If you are on the lookout for a new email client, it might be helpful to get to know your options before deciding. In this article, we will delve into how eM Client and Mailbird compare against each other in terms of features, costs, and which one could be the best choice for you.
eM Client and Mailbird have been around for some time already, and both have earned their spot on the market - eM Client is a European company, established in Czechia in 2007, while Mailbird was originally founded in Bali in 2012, and its current headquarters is in the US.
Features
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Email and productivity features
The eM Client app has email, calendar, tasks, contacts, chat and notes sections for viewing and managing your data from multiple providers. You will enjoy tools such as rules and filters, Quick Actions, Quick Texts, snooze, watch for replies, delayed send, or instant email translation. Cloud attachments via Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or ownCloud will enhance your data security (as you can delete or revoke access to them at any time) and solve any email server limitations when sending larger files.
Automatic backup of your settings and downloaded data will give you peace of mind, as the app can be restored in case anything goes wrong.
Some features are limited in the basic free license (which can use 2 email accounts).
Mailbird provides a unified view of all your email inboxes and tools like snooze, send later, undo send, or templates. Only one email account can be added with the basic free license. There are also limitations to adding an Exchange email account, as this option is not available for free license users.
Mailbird can also be used as a calendar app, but it only supports Google Calendar, Exchange, and Outlook calendars. The calendar does not support CalDAV or CardDAV, and there are no plans to integrate them in the future. This means you won't be able to connect your iCloud and other CalDAV/CardDAV calendars, which might be a deal-breaker for some users.
Mailbird tasks and to-do support are more limited and rely on integrations.
The possibility of running various third-party tools inside the Mailbird app might be a huge plus, as it allows a high level of customization and reduces the need to switch windows. You'll be able to connect your ChatGPT, Slack, Asana, WhatsApp, and many others.
To access app integrations, you’ll need to purchase a license, as the free plan does not include them. Additionally, some integrations are available only in higher subscription tiers (Premium), while older (no longer sold) license tiers provide a more limited access.
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Privacy and security
Both eM Client and Mailbird store user account and message data only locally on your device, and they collect basic details about the licenses needed to keep the app on your device activated. Both apps provide features to block external content and tracking pixels in emails you receive.
eM Client is based in the EU, so your data is protected by the GDPR law. Mailbird, although US-based, also claims to follow GDPR.
eM Client follows a strict zero-access approach for your data: the company has no way to access your accounts or messages. The app can collect anonymized usage data locally for telemetry purposes, but this data is never sent anywhere unless you explicitly approve it through a dedicated consent prompt.
Mailbird takes a slightly different approach. It collects telemetry data and automatically sends it to Mixpanel by default. Users can disable this in the app settings, but it is enabled out of the box.
Mailbird also includes a real-time open tracking feature. Using Email Tracking within the European Union violates the GDPR law unless the user has obtained explicit consent from any recipients affected by it.
eM Client supports PGP or S/MIME encryption as well as digital signatures to confirm the sender's identity on top of the in-transit encryption (TLS). Users can take advantage of blocking external content and images, thus protecting themselves from tracking pixels or malicious content. The desktop app can be further secured by enabling a startup password that prevents others from accessing it.
Emails sent with Mailbird are only protected by the standard in-transit encryption (TLS), with no additional encryption features. To use PGP encryption, you would have to rely on your email provider, like ProtonMail. Because of this, Mailbird may not be optimal for security-oriented users.
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AI integration
eM Client and Mailbird AI integrations are powered by OpenAI; however, the methods and costs are different.
eM Client implements the AI features seamlessly in the app UI, giving the option to quickly reply to messages using AI, proofread, or change the message's phrasing and tone. Although the prompts are subject to OpenAI's privacy policy, they are not used for further training of the Language Model.
The AI is an add-on; it can be disabled completely in the app's settings. It is included in the subscription plan or can be purchased separately if you use the one-time payment or free license.
Right now, the add-on is the only way to use AI features in eM Client, but the option to allow users to use their own OpenAI API keys is planned in the upcoming eM Client 11 release, which will make using AI easier to customize and control.
Mailbird gives the option to add ChatGPT as an app integration if you have a Premium license. Once you add and activate it, you'll find it in your Apps sidebar. However, an important point to consider is that Mailbird lacks integrated AI features for easy email drafting or editing. It is simply a ChatGPT mini-interface where you can type in prompts, and it isn't available directly in the compose window or as an immediate reply tool, for example.
Costs
Mailbird Premium is available for around $50 per year with the subscription license, rising to a total of $250 in case you keep using it for 5 years. The one-time payment license (Pay Once) with Lifetime Updates is offered for $169.
For approximately $60, users can access Leave Me Alone features for better management of spam and newsletters. This feature will be billed annually and can also be added to a one-time payment license.
There used to be a Standard tier for paid licenses; however, this tier stopped being available for new purchases sometime after 2023, with no official statement regarding this decision from Mailbird.
Mailbird advertises customized deals for businesses with teams of 10 or more members. While business prices aren't publicly available, interested users can fill out a contact form to learn more.
Mailbird's licensing and pricing have seen several changes, leading to some controversy. The lifetime licenses for version 2.0 were advertised as including lifetime access to all future versions. However, users who previously bought these licenses found they couldn't use them with Mailbird 3.0. Consequently, they were also locked out of using the newly added Mailbird macOS version. While there seem to be upgrade options if users contact Mailbird support directly, they come at an extra cost, raising concerns about the validity of Mailbird's "lifetime updates" claims for the future.
eM Client previously offered only one-time payment licenses, and the subscription option was introduced in 2024. The paid licenses are categorized as Personal and Business, with both subscription and one-time payment available. Personal and Business licenses have replaced the earlier Pro license; however, all previously purchased Pro licenses remain valid. Additionally, all Pro licenses with lifetime upgrades are valid for future updates. This means that legacy users can rest assured they will not miss out on any future improvements.
The one-time payment licenses are the most cost-effective: a Personal license costs $150, which includes lifetime upgrades to all future versions, while a Business license for one device with lifetime upgrades costs $180.
Considerable quantity discounts apply to Business licenses (both one-time and subscription versions). For one-time payments, the price can drop to $80 per device, including lifetime upgrades, in case of a 10-device license purchase. If you need to buy a license for 50 or more devices, then you need to reach out to eM Client’s sales team directly for a custom offer.
Which one will fit your needs?
eM Client is a full productivity suite with email, calendar, tasks, notes, contacts, and chats. It does not rely heavily on third-party apps but allows you to connect a wide range of accounts from various providers. Choose eM Client if you need built-in encryption, value privacy, and want to use AI features seamlessly. Businesses might appreciate that eM Client comes with additional admin tools, allowing for centralized deployment and mass licensing.
And if a free, fully featured mobile app for Android or iOS is a must for you, eM Client is the better choice.
Mailbird will fit you if you want a clean, modern, and modular interface to manage your emails. It's a decent option for those who prefer simplicity or wish to integrate email with web-based tools instead of relying on a comprehensive suite. If you already rely on other cloud/web services (for tasks, notes, calendars, chat) and want to unite them into one interface, Mailbird might be the better fit for you.
eM Client and Mailbird are capable alternatives to basic webmail, offering features that will enhance both your private and work communication.
Users who prefer a minimalistic interface and only work primarily with one email account might appreciate Mailbird, especially if they're content with the essentials available in the free version.
By contrast, eM Client provides two accounts in its free tier, an unlimited number of accounts with paid licenses, and maintains a more consistent long-term approach to pricing and licensing. Users who value predictability and a broader set of built-in tools might want to choose eM Client.
Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your priorities and which platform you feel more comfortable relying on in the long run.