Home » Mailspring

Mailspring

Mailspring — Cross-Platform Mail Client with a Clean Look

General Information
Mailspring grew out of the old Nylas Mail project after it was rewritten for speed and stability. Unlike heavy enterprise clients, it’s meant to be quick, minimal, and easy to run on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

The free edition covers the basics — multiple IMAP accounts, unified inbox, and fast local search. Some people move to it from Thunderbird because they want something lighter, others use it just to keep Gmail, O

Share buttons

Mailspring — Cross-Platform Mail Client with a Clean Look

How It Works
Mailspring is built on Electron, so technically it’s a web app wrapped for desktop, but it feels native enough. Accounts connect through IMAP/SMTP, nothing proprietary. Mail headers and indexes are cached locally for instant search, while bodies stay synced with the server.

For everyday use it’s pretty simple: open the app, check the unified inbox, reply, archive, move on. Paid users unlock extras like snooze, read receipts, and templates, but the core client works fine without them.

Installation Guide
1. Download the installer for your OS.
2. Run it like any desktop app.
3. Add accounts with IMAP/SMTP settings.
4. Set unified inbox or keep accounts separate.
5. Adjust preferences (themes, notifications).

Nothing unusual here — it’s a desktop program, not a server.

Everyday Use
– Freelancers like it because they can juggle personal + work accounts without browser tabs everywhere.
– Students install it as a cleaner alternative to Thunderbird.
– Small offices roll it out on Windows PCs when staff just need mail and search, no collaboration extras.

It feels like webmail in terms of look, but it’s local, no ads, no tracking.

Limitations
Mailspring doesn’t support Exchange ActiveSync, only IMAP. Pro features need a subscription. Being an Electron app, it’s a bit heavier on RAM than native clients. And while it looks modern, it lacks calendars or advanced plugins that Thunderbird or Outlook provide.

Notes from the Field
Admins note that the biggest win with Mailspring is how little training it needs — people open it and just start using it. The only caveat: mailbox indexing can get slow if you sync tens of gigabytes of old mail. For normal use, though, it’s quick and tidy.

Other programs

hMailServer

hMailServer — Lightweight Mail Server for Windows General Information hMailServer has long been a go-to mail server for Windows admins who don’t want the overhead of Microsoft Exchange. It’s free, open source, and delivers the essentials: SMTP, POP3, and IMAP. Nothing fancy, just a solid service that runs quietly once set up.

It’s often deployed in small offices, schools, or as a relay in labs. The attraction is obvious: a small footprint, no license costs, and a GUI admin console that feels fa

Zoho Mail Desktop

Zoho Mail Desktop — Native Client for Zoho Mail General Information Zoho Mail Desktop is the desktop companion to Zoho’s cloud mail service. It was built for one purpose — to give users the same look and feel as the web client, but with offline access and native notifications. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is often deployed in companies that already run Zoho Workplace.

Unlike using Outlook or Thunderbird, there’s no need to fight with IMAP settings or worry about features no

Zimbra OSE

Zimbra OSE — Open Source Groupware Suite General Information Zimbra OSE (Open Source Edition) is the free community build of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite. It’s been around for years as one of the main self-hosted alternatives to Microsoft Exchange. Unlike basic webmail, it includes mail, shared calendars, contacts, and tasks — so it feels closer to groupware than just a mailbox.

A lot of schools, universities, and even municipalities in Europe have adopted it. The reason is simple: no licensi

Zarafa (Kopano)

Zarafa (Kopano) — Open Source Groupware and Collaboration Platform General Information Zarafa was originally launched in the mid-2000s as an open-source groupware server built around compatibility with Microsoft Outlook. Later the project evolved into Kopano, which extended the original mail and calendar features with chat, video meetings, and document collaboration.

It was widely adopted in Europe, especially by organizations looking for an Exchange alternative that could still keep Outlook as

Xeams

Xeams — Spam Firewall and Mail Server in One Package General Information Xeams is a Java-based mail platform that can run in different roles. Some treat it purely as a spam firewall, sitting in front of Exchange or Postfix. Others use it as a full mail server with IMAP and SMTP. The idea is simple: one product that can be adjusted to fit what the site actually needs.

It’s not new in the market, but admins still bring it up when they want something flexible, cross-platform, and easy to manage th

Tutanota

Tutanota — End-to-End Encrypted Email Service General Information Tutanota is one of those projects that put privacy front and center. Based in Germany, it offers a mailbox where encryption is always on — not something users need to enable. Unlike many providers, even subject lines and contacts are encrypted. That detail alone made it stand out when it first appeared and it still does today.

It’s widely used by journalists, NGOs, and people who don’t trust the “free” webmail model. For admins,

Mailspring

Other programs

Main pages

Utility pages

Mailspring

Other programs

Main pages

Utility pages

Submit your application