Not getting enough from the built-in Mail app on your Mac? Perhaps you’re a Gmail user that wants both delete and archive functionality at your fingertips, or maybe you want Dropbox support for file attachments. Whatever the reason, there are a few great alternatives when it comes to handling email on the Mac. These are currently the best Mac apps to help you get your inbox under control…
Airmail 2
The only option for power users
Airmail 2 offers almost any feature you could ever want in an email app. I’ve used it with every account type I can think of and I’ve never run into an account it didn’t support, including Exchange accounts with one-off host and server addresses. Keep in mind that Airmail 2 isn’t built with simplicity in mind, it’s built for the power user. You can customize almost any part of your experience and personalize the interface with a wide array of different themes and column styles. One of my favorite features of Airmail 2 is how it lets you handle archive and delete, an important option for Gmail users. I have it set so pressing delete on my Mac’s keyboard archives the message. Pressing Shift + Delete sends it to the trash. Quick, easy, and efficient. Airmail 2 supports more Mac app integrations than any other email app you’ll find. Want to send a message to Evernote or your todo app of choice? Airmail 2 supports it. Airmail 2 also supports Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Droplr, Cloudapp, FTP, and more for image attachments. And as of Airmail version 2.6, Airmail also supports native snooze options. It may take you a little longer to configure and set up just the way you like, but the feature set you get out of Airmail 2 makes it more than worth it.
* $9.99 – Download See also:
- Airmail for iPhone – $4.99 – Download
Mail Pilot 2
Turn your inbox into a todo list
Some people function better when they can think of everything in the form of a task. This is exactly what Mail Pilot 2 does best. Just like Mailbox, you can set aside emails for later. Mail Pilot 2 takes this one step further. You can add things to set aside with zero reminders or you can choose to add a reminder for a certain data and/or time. If you choose a simple set aside, it will sit in that section until you check it and clear it out. Reminders will clear them out of your inbox until the date and time you specify. When that time arrives, they’ll show up in your inbox again. Instead of gestures, Mail Pilot 2 gives you useful keyboard shortcuts that are visible by right clicking any email. You can also see suggestions at the top and bottom of the message window. The shortcuts that appear in message windows will dynamically change to show what options you have based on what you have selected. This way you can read, triage, and sort without ever taking your hands off the keyboard. Most mail accounts will be supported with Mail Pilot 2, including Outlook and custom Exchange accounts. Also worth mentioning, Mail Pilot 2 never stores your data on third-party servers.
* $9.99 – Download
Outlook
For any and all of your Exchange needs
If you have an Exchange account that you heavily rely on, the native Outlook app for Mac has not only improved in the past year or so, it has become downright enjoyable to use. I used to use Airmail for all my Exchange accounts but I’ve actually started using Outlook more and more. It helps me keep my personal and work accounts separate and gives me access to other parts of my Exchange account that are better managed natively, such as Exchange event invites, tasks, and calendars. The Outlook app isn’t just limited to Exchange accounts either. If you prefer having all your email accounts under one roof, Outlook most likely supports whatever account type you need, including iCloud. The Outlook for iOS app is the same way, which makes it ideal for those that are tied to Exchange for work but would also like their personal accounts in the same app. If great Exchange support is a must-have but you don’t need the robust feature set of Airmail 2, I’d highly recommend giving Outlook a try.
* Free w/ Office 365 subscription – Download See also:
Nylas N1
Open source customizations, plugin support
Nylas N1 is a relatively new client (and still in development) but it shows a lot of potential. The interface is clean, easy to navigate, and lets you customize what shortcut types you prefer (Apple Mail, Gmail, or Outlook). Support for many different mail clients is already available — including iCloud, Gmail, Exchange, and more. The coolest part of N1 is its support for plugins. For example, you can activate the templates plugin which lets you save email templates for continuous use. You can also activate plugins that show sender’s Github pages, and can even translate outgoing messages into tons of different languages. If you want other plugins, N1 is open source so you can either create your own or browse for ones others have created. My only dislike so far is the lack of a combined inbox view. When you need to triage emails quickly, this is something I find necessary. But considering N1 is still new, I’d be willing to bet we’ll see it in a later version. For now, Nylas N1 is off to a great start and is a decent option for anyone who wants custom options they can grow with.
* Free – Download
what about outlook?
Can’t believe I forgot that one! I’ll add it!
Hey! Nice article. I used to use Mailbox on my mac and iOS for work and play (we have google app). The problem is that Mailbox on Mac would crash all the time, and would not support power features like smart signatures etc. — this forced me on to Airmail 2 – which is excellent.
Have you tested UNIBOX or POSTBOX?
I have used Postbox. It feels very dated to me.
I know this isn’t exactly email-based, but it is related to the productivity world of email+calendars. Anyone know why Microsoft failed to support Google Calendars in their Outlook 2016 product? Or when they plan to support it?
Email-wise on OS X, love Airmail 2 and Mailbox.
I was wondering this as well. I’ve never been able to figure out whether or not they’ll support it.
I am still amazed that, after all these years, there is no Mac equivalent to Outlook for Windows. I know there is an “Outlook” for Mac, but in my office, Outlook/Windows lets me drag an email to a calendar so that it magically becomes an appointment. Or to a To-Do list. Or vice-versa!
Have you tried the updated version?
I have downloaded and tried most email clients on my Mac, and I think Airmail 2 is undoubtedly the best.
Agreed, it’s been my client of choice for a long time now. – Ally 🙂
Is Airmail2 coming out with an iOS version of their Mail App for users who check emails from iPhone throughout the day?
I thought I heard yes a while back but haven’t heard anything else.
I was so disappointed when mailbox told us it’s dropping its service. I love that I can quickly rifle through all those emails. Now I’m a mess trying to find a OS X iOS replacement. Love the quick sort features and simple UX. Can’t believe there are so little choices for replacements.
I’ve been using Airmail 2 for a month, and am very happy with it. EXCEPT that its spam filtering is broken. It uses SpamSieve, which I have used for years and like, but the interface appears to be broken. So I have to hand filter my spam. As a result, I’m looking for something else, with regret.
I don’t have an issue with spam in Airmail so that’s strange. Do you have that much spam?
About 15 spams a day on average, but peak is probably 50 on some days. I am about to submit a trouble ticket to Airmail.
I have since dropped Airmail2 entirely. About .5 percent of my messages never got downloaded. I could see them on the server, but I only discovered them as a result of follow-up messages!
So I now use MailMate. It’s more power than I need or want, but it seems bullet-proof.
I agree with the gentlemen that commented about the disappointment of mailbox closing it’s doors… I have used mailbox since the first day it came out and every since then It has been my number one email app… and a damn good one at that. I heard Spark was good but I’ve yet to try it….
Spark is very good.
Have you thought about adding CloudMagic to the list?
It’s on my list to look at for inclusion, yes. 🙂
Kiwi for Gmail – all the benefits of Gmail with the advantage of an app and a nice Do Not Disturb feature.
Very frustrated with the Address Book/Contacts interface in Air Mail 2.
– address view does not present addresses in any logical fashion
– unable to edit addresses listed in address view
– support pages (knowledge base) are typically over a year old.
I don’t have issues with things showing up, and in logical order (aka the most emailed addresses show up first). Can you email me more of what you’re talking about and I’ll pass that info along to the developer? ally@theappfactor.com
inky?
Not sure if this post has taken into account el Capitan and its assorted Mail problems. So what software is foolproof on El Capitan to handle mail? Would Airmail stand up? Many thanks, if you would reply.
I’ve been using Airmail 2 on El Capitan for months with zero issue.
The only one I have found that is bulletproof (in my experience so far, and also according to Mac Power Users podcast) is MailMate. Others have all lost messages, had indexing corruption, or other problems. I spent several weeks on this issue in 2016.
A couple notes about Mail Pilot 2 here.
I had read a bunch of great reviews of Mail Pilot 2, including the podcast Mac Power Users, so I bought it. I like the shortcuts and marking messages as Completed, as well as parts of the interface. But two deal-breakers seem so obvious that I can’t believe th
My last comment got cut off. Sorry. Is there a character limit?
Yes there is, sorry – it’s to cut down on spam. I’ll see if I can increase it a bit.
OK I’ll try again & write a haiku! Deal-breakers in Mail Pilot 2:
I have to click on the tiny “i” to see who else received a message.
You can’t search your folders/boxes on more than one criteria.
Slow.
Thanks for your reviews. Do you (or any of your readers) know of any mail app that allows you to send from different email addresses? In Thunderbird and long lost Eudora (I still miss her), you could set up multiple “personalities” to send from – your work address, etc.
Forget Nylas 1, it doesn’t have an “empty trash” a basic feature. Also, to have multiple accounts you have to put it on the “cloud” or their server. They have all your mail!!
I have tried many email programs and have stayed with Macs native mail but I added MailTags. This allows me to tag mails, add notes, add reminders etc. Mailtags adds a lot of functions that should be part of any mail program, in my opinion.
I’ve yet to find a mail program that allows me to have multiple open, persistent folders (a Eudora feature). I’ve tried Mail with Mail Actions, but I have to re-open the folders each time I open Mail.