
The program settings cannot even be called poor, they simply do not exist. The maximum that the user can do in this “separately living tab” is to change the fonts and encoding of messages.
Import of contacts, integration with cloud services and social networks are not provided.
Zimbra Desktop
The program's developers position it as a tool for collaboration. Zimbra cross-platform products are free software with available source code and have their own version of the public license.
When installing, the program requires the Java Oracle Runtime Environment to be installed on your computer. It includes the minimum set of components required to run java applications on Windows.
Java Runtime Environment is freely distributed and can be downloaded from the company's official page.
Zimbra easily connected to Google and Mail.ru accounts, but Yandex identified its requests as spam. Russian servers are configured entirely manually. The user must select a protocol and independently specify the connection type.
Additional program settings allow you to change notification and mail display settings. Personalized account settings include the creation of separate filters, signatures and ready-made sample letters. The internal division of the working window into zones has three standard presets.
To integrate additional services, Zimbra implements a mechanism for add-ons, so-called “zimlets”. With their help, you can organize the transfer of correspondence and contacts from any program. Considering that the application is cross-platform, import is supported not only from Windows applications.
The allowed size of attachments in a message is 750 MB. In the Zimbra gallery, the user is offered add-ons for integration with any third-party services: social networks, instant messengers, office software packages, weather services.
In fact, the program is a universal “harvester” for team work, in which e-mail is only one of the functions. For a home user, its functionality will be superfluous, but for a small office it will be a real boon.
Claws Mail
Let's finish our review of email clients for Windows using a guest from a UNIX environment, the Claws Mail program. This free software is a version of a Linux application developed based on elements of GTK+.
When installed, Claws Mail does not require any additional components and is immediately ready to use.
Setting up accounts in the program is performed in semi-automatic mode. It is enough to specify the mailing address and connection protocol. Claws will add the receiving and sending servers itself, including for Russian services.
During the setup process, the program will ask you to confirm the reliability of the secure connection certificate. All three test accounts, including Google, were identified as unknown publishers. After receiving the user's consent, the program accepts them and works stably.
Changing the appearance is possible through additional themes obtained in the tar.gz archive format. To check spelling, the program uses a Russian language dictionary from the free Open Office package. The download link is indicated directly in the settings.
Importing contacts from other Windows programs or files is not possible. To quickly fill your address book, you can use automatic address collection. You can enable it entirely for a folder or for selected messages.
Externally and functionally, Claws Mail resembles a simplified version of the well-known The Bat program, but it is distributed free of charge.
Finally
According to the criteria under consideration, the best email client for Windows among free programs is Mozilla Thunderbird. Extensibility and flexibility of settings allow you to use it with any accounts.
Second place should be given to Claws Mail. An ideal email program that does not require resources. There is nothing superfluous in it, and each parameter can be “adjusted” to the user’s needs.
eM Client takes honorable third place. It is convenient, expandable, but limited in the number of accounts.
Zimbra Desktop is too powerful a “tool” for private use, and Opera Mail has not yet grown from a “separate browser tab” into a full-fledged email client.
