24th Aug, 2024
Optimize your productivity with email on Mac by selecting from a shortlist of the best Mac email apps on the market. Mac email apps can help you handle email with speed, reliability and power features you don't get on Gmail. Let's explore these further.
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Mac users always argue that things rock for them, and that's no exception for email.
There are countless email clients that you can use that aren't Apple Mail. While we aren't bashing Apple Mail, the powers of other email clients can do more for you on macOS by opening up more daily productivity and allowing you to handle email more effectively.
Email is also getting smarter for macOS users in 2024, as many email tools now include gen-AI features for crafting the perfect email, tools for organizing where emails go, and many more tools that can unlock those extra saved minutes in a day.
According to an HBR study, people spend 28% of a workday in email. So, it's more important than ever to ensure that you have the right tool.
Alongside this video, we've created a handy guide to browse these email apps and consider:
Email apps can be very much the same across the board with a few power features in between; we picked these email Mac apps based on the following criteria:
Here's a breakdown of the best features, pricing & details:
Tool | Best For | Pricing (approx) |
---|---|---|
Busy professionals | $30 per month | |
Everyday email users | $7.99 per month | |
AI email assistance | $49.99 per year | |
Upgrading Gmail on Mac | $49.99 per year | |
Collaboration in teams | $18 per month | |
Everyday email users | $49.99 one-off | |
Power users of email | $8 per month | |
Email productivity | $99 per year |
Superhuman is an email client for busy professionals and team collaboration. It works with Gmail and Outlook across various devices, including macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and web access.
Superhuman is known for a fast, powerful email with email triage and AI features that help clear your inbox. It is more suitable for those who spend much time in their inbox. Superhuman is a premium email software that charges over $30 per month. It comes as one of our top-rated email apps for macOS and is highly noted.
Superhuman is one of the most talked about email apps on the market.
You won't find a faster or better email experience for Mac users, but this does come with a price. At $30 per month, it is designed for busy professionals who handle a lot of email as part of their work and want something robust, fast, and easy to use.
It is available on all major devices and works with Gmail, Google Workspace, and Outlook, meaning you can access those with multi-account access. We can't stress anymore that this is much more suitable for those who handle email daily. The speed at which Superhuman works, including the easy-to-use mobile apps and quality-of-life features, are all packed into this email client well. We'd recommend it best for people spending between 3-4 hours a day on email and tend to work in an industry where email impacts their output, like being self-employed, a VC or investor, a freelancer, or roles like this.
Most of Superhuman's power is unlocked when you can use keyboard shortcuts to browse through your inbox faster—things like searching, organizing calendar events, and reminding me later can be quickly learned with a series of keyboard commands accessible from the command bar packed into the tool.
Superhuman has been investing more and more into their AI offering - with now a range of features like AI search that can allow you to use natural language to search your inbox, source relevant emails, using it to craft an email, summarize an email, and much more that helps you save time across a day.
There are more traditional features in Superhuman, like triage, which works well on Mac and allows you to split inboxes up to see a feed of emails that meet specific criteria. This makes email much more approachable.
Features like snippets enable you to create templates you can use as canned responses to people or share with other team members using Superhuman. Overall, Superhuman is a fast and powerful option for Mac users needing work-related email.
Superhuman cost and pricing breakdowns:
Pricing | Pricing (approx) | Included |
---|---|---|
Individual Annual | $25 per month | All personal features |
Business Annual | $33 per month, per user | Advanced AI, Sales features, coaching |
Enterprise | Reach out | Advanced administration |
Superhuman is not free. They charge monthly for their product, and there is only a free trial to experience the tool. You'll find a generous discount here.
Spark Mail is an email client that Readdle builds. It works on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS to help you manage your emails. It connects to IMAP, iCloud, Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail, and Google Workspace.
Spark Mail has been developing AI features that allow you to send, organize, and manage your inbox more effectively.
Spark Mail is built by Readdle, one of the leading productivity software providers. The email application has been used for many years and constantly evolves yearly to improve email users' inbox management.
Unlike Superhuman, Spark can be used for free and is much more suitable for those who want something better and bolder than Gmail and Apple Mail but are on a reduced budget and want something free to get started with.
They, too, have invested a lot into developing more AI features to help users better manage the busyness of their day while nursing their already brilliant tools for handling email and focusing on the more important emails you have. Spark has won numerous Apple awards for building a high-quality iOS and macOS app that millions use to manage their email better.
Features like prioritize help you find critical emails more efficiently; in Spark premium, a Gatekeeper feature is suitable for those who want to block incoming emails more effectively. Alongside this, Spark Mail tries to help you focus with an intelligent inbox and a home screen to help you see what's valuable to your day.
Spark Mail also doesn't limit access to email accounts and providers. It also has IMAP, iCloud, Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail, and Google Workspace, which you can connect with, reducing the need for limitations. Premium is a much more approachable price than Superhuman, which is $4.99 monthly. Superhuman is much more reasonable and unlocks many of the prioritization features for your inox.
Spark Mail has recently added calendar abilities for connecting with meetings and seeing what's next on your schedule.
Spark Mail is good software for Mac users who use email daily and need something more powerful than Apple Mail but with a familiar nature. It is also free.
Spark Mail is free with some premium pricing to unlock features:
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Basic | Free |
Premium (Monthly) | $7.99 per month |
Premium (Annually) | $59.99 per year |
Canary Mail is an iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS email client with a Chrome extension for reading receipts.
It uses AI to help you save time sending, organizing, and handling emails. It claims to be the most intelligent email app.
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 smartest 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.
The Smart Prioritization feature helps you segment your inbox based on categories like For You, Teams, Need to Reply, and more.
It also includes a Bulk Cleaner to delete multiple emails simultaneously, similar to apps like SaneBox. Other standard features include Pin, Snooze, and Send Later, which are common in apps like Gmail. Canary Mail also enhances email security by warning you about potential phishing scams within your inbox.
The app is ad-free and has a reasonably approachable premium pricing model. It offers a 28-day free trial for the premium version and free access for students and personal users. The yearly premium pricing is currently $49, providing access to nearly all features. An enterprise plan at $100 per user per year offers more administrative and security features.
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.
There are no limits on the number of emails you can add to Canary Mail in their free subscription, which is good.
Canary Mail has free pricing but charges $49 per year for access for premium.
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Basic | Free |
Pro | $49 per year |
Enterprise | $100 per user, per year |
Mimestream is an email client that connects with Gmail accounts and works only on macOS. It is designed to be a native macOS email client that helps you handle your Gmail emails in one place.
Many people like the minimal features of Mimestream and its simple ability to manage your inbox.
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.
Many people say that Mimestream is an upgraded way to use Gmail, and they tend to enjoy how well the application works on macOS. It is almost like Apple Mail and Gmail had a baby, but the design is much more excellent, with some powerful features thrown in.
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.
Mimestream charges $49.99 per year and, or $4.99 per month.
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Monthly | $4.99 |
Annually | $49.99 |
There is no free plan to Mimestream
Missive is email collaboration software used by teams. It is suitable for small- to medium-sized teams that manage emails together. Missive is also known as shared inbox software.
It is available for iOS, Android, desktop, and web. Many people in agencies, sales teams, and customer support operations find that Missive helps them align, but it can also be used by a solo user with a VA or with a small team.
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 over the years.
Their Mac application is particularly powerful, 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.
Additionally, it integrates with your website to facilitate a live chat function, allowing direct communication with customers. The Mac application features a command bar that allows users to quickly search, navigate, assign tasks, and access various app and conversation actions.
Missive offers extensive customization features, including rules for incoming and outgoing messages, which can help streamline email management. Recently, the app introduced task management and calendar features, allowing team members to assign tasks and stay aligned on priorities across multiple business accounts.
Missive's key advantage is managing personal and business accounts within a single platform, making it versatile for individual and professional use. The app also includes a chat feature within emails, enabling a chat-like experience where users can partially quote and refine email content before sending it.
The application provides analytics to track key performance metrics, such as response times, which is particularly beneficial for customer support teams. Furthermore, it offers robust customization options, including centralized management of email signatures and canned responses, which allows teams to maintain consistent communication templates.
The best feature people rate highly when using Missive is the ability to customize and personalize their account, from managing IMAP settings to aliases and connecting apps like ChatGPT and Todoist.
Missive is one of the most interesting apps in the email space because it combines personal and team use. It allows users to collaborate on emails in a customized environment for Mac users.
I would probably say this best suits those who want to manage their productivity with more customization and want a solid email app. They are also open to expanding their team in the future or currently have a small team.
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.
Pricing starts from $18 per month:
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Starter (Annual) | $14 per month |
Productive (Annual) | $24 per month |
Business (Annual) | $36 per month |
Missive can be used for up to 3 users, a 15-day history & 5 shared accounts per user.
Airmail is an email client popular on iOS and Mac. Like Apple Mail, It wants to add more customization and power features tailored for emailing on Apple devices. It comes on Apple Watch, iPadOS, Apple Vision Pro, and more.
It is one of the best email apps for Mac users. In 2017, it won Apple's design award.
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, connecting with a wide range of third-party apps like 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 smart filters that work well on macOS and iOS.Airmail is a top contender for Mac users searching for a flexible, feature-rich email client that plays well with other productivity tools. Rumour has it that Airmail is coming to Vision Pro by Apple, too.
Airmail is just an upgraded version of the Apple Mail application. It does have some customization and great ways to bring in multiple accounts, but for those 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.
Airmail is free to download for iOS & macOS.
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Pro (Month) | $5.99 per month |
Pro (Annual) | $29.99 per year |
Business (One-Off) | $49.99 one-off |
Mailspring is an open-source email client for Mac, Linux, and Windows. It helps connect multiple email accounts and has many powerful features for sending campaigns and upgrading email communication, such as read receipts, link tracking, and signatures.
Mailspring was formely Nylas Mail and is non-VC backed.
Mailspring is an open-source email application available on Mac, Linux, and Windows. It has become very popular with those who want a unified inbox and some of the multiple account features like IMAP and Office 365.
It comes with a wide variety of advanced search, signatures, translation, spellcheck, and other advanced abilities. There are a bunch of them as well. On the side of Mailspring Pro, there are some abilities like managing your busy inbox with read receipts, link tracking, quick email replies, and insights, which is priced at eight dollars per month.
With its open-source foundation, MailSpring promises continuous improvements and a customizable experience. It caters to those who value flexibility and efficiency in their email management and has a good unified inbox.
I would probably recommend Mailspring for those who want a more advanced email app when it comes to reading receipts and functions very similar in nature to Newton Mail. This application is just an upgraded version of Apple Mail with an open-source-focused experience. If you're looking to get a more accurate email experience regarding link tracking and insights, then that's something you might pay for an upgraded experience.
Mailspring has a Pro version that has monthly pricing:
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Basic | Free |
Pro | $8 per month |
HEY Email is an email app owned and managed by 37Signals, the creators of Basecamp.
HEY is available on iOS, Android, desktop, and web. It costs $99 per year and offers a combination of email and calendars for better productivity.
With HEY!, 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 the right way, we love that. Whether you're a productivity enthusiast or someone looking to reclaim control over your email, Hey Email offers a fresh, engaging approach that aligns well with the needs and values of Mac users seeking efficiency and simplicity in their digital communication.
The newly launched HEY! Calendar is also packed into the $99 per year membership.
Hey email is one of those apps for Mac that really does deliver a very focused experience. If you want to upgrade your email communication style and manage everything in one inbox, I would probably say Hey email is the best on the market for that. It does take a while to get your head around it, but largely, the application is impressive and something that I have used for a couple of years and was very impressed by.
HEY Email is $99 per year and includes both calendar & email at the same price.
Plans | Pricing |
---|---|
Annual | $99 per year |
For Domains | $12 per month |
HEY is not free but allows for a 30-day free trial for new users.
First and foremost, Apple Mail is installed on Mac users and is a go-to choice for them, seamlessly connecting to the macOS ecosystem.
It has a straightforward, user-friendly interface, making email fairly easy for both newcomers and seasoned users. It also integrates well with other Apple apps and services, like Calendar and Contacts.
Apple Mail has intelligent abilities, like Smart Mailboxes and VIPs, that help you prioritize essential messages and keep things in order and organized, but they are very manual. Apple Mail is a solid choice for those invested in the macOS ecosystem.
Remember, before you head away from Apple Mail, it is set to get significant upgrades in the next iOS 18 release with Apple Intelligence. Please don't write it off yet.
Here are some of the best recommendations for your Mac and using the right email client:
These are the all-rounders with the best fit for everyone:
These are the ones you can use gen-AI to your advance inside of your email:
These email clients for mac handle Gmail and Google Workspace the best:
As someone who loves using a Mac to manage email, I've explored various applications over the years, including Hey Email and Tempo (before it shut down).
Recently, I switched to Superhuman, and the difference between dedicated Mac apps and regular web-based email clients is strikingly evident. A well-built Mac app can save a significant amount of time, especially with features like a command bar and offline access. Being able to draft and send emails without an internet connection is a huge advantage, particularly when traveling by train or plane.
I chose Superhuman for Mac mainly because it's fast and reliable.
Many users describe it as faster than Gmail and even liken the experience to playing a game, which I found to be true. It loads quickly, allows for offline emailing, and has a powerful command bar that streamlines productivity. However, I understand that Superhuman might be out of budget for some. Therefore, finding a good, affordable Mac email app is crucial.
Since I spend a lot of time in my inbox and work for myself, I can justify expensing Superhuman as a business tool. It helps me be more productive and, ultimately, brings in more income. However, I'd consider Hey Email, Airmail, or Spark Mail if I needed a more budget-friendly option. All three are reliable and well-respected apps that I've used before.
Spark Mail is a solid choice for those looking for an everyday solution. If you prefer Gmail but want a native Mac experience, Mimestream is an excellent option. AirMail is another great app that enhances the standard Apple Mail experience.
These are my thoughts on the Mac email apps I've used and why I ultimately went with Superhuman.
Here are some more considerations to have when exploring the world of Mac email apps:
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