I have been searching for a killer electronic mail app, and this could be 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. For those who do most of your emailing on Home windows, you may know the battle of looking for a superb electronic mail shopper.

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

What I wished was easy: a clear, fashionable, quick, and free electronic mail shopper for Home windows that does not bury me in muddle or adverts. After spending a while attempting out completely different e-mail shoppers, 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 aim: fixing what Thunderbird will get flawed. Thunderbird continues to be broadly used and actively maintained, however its legacy design and gradual replace rollout usually weigh it down. Betterbird, alternatively, 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 wish to me.

Why Betterbird stands out

No adverts and no pointless options

The place Outlook pushes adverts and further companies, Betterbird focuses on the necessities. It is a cross-platform electronic mail shopper that runs on Home windows, Linux, and macOS, nevertheless it feels particularly refreshing on Home windows, the place first rate free shoppers may 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 Change, all main companies are supported — in contrast to Outlook, which generally forces you thru a number of complicated re-authentication hoops. For those who’re coming from Thunderbird, the expertise will really feel acquainted, however the enhancements — like cleaner account administration and fewer bugs — will probably be instantly noticeable.

Options that matter

No bloat

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

Themes are additionally supported, so you possibly can tweak the interface to your liking. For those who’re used to Gmail-style shortcuts, don’t be concerned — you possibly can map them immediately in Betterbird. It feels fashionable sufficient to be recent, with out attempting to reinvent the e-mail app.

All of the necessities are coated by Betterbird, like scheduled sending, labels, filters, and guidelines. For those who want calendars or activity lists, they’re built-in, however they do not dominate the interface. Every characteristic feels sensible, fairly than bolted on, which is the sensation I get once I use Thunderbird these days.

Actually free and open-source

With energetic updates and group assist

Betterbird would not disguise its performance behind paywalls, nor does it muddle your inbox with adverts. It is totally open-source software program, funded by consumer donations, and pushed by the philosophy that electronic mail ought to be a dependable and accessible instrument.

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 except you pay to improve. With Betterbird, the whole lot you see is what you get, it packs full performance from the second you employ the installer.

One among Thunderbird’s greatest criticisms has been the tempo of updates. Butterbird tackles this by releasing fixes and refinements way more rapidly. Bug fixes which 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 may possibly generally really feel prefer it’s ready for Thunderbird’s subsequent massive transfer earlier than it may possibly adapt. Documentation can also be thinner in comparison with Thunderbird, so chances are you’ll often have to dig by boards for solutions to your issues. And whereas the UI is cleaner than Thunderbird, it is not as minimal as fashionable Mac-style electronic mail shoppers. For those who’re anticipating Apple Mail simplicity, Betterbird nonetheless leans towards Microsoft power-user territory.