Mailspring vs Thunderbird

Mailspring and Thunderbird are both email clients, yes, but much like comparing a spaceship to a very clever potato, they go about their business in wildly different ways. Mailspring, for instance, prides itself on being the email client for people who don't care what planet they’re on—Windows, macOS, Linux? No problem! Thunderbird, however, says, “I see your cross-platform versatility and raise you FreeBSD,” throwing in support for obscure systems as if it’s collecting rare postage stamps. It also enlists the help of third-party apps to sneak onto mobile devices like a particularly determined ferret.

Then, of course, there's the design. Mailspring opts for sleek modernity, looking like it just got back from a spa retreat. It offers a glossy experience with conversation views and swipe gestures that make sorting through emails feel almost like playing a rather boring video game. Thunderbird, however, approaches things with the quiet confidence of a wise old owl in sensible shoes. Its interface may not be quite as glamorous, but it makes up for that with a vast library of add-ons and extensions that allow you to turn your inbox into a veritable Swiss Army knife of productivity.

In the end, Mailspring is the flashy convertible zipping down the email highway, while Thunderbird is the reliable, no-nonsense sedan that’s been to the moon and back—and can be modified with rocket boosters if you know where to look. Both will get you where you need to go, but the ride, oh, the ride will be entirely up to you.

See also: Top 10 Email Clients