I have been in search of a killer e-mail app, and this is perhaps it

I do most of my emailing from my iPhone using Apple Mail. On my MacBook, I use Apple Mail once more, however I’ve all the time struggled to discover a solid email client for Windows. Should you do most of your emailing on Home windows, you may know the wrestle of looking for a very good e-mail shopper.

Outlook is bloated (and full of advertisements when you’re utilizing it without spending a dime), Microsoft has killed off Home windows Mail, and browser-based purchasers are messy at greatest. Thunderbird was my open-source selection for years, however in 2025, I really feel it seems to be a bit dated and packs too many options I’ve by no means wanted to make use of.

What I wished was easy: a clear, trendy, quick, and free e-mail shopper for Home windows that does not bury me in litter or advertisements. After spending a while making an attempt out completely different e-mail purchasers, I’ve lastly discovered my favourite: meet Betterbird.

What’s Betterbird?

An up to date Thunderbird

Betterbird is a fork of Mozilla Thunderbird, constructed by its builders with one purpose: fixing what Thunderbird will get fallacious. Thunderbird remains to be broadly used and actively maintained, however its legacy design and sluggish replace rollout usually weigh it down. Betterbird, however, takes the identical open-source basis and makes it sharper, sooner, and simpler to make use of.

The undertaking describes itself as a “higher Thunderbird,” and, after utilizing it for some time, that is exactly what it feels prefer to me.

Why Betterbird stands out

No advertisements and no pointless options

The place Outlook pushes advertisements and further companies, Betterbird focuses on the necessities. It is a cross-platform e-mail shopper that runs on Home windows, Linux, and macOS, but it surely feels particularly refreshing on Home windows, the place first rate free purchasers might be tough to seek out.

The very first thing chances are you’ll discover is Betterbird’s efficiency. It launches rapidly, handles a number of inboxes with out lag, and makes navigating between folders and calendars painless. It takes the Thunderbird core and trims a number of the fats.

Including accounts in Betterbird is quick and simple. From POP to IMAP and Trade, all main companies are supported — in contrast to Outlook, which generally forces you thru a number of complicated re-authentication hoops. Should you’re coming from Thunderbird, the expertise will really feel acquainted, however the enhancements — like cleaner account administration and fewer bugs — will likely be instantly noticeable.

Options that matter

No bloat

Whereas Betterbird most likely will not win any design awards for minimalism, the app does handle to strike a stability that Thunderbird by no means totally managed. The structure is clear, totally customizable, and responsive. There’s correct darkish mode assist, together with the power to tone down blinding white emails in order that they’re simpler on the eyes.

Themes are additionally supported, so you’ll be able to tweak the interface to your liking. Should you’re used to Gmail-style shortcuts, don’t be concerned — you’ll be able to map them immediately in Betterbird. It feels trendy sufficient to be contemporary, with out making an attempt to reinvent the e-mail app.

All of the necessities are lined by Betterbird, like scheduled sending, labels, filters, and guidelines. Should you want calendars or job lists, they’re built-in, however they do not dominate the interface. Every function feels sensible, somewhat than bolted on, which is the sensation I get after I use Thunderbird these days.

Really free and open-source

With lively updates and group assist

Betterbird would not disguise its performance behind paywalls, nor does it litter your inbox with advertisements. It is totally open-source software program, funded by consumer donations, and pushed by the philosophy that e-mail must be a dependable and accessible software.

I discover this to be a refreshing distinction to Microsoft Outlook, which feels extra like a funnel into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, which holds fundamental multi-account assist hostage until you pay to improve. With Betterbird, all the things you see is what you get, it packs full performance from the second you employ the installer.

Considered one of Thunderbird’s greatest criticisms has been the tempo of updates. Butterbird tackles this by releasing fixes and refinements rather more rapidly. Bug fixes that will take months in Thunderbird are inclined to arrive a lot sooner in Betterbird, which, for me, makes it really feel extra polished on a day-to-day foundation.

All of this is not to say that Betterbird is ideal. As a result of it is a fork, it will possibly generally really feel prefer it’s ready for Thunderbird’s subsequent huge transfer earlier than it will possibly adapt. Documentation can also be thinner in comparison with Thunderbird, so chances are you’ll often must dig by boards for solutions to your issues. And whereas the UI is cleaner than Thunderbird, it is not as minimal as trendy Mac-style e-mail purchasers. Should you’re anticipating Apple Mail simplicity, Betterbird nonetheless leans towards Microsoft power-user territory.