Why these email clients?
According to an HBR study, people spend 28% of a workday in email. That's roughly 2.6 hours out of every 8-hour day just sitting in your inbox, which honestly feels low if you ask most professionals. So, it's more important than ever to ensure you have the right tool for the job. There are countless email clients that you can use that aren't Apple Mail.
Look, Apple Mail does the basics. It handles email. But if you're spending almost a third of your workday in email, you probably want something that does more than just "handle" it. The powers of other email clients can do way more for you on macOS by opening up productivity features and allowing you to manage email more effectively instead of drowning in it.
Email is getting smarter for macOS users in 2026. Many email tools now include AI features for crafting responses, intelligent sorting systems that learn which emails actually matter to you, unified inbox views that combine multiple accounts, and automation rules that can save you hours every week. Some apps now let you schedule sends, snooze emails until you're ready to deal with them, and even block read receipts so senders can't track when you opened their message.
The Mac email landscape has evolved beyond just checking messages. We're talking about apps that integrate with your calendar, connect to project management tools, offer team collaboration features for shared inboxes, and provide keyboard shortcuts that let you blast through your inbox in minutes instead of hours.
We picked these email Mac apps based on specific criteria that matter for 2026:
**Standalone macOS App** - Must provide a native Mac application that feels at home on macOS, not just a web wrapper or forcing you to use Gmail through Chrome. Native apps are faster, work offline, integrate with macOS features like Spotlight and notifications, and generally feel better to use every day.
**Powerful Features** - From AI writing assistance to advanced filtering, search that actually works, multiple account management, and productivity features like send later or email templates. You should be able to choose what features suit your workflow without paying for bloat you'll never use.
**Performance** - The app needs to be fast. If an email client is slow to load, laggy when searching, or freezes when handling attachments, it's not worth your time regardless of features.
**Design & User Experience** - You'll be in this app for hours daily. It better look good and feel intuitive to use.
🏆 Top Picks
These are the top winners on Mac: Best for All Round - Superhuman Best for AI - Superhuman Best for Casual Users - Spark Mail Best for Support Teams - Missive
1. Superhuman
Best Overall
Superhuman is one of the most talked about email apps on the market, and honestly, it deserves the hype. You won't find a faster or more polished email experience for Mac users, but this does come with a hefty price tag. At $30 per month, it's designed for busy professionals who handle a mountain of email as part of their work and want something that's fast, powerful, and doesn't waste their time.
The speed is what hits you first. Superhuman loads instantly. Searches happen in milliseconds. Keyboard shortcuts let you fly through your inbox faster than you thought possible. If you've ever felt like your email client was sluggish or laggy, Superhuman feels like switching from a bicycle to a sports car.
It works with Gmail, Google Workspace, and Outlook (they added Outlook support in late 2026, which was a game changer for people stuck in Microsoft ecosystems). Multi-account access means you can manage personal and work emails without constantly logging in and out.
The AI features are legitimately useful, not gimmicky. Superhuman can draft responses for you, summarize long email threads so you can catch up in seconds instead of scrolling forever, and even suggest optimal send times based on when recipients are most likely to respond. The split inbox feature lets you separate important emails from noise automatically.
We can't stress this enough: Superhuman is built for people who live in email. If you're handling 50+ emails a day, managing client communications, or coordinating with teams across time zones, the time savings add up fast. The mobile apps are equally polished and don't feel like afterthoughts, which is rare.
That said, $30/month is steep if you're only checking email a few times a day. And the keyboard shortcut system, while powerful, has a learning curve. You'll need to invest time upfront to get fast with it.
**Pros:** - Beautiful design with customizable themes and dark mode - Stupidly fast UI that makes other email clients feel sluggish - AI features for drafting, summarizing, and send-time optimization - Split inbox automatically separates important emails - Mobile apps are legitimately good, not bloated - Keyboard shortcuts for everything once you learn them
**Cons:** - Very expensive at $30/month for individuals ($25/month if paid annually) - Learning curve for keyboard shortcuts - No unified inbox view (each account is separate) - No free plan or trial without waitlist approval
**Pricing:** Starts at $25/month for individuals (annual billing) or $30/month (monthly billing). Team pricing available.
**Best for:** People spending 3-4+ hours daily in email. Think VCs, investors, executives, consultants, freelancers managing multiple clients, or anyone who treats email as a core part of their job.
2. Spark Mail
Best for Casual Use: Spark Mail
Spark Mail is built by Readdle, one of the leading productivity software companies that's been around for years making solid Mac and iOS apps. Spark has become the go-to free email client for people who want more power than Apple Mail without paying Superhuman prices.
The app has evolved significantly over the years. Readdle keeps updating it with new features, and in 2026 they've been pushing hard on AI capabilities to compete with premium options. Unlike Superhuman, Spark has a generous free tier that gives you most features without paying a cent. This makes it perfect for students, casual users, or anyone who wants better email management on a budget.
The AI features are impressive for a free app. You get smart inbox sorting that learns which emails matter to you, AI writing assistance for drafting responses, and email summaries that condense long threads. The premium tier adds Gatekeeper, which is clutch if you're drowning in promotional emails or newsletters. It basically acts as a bouncer for your inbox, letting you approve or block senders before they clutter your main view.
Spark has won multiple Apple Design Awards, and it shows. The Mac app feels native, fast, and well thought out. The Home screen feature gives you a dashboard view of what's important each day instead of just dumping you into a chronological inbox. Features like Smart Notifications mean you only get pinged for emails that actually matter, not every newsletter signup confirmation.
The unified inbox is great if you're managing multiple accounts (personal Gmail, work email, iCloud, etc.). You can see everything in one view or switch between accounts easily. Honestly, this alone makes it worth switching from Apple Mail.
That said, Spark isn't perfect. Some users report lag on older Macs, though this seems to have improved with recent updates. Customer support gets mixed reviews, and there's no web version if you need to check email from a browser. Also, the premium features ($4.99/month) feel a bit pricey for what you get compared to just using the free version.
**Pros:** - Free tier with most essential features included - Works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and most IMAP providers - Available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android - Smart inbox sorts important emails automatically - Home screen dashboard shows daily priorities - Unified inbox for managing multiple accounts - AI writing and summarization tools - Gatekeeper feature blocks unwanted senders (premium)
**Cons:** - Can lag on older Mac models - No web version for browser access - Customer support is hit or miss based on user reviews - Premium features feel incremental over the free version
**Pricing:** Free for personal use. Premium is $4.99/month per user (billed annually) with team collaboration features available.
**Best for:** Mac users who want powerful email features without paying premium prices. Great for students, casual users, or anyone managing 2-3 email accounts who needs something better than Apple Mail but doesn't want to spend $30/month.
Spark Mail app is a reliable, all-round way to handle and send emails now using AI.
3. Canary Mail
Pros
Canary Mail is a Sequoia-backed AI-based email application designed to help you manage your inbox using artificial intelligence. It is available on various devices, including iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and a Chrome extension. Its goal is to be the most innovative email app available.
It uses AI to perform several tasks to save you time throughout the day, such as writing and summarizing long emails to speed up conversations. One of its powerful features is the AI Sidekick, which allows you to ask questions and even send emails on your behalf.
It has a unified inbox that supports Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange, Office 365, Fastmail, Proton Mail, and more: something that apps like Superhuman lack in their Mac version.
Canary Mail offers features like Read Receipts to alert you when someone reads your email, encrypted email with PGP, and SecureSend for enhanced security. Canary Mail is rapidly becoming a popular tool, especially for Mac users who appreciate its ease of use and resemblance to Apple Mail. It incorporates AI features before Apple integrates similar functionalities into its products.
If artificial intelligence is a crucial factor in your email management, Canary Mail is worth considering. It offers comprehensive features at a reasonable annual price, making it a cost-effective option for long-term use.
Security-focus with PGE security It comes on a range of devices & email accounts AI chatbot assistant for sending emails & more Unified inbox and traditional features There are fewer customizations than tools like Spark People find it resembles Apple Mail a lot Lacking offline features
A smart email app using email AI to learn how you work, and writes emails for you.
4. Mimestream
Pros:
Many people have fallen in love with what Mimestream does. It takes your already well-known Gmail experience and turns it into a native macOS app that is clean and minimal, removing all the noise of ads and messy design and bringing a brilliant, fresh look that you can customize quite extensively.
It uses Gmail's API to give you the best Gmail experience. With categories, labels, filters, calendar invite management, and more, this is the perfect native Mac experience for Gmail users. The app is priced reasonably at $4.99 per month, which will keep the costs down, allowing you to handle all your emails through Mimestream.
If you're an avid Gmail user, Mimestream is one of the cleaner ways to use email.
It uses the Gmail API to bring in brilliant features like categories, labels, etc. For those who don't want to use the web browser or some forced version of Gmail, this is probably the ultimate Gmail experience for Mac users.
Unified inbox & profiles give you customization Organize your inbox with categories, filters & labels Security features for blocking tracked emails Lacks any new AI features Limited to macOS and Gmail
Mimestream takes your Gmail to the next-level with a clean, native macOS email app.
5. Missive
Missive is a well-known collaborative email application that has refined one of the most efficient shared inbox systems for small: and medium-sized businesses. Their Mac application is compelling, offering extensive customization options for email management.
Beyond the variety of themes available, the app enables users to manage multiple email inboxes, such as personal accounts, Google Groups, and even platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
Missive offers extensive customization features, including rules for incoming and outgoing messages, which can help streamline email management. Recently, the app introduced task managementand calendar features, allowing team members to assign tasks and stay aligned on priorities across multiple business accounts.
Missive's Mac application stands out for its speed and near-native experience on Mac devices, a feature not commonly found in collaborative tools. This makes it an excellent choice for teams collaborating on email management across Mac and iOS devices.
Pros:
Total customization of your inbox Great for teams sharing inboxes Integrates with a range of apps Connect up an OpenAI key for AI enhancements It can be a pricier option for individual use
6. Airmail
Airmail elevates the email experience for Mac users with its highly customizable interface and powerful features designed for productivity. It is sort of like Apple Mail but more customizable. It's known for its speed and can easily handle multiple accounts across iCloud, Gmail, and other IMAP services. Airmail shines with its extensive integration options.
It connects with a wide range of third-party apps, such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Todoist, enabling a more focused workflow. Its user-friendly design allows you to tailor the app to your needs, from customized swipes to intelligent filters that work well on macOS and iOS.
Airmail is a top contender for Mac users searching for a ible, feature-rich email client that plays well with other productivity tools.
Rumour has it that Airmail is also coming to Vision Pro by Apple. Airmail is just an upgraded version of the Apple Mail application. It does have some customization and great ways to add multiple accounts, but for Mac users looking to use it, it's probably just a slight upgrade from what you've already got on Apple Mail, with a few more refined design aspects in there.
Pros:
Established Apple Store app Privacy modes built-in The range of account access includes IMAP, POP3, etc. Comes with the Vision Pro app Dark & light modes Design not been updated Airmail Business has low ratings
7. HEY! Email
, you get a new email, domain, and vision for email. Yes, you get a domain with your account and start forwarding emails from other providers. For Mac users who value a clean, organized inbox and are willing to explore a new email philosophy, HEY Email presents a compelling choice because it goes against the grain of other emails by teaching you how to do email correctly; we love that.
HEY email is one of those Mac apps that delivers a very focused experience. If you want to upgrade your email communication style and manage everything in one inbox, Iwould probably say HEY email is the best on the market. It does take a while to get your head around it, but largely, the application is impressive and something that Ihave used for a couple of years and was very impressed by.
Pros:
@hey.com email domain Comes well-developed Productivity-focused email defying rules Combines email with a calendar app Forwards emails to your new hey.com email domain Strict system or process of email Can be deemed expensive
Choosing the Right Email App for Mac
Picking the right email app for Mac really comes down to how you use email and what you're willing to spend.
If you live in your inbox and email is core to your job, Superhuman is worth every penny of that $30/month. The speed alone will save you hours every week, and the AI features are actually useful instead of gimmicky. For consultants, VCs, executives, or anyone handling 100+ emails daily, it pays for itself.
For most people though, Spark Mail hits the sweet spot. The free version gives you 90% of what you need (smart inbox, unified accounts, AI features), and the interface feels modern without being overwhelming. It's what I'd recommend to friends, family, or anyone who just wants email to suck less without paying premium prices.
If you're a Gmail power user who's frustrated with the web interface, Mimestream is stupidly good at what it does. It's basically Gmail but as a beautiful native Mac app. At $5/month, it's reasonable for how much better the experience is.
Teams sharing inboxes (support teams, sales teams, or small agencies) should look at Missive. The collaboration features are miles ahead of trying to share a Gmail account, and the Mac app is fast enough to use all day without wanting to throw your laptop out the window.
Security-focused folks or anyone dealing with sensitive information might prefer Canary Mail for the PGP encryption and privacy features. And if you want to completely rethink how you do email, HEY Email is polarizing but brilliant once you commit to their system.
Bottom line? Don't settle for Apple Mail if you spend more than an hour a day in email. The apps on this list will save you time, reduce stress, and make email feel less like a chore. Try the free options first (Spark, Airmail trial), and only upgrade to paid tools if you actually need the premium features.
Frequently Asked Questions
**What's the best free email app for Mac?**
Spark Mail takes this one. The free tier includes smart inbox sorting, unified accounts, AI writing tools, and works across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It's way more powerful than Apple Mail and costs nothing.
**Is Superhuman worth $30/month?**
If you handle 50+ emails daily and email is core to your job, yes. The speed and AI features save hours every week. But for casual users checking email a few times a day, it's overkill. Stick with Spark or Mimestream.
**Which email app has the best AI features?**
Superhuman and Canary Mail both have strong AI. Superhuman's AI writes better responses and summarizes threads more accurately, but Canary's AI Sidekick is cheaper and works across more platforms.
**Can I use these apps with Outlook/Microsoft 365?**
Yes. Superhuman added Outlook support in late 2026. Spark, Canary Mail, and Missive all work with Microsoft accounts. Mimestream is Gmail-only though.
**What happened to Airmail? Is it still good?**
Airmail still works fine, but the design feels dated compared to newer apps like Spark and Superhuman. It's basically a slightly upgraded Apple Mail. The Vision Pro version might breathe new life into it, but for now there are better options.
**Which app is best for managing multiple email accounts?**
Spark Mail and Canary Mail both have excellent unified inbox features. Spark's free tier makes it the better value unless you need Canary's security features.
**Do any of these work offline?**
Superhuman, Spark, Mimestream, and Airmail all have solid offline support. Canary Mail's offline mode is weaker. HEY Email requires internet for most features.