Best Email Clients for Mac in 2026

Why these email clients?

According to an HBR study, people spend 28% of a workday in email. That's roughly 2.6 hours out of every 8-hour day just sitting in your inbox, which honestly feels low if you ask most professionals. So, it's more important than ever to ensure you have the right tool for the job. There are countless email clients that you can use that aren't Apple Mail.

Look, Apple Mail does the basics. It handles email. But if you're spending almost a third of your workday in email, you probably want something that does more than just "handle" it. The powers of other email clients can do way more for you on macOS by opening up productivity features and allowing you to manage email more effectively instead of drowning in it.

Email is getting smarter for macOS users in 2026. Many email tools now include AI features for crafting responses, intelligent sorting systems that learn which emails actually matter to you, unified inbox views that combine multiple accounts, and automation rules that can save you hours every week. Some apps now let you schedule sends, snooze emails until you're ready to deal with them, and even block read receipts so senders can't track when you opened their message.

The Mac email landscape has evolved beyond just checking messages. We're talking about apps that integrate with your calendar, connect to project management tools, offer team collaboration features for shared inboxes, and provide keyboard shortcuts that let you blast through your inbox in minutes instead of hours.

We picked these email Mac apps based on specific criteria that matter for 2026:

**Standalone macOS App** - Must provide a native Mac application that feels at home on macOS, not just a web wrapper or forcing you to use Gmail through Chrome. Native apps are faster, work offline, integrate with macOS features like Spotlight and notifications, and generally feel better to use every day.

**Powerful Features** - From AI writing assistance to advanced filtering, search that actually works, multiple account management, and productivity features like send later or email templates. You should be able to choose what features suit your workflow without paying for bloat you'll never use.

**Performance** - The app needs to be fast. If an email client is slow to load, laggy when searching, or freezes when handling attachments, it's not worth your time regardless of features.

**Design & User Experience** - You'll be in this app for hours daily. It better look good and feel intuitive to use.

Top Picks

These are the top winners on Mac: Best for All Round - Superhuman Best for AI - Superhuman Best for Casual Users - Spark Mail Best for Support Teams - Missive

Superhuman

Best Overall

Superhuman is one of the most talked about email apps on the market, and honestly, it deserves the hype. You won't find a faster or more polished email experience for Mac users, but this does come with a hefty price tag. At $30 per month, it's designed for busy professionals who handle a mountain of email as part of their work and want something that's fast, powerful, and doesn't waste their time.

The speed is what hits you first. Superhuman loads instantly. Searches happen in milliseconds. Keyboard shortcuts let you fly through your inbox faster than you thought possible. If you've ever felt like your email client was sluggish or laggy, Superhuman feels like switching from a bicycle to a sports car.

It works with Gmail, Google Workspace, and Outlook (they added Outlook support in late 2026, which was a game changer for people stuck in Microsoft ecosystems). Multi-account access means you can manage personal and work emails without constantly logging in and out.

The AI features are legitimately useful, not gimmicky. Superhuman can draft responses for you, summarize long email threads so you can catch up in seconds instead of scrolling forever, and even suggest optimal send times based on when recipients are most likely to respond. The split inbox feature lets you separate important emails from noise automatically.

We can't stress this enough: Superhuman is built for people who live in email. If you're handling 50+ emails a day, managing client communications, or coordinating with teams across time zones, the time savings add up fast. The mobile apps are equally polished and don't feel like afterthoughts, which is rare.

That said, $30/month is steep if you're only checking email a few times a day. And the keyboard shortcut system, while powerful, has a learning curve. You'll need to invest time upfront to get fast with it.

Best for

Professionals spending 3-4+ hours daily in email - VCs, investors, executives, consultants managing multiple clients. Anyone treating email as a core part of their job who values speed and efficiency over everything else.

Not ideal if

You check email casually a few times per day. Your budget is tight and $360/year for email feels excessive. You hate learning keyboard shortcuts and prefer clicking around. You need a unified inbox view (Superhuman separates accounts).

Real-world example

A venture capital partner gets 200+ emails daily from founders, LPs, portfolio companies, and co-investors. Using Superhuman's split inbox and keyboard shortcuts, she processes her entire inbox in 45 minutes each morning. The AI summaries let her catch up on long threads in seconds. She estimates saving 90+ minutes daily versus using Gmail.

Team fit

Individual contributors and executives at companies where email volume is crushing. Works for solopreneurs, consultants, investors, and senior leaders. Less suited for teams needing shared inbox collaboration (use Front or Missive instead).

Onboarding reality

Heavy for week one. Superhuman requires a 30-minute onboarding call where they teach you shortcuts and customize settings. Building muscle memory takes 7-10 days. By week two, most users report massive speed gains. Don't judge it after day one.

Pricing friction

Expensive at $25/month (annual) or $30/month (monthly). That's $300-360/year just for email. For people whose effective hourly value is $100+, the ROI is obvious. For students, early-career folks, or budget-conscious users, it's a tough sell.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar (inline event viewing), Zoom (join meetings from email), Slack (snooze to channels), Notion (save emails as pages), Linear (create issues from emails).

Spark Mail

Best for Casual Use: Spark Mail

Spark Mail is built by Readdle, one of the leading productivity software companies that's been around for years making solid Mac and iOS apps. Spark has become the go-to free email client for people who want more power than Apple Mail without paying Superhuman prices.

The app has evolved significantly over the years. Readdle keeps updating it with new features, and in 2026 they've been pushing hard on AI capabilities to compete with premium options. Unlike Superhuman, Spark has a generous free tier that gives you most features without paying a cent. This makes it perfect for students, casual users, or anyone who wants better email management on a budget.

The AI features are impressive for a free app. You get smart inbox sorting that learns which emails matter to you, AI writing assistance for drafting responses, and email summaries that condense long threads. The premium tier adds Gatekeeper, which is clutch if you're drowning in promotional emails or newsletters. It basically acts as a bouncer for your inbox, letting you approve or block senders before they clutter your main view.

Spark has won multiple Apple Design Awards, and it shows. The Mac app feels native, fast, and well thought out. The Home screen feature gives you a dashboard view of what's important each day instead of just dumping you into a chronological inbox. Features like Smart Notifications mean you only get pinged for emails that actually matter, not every newsletter signup confirmation.

The unified inbox is great if you're managing multiple accounts (personal Gmail, work email, iCloud, etc.). You can see everything in one view or switch between accounts easily. Honestly, this alone makes it worth switching from Apple Mail.

That said, Spark isn't perfect. Some users report lag on older Macs, though this seems to have improved with recent updates. Customer support gets mixed reviews, and there's no web version if you need to check email from a browser. Also, the premium features ($4.99/month) feel a bit pricey for what you get compared to just using the free version.

Best for

Mac users wanting powerful email features without premium pricing. Students and casual users managing 2-3 email accounts. Anyone who needs smart inbox sorting to separate signal from noise. People who want a polished native Mac app for free.

Not ideal if

You need maximum speed (Superhuman is faster). You require extensive customer support. You work from a browser often and need web access to email. You're on a very old Mac and performance matters.

Real-world example

A freelance designer manages three email accounts (personal Gmail, business domain, client work email) using Spark's free tier. The unified inbox shows everything in one view. Smart inbox sorts client emails to the top. She uses AI writing to draft professional responses faster. Zero monthly cost versus $30/month for Superhuman.

Team fit

Individual users and very small teams (2-3 people) with light collaboration needs. Perfect for freelancers, students, and small business owners. Less suited for teams needing enterprise shared inbox features.

Onboarding reality

Very easy. Interface is intuitive and the smart inbox works automatically. Most people are productive within an hour. No mandatory training or learning curve beyond exploring settings.

Pricing friction

Free tier is genuinely good for most solo users. Premium ($4.99/month annually) adds Gatekeeper and team features. The free-to-paid decision is straightforward: stay free unless you need those specific premium additions.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar (meeting links), Dropbox (attachment saving), Google Drive, Trello (create cards), Slack (email to Slack). Basic but functional.

Canary Mail

Canary Mail is a Sequoia-backed AI-based email application designed to help you manage your inbox using artificial intelligence. It is available on various devices, including iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and a Chrome extension. Its goal is to be the most innovative email app available.

It uses AI to perform several tasks to save you time throughout the day, such as writing and summarizing long emails to speed up conversations. One of its powerful features is the AI Sidekick, which allows you to ask questions and even send emails on your behalf.

It has a unified inbox that supports Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange, Office 365, Fastmail, Proton Mail, and more: something that apps like Superhuman lack in their Mac version.

Canary Mail offers features like Read Receipts to alert you when someone reads your email, encrypted email with PGP, and SecureSend for enhanced security. Canary Mail is rapidly becoming a popular tool, especially for Mac users who appreciate its ease of use and resemblance to Apple Mail. It incorporates AI features before Apple integrates similar functionalities into its products.

If artificial intelligence is a crucial factor in your email management, Canary Mail is worth considering. It offers comprehensive features at a reasonable annual price, making it a cost-effective option for long-term use.

Best for

Mac users who want AI email assistance without Superhuman's price. Security-conscious people needing PGP encryption. Anyone managing multiple email providers (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Proton) in one unified inbox.

Not ideal if

You need extensive customization beyond what's offered. You're looking for the absolute fastest email client (Superhuman wins there). You don't care about AI features and want something simpler. You need robust offline capabilities.

Real-world example

A lawyer manages four email accounts (firm Outlook, personal Gmail, secure ProtonMail for sensitive cases, iCloud). Canary's unified inbox shows all messages. PGP encryption secures client communications. AI Sidekick drafts routine responses. Costs $20/year versus $360/year for Superhuman.

Team fit

Solopreneurs, consultants, and professionals handling sensitive information. Works for lawyers, accountants, healthcare workers needing encryption. Less suited for large teams needing collaboration features.

Onboarding reality

Moderate. The interface resembles Apple Mail, so Mac users adapt quickly. Setting up encryption and AI features takes some time. Most users are comfortable within 2-3 days.

Pricing friction

Reasonable at around $20/year (pricing varies by region). That's $1.67/month, far cheaper than Superhuman or even Spark Premium. The value for AI + encryption features is strong. Annual billing only.

Integrations that matter

Supports most email providers (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange, ProtonMail, Fastmail). Integration ecosystem is smaller than competitors but covers email account basics well.

Many people have fallen in love with what Mimestream does. It takes your already well-known Gmail experience and turns it into a native macOS app that is clean and minimal, removing all the noise of ads and messy design and bringing a brilliant, fresh look that you can customize quite extensively.

It uses Gmail's API to give you the best Gmail experience. With categories, labels, filters, calendar invite management, and more, this is the perfect native Mac experience for Gmail users. The app is priced reasonably at $4.99 per month, which will keep the costs down, allowing you to handle all your emails through Mimestream.

If you're an avid Gmail user, Mimestream is one of the cleaner ways to use email.

It uses the Gmail API to bring in brilliant features like categories, labels, etc. For those who don't want to use the web browser or some forced version of Gmail, this is probably the ultimate Gmail experience for Mac users.

Best for

Gmail power users who want a native Mac experience. People frustrated with Gmail's web interface ads and clutter. Anyone deeply invested in Gmail's labels, filters, and categories who wants that functionality in a beautiful Mac app.

Not ideal if

You use multiple email providers (Mimestream is Gmail-only). You need the cheapest option (it's $5/month). You want AI features or advanced automation. You need mobile apps beyond iPhone/iPad.

Real-world example

A marketing manager lives in Gmail for work (Google Workspace) and personal email. She hates Gmail's web interface ads and slow performance. Mimestream gives her a clean, fast, native Mac experience with all Gmail features (labels, filters, categories) intact. Worth $5/month to escape the browser.

Team fit

Individuals and small teams using Google Workspace or personal Gmail. Perfect for people who love Gmail's features but hate the web interface. Not for teams using Outlook or mixed email providers.

Onboarding reality

Very easy if you already use Gmail. The app mirrors Gmail's organization, so there's zero learning curve. You're productive immediately. Just connect your Google account and go.

Pricing friction

Reasonable at $4.99/month or $49.99/year. That's $60 annually for a premium Gmail experience. Cheaper than Superhuman but not free like Spark. The value depends on how much you value escaping Gmail's web interface.

Integrations that matter

Gmail-specific features (labels, filters, categories, calendar invites, Google Contacts). Because it uses Gmail's API, you get full Gmail functionality in a native app. No third-party integrations needed.

Missive

Missive is a well-known collaborative email application that has refined one of the most efficient shared inbox systems for small and medium-sized businesses. Their Mac application is compelling, offering extensive customization options for email management.

Beyond the variety of themes available, the app enables users to manage multiple email inboxes, such as personal accounts, Google Groups, and even platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.

Missive offers extensive customization features, including rules for incoming and outgoing messages, which can help streamline email management. Recently, the app introduced task management and calendar features, allowing team members to assign tasks and stay aligned on priorities across multiple business accounts.

Missive's Mac application stands out for its speed and near-native experience on Mac devices, a feature not commonly found in collaborative tools. This makes it an excellent choice for teams collaborating on email management across Mac and iOS devices.

Best for

Small teams (2-10 people) sharing email accounts like support@, hello@, sales@. Businesses needing collaboration on emails without enterprise complexity. Teams managing customer support across email, SMS, and social channels.

Not ideal if

You're a solo user (collaboration features are wasted). You need the cheapest option ($14/user/month adds up). You want AI-powered features (they're basic compared to Superhuman). Your team is large enough to need enterprise-grade support software.

Real-world example

A 5-person agency shares hello@agency.com for client inquiries. Using Missive, they assign incoming emails to whoever owns that client relationship. Internal comments let them discuss responses privately. Rules automatically route design questions to designers, dev questions to developers. Costs $70/month for the team.

Team fit

Small businesses, agencies, startups with 3-10 people sharing email. Works for support teams, sales teams, customer success. Less suited for solo users or large enterprises with complex needs.

Onboarding reality

Moderate for teams. Individual users figure it out quickly, but setting up team workflows, rules, and assignments takes time. Plan a few days for the team to get comfortable with collaboration features.

Pricing friction

Starts at $14/user/month ($10/user/month annually). A 5-person team pays $70/month or $600/year. Not cheap for small teams, but reasonable compared to enterprise support tools. Solo users should skip this.

Integrations that matter

Slack (notifications), Trello (create cards), Asana (task sync), Salesforce (CRM), Zapier (custom workflows). Good coverage for small business needs.

Airmail elevates the email experience for Mac users with its highly customizable interface and powerful features designed for productivity. It is sort of like Apple Mail but more customizable. It's known for its speed and can easily handle multiple accounts across iCloud, Gmail, and other IMAP services. Airmail shines with its extensive integration options.

It connects with a wide range of third-party apps, such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Todoist, enabling a more focused workflow. Its user-friendly design allows you to tailor the app to your needs, from customized swipes to intelligent filters that work well on macOS and iOS.

Airmail is a top contender for Mac users searching for a flexible, feature-rich email client that plays well with other productivity tools.

Rumour has it that Airmail is also coming to Vision Pro by Apple. Airmail is just an upgraded version of the Apple Mail application. It does have some customization and great ways to add multiple accounts, but for Mac users looking to use it, it's probably just a slight upgrade from what you've already got on Apple Mail, with a few more refined design aspects in there.

Best for

Mac users who want Apple Mail with more customization. People managing multiple IMAP accounts. Anyone who integrates email heavily with other productivity apps (Todoist, Evernote, etc.).

Not ideal if

You want modern design (Airmail looks dated). You need cutting-edge features or AI. You're willing to pay more for something significantly better (Spark or Superhuman). You want active development (updates are infrequent).

Real-world example

A project manager uses Airmail to manage work Gmail and personal iCloud email. Custom swipes let him archive, snooze, or send emails to Todoist as tasks with a gesture. Integrations with Dropbox save attachments automatically. It's basically Apple Mail with workflow improvements.

Team fit

Individuals wanting a customizable email client without complexity. Works for freelancers and solopreneurs. Not designed for team collaboration.

Onboarding reality

Easy if you've used Apple Mail. The interface is familiar with more options. Customizing workflows and integrations takes some exploration but isn't difficult. Most users are comfortable within a day.

Pricing friction

Around $9.99 one-time or subscription model (varies). Airmail Business has mixed reviews and higher pricing. The value proposition is weaker now compared to Spark (free) or Mimestream ($5/month).

Integrations that matter

Todoist (create tasks from emails), Evernote (save to notes), Dropbox (save attachments), Google Drive, OmniFocus, Fantastical. Broad productivity app integration.

With HEY Email, you get a new email, domain, and vision for email. Yes, you get a domain with your account and start forwarding emails from other providers. For Mac users who value a clean, organized inbox and are willing to explore a new email philosophy, HEY Email presents a compelling choice because it goes against the grain of other emails by teaching you how to do email correctly; we love that.

HEY email is one of those Mac apps that delivers a very focused experience. If you want to upgrade your email communication style and manage everything in one inbox, I would probably say HEY email is the best on the market. It does take a while to get your head around it, but largely, the application is impressive and something that I have used for a couple of years and was very impressed by.

Best for

People willing to rethink email entirely and commit to a new system. Anyone frustrated with traditional email chaos who wants opinionated structure. Mac users who value privacy and ad-free experiences.

Not ideal if

You can't switch to a new @hey.com email address. You need to use your existing work or personal email. You want flexibility to customize workflows (HEY is opinionated). The $99/year price feels steep for email.

Real-world example

A consultant switches to HEY and gets a new @hey.com address. She forwards her old emails to HEY and uses the Screener feature to approve senders once. The Feed collects newsletters separately from real communications. Imbox (not inbox) shows only important stuff. It's a total mindset shift but reduces email stress significantly.

Team fit

Individuals willing to adopt a new email philosophy. Works for people starting fresh or able to switch email addresses. Not for teams needing collaboration or people locked into existing work emails.

Onboarding reality

Heavy. HEY requires learning a completely new approach to email. The concepts (Imbox, Feed, Paper Trail, Screener) are unfamiliar. Budget 1-2 weeks to fully adapt. Some people love it, others bounce off immediately.

Pricing friction

Expensive at $99/year for personal use. HEY for Work is $12/user/month. You're paying for a philosophy and privacy, not just features. The @hey.com address requirement is polarizing.

Integrations that matter

Calendar integration built-in. Otherwise, HEY is intentionally standalone. The philosophy is to fix email itself, not integrate with 50 other tools. This is a feature for some, a limitation for others.

Choosing the Right Email App for Mac

Picking the right email app for Mac really comes down to how you use email and what you're willing to spend.

If you live in your inbox and email is core to your job, Superhuman is worth every penny of that $30/month. The speed alone will save you hours every week, and the AI features are actually useful instead of gimmicky. For consultants, VCs, executives, or anyone handling 100+ emails daily, it pays for itself.

For most people though, Spark Mail hits the sweet spot. The free version gives you 90% of what you need (smart inbox, unified accounts, AI features), and the interface feels modern without being overwhelming. It's what I'd recommend to friends, family, or anyone who just wants email to suck less without paying premium prices.

If you're a Gmail power user who's frustrated with the web interface, Mimestream is stupidly good at what it does. It's basically Gmail but as a beautiful native Mac app. At $5/month, it's reasonable for how much better the experience is.

Teams sharing inboxes (support teams, sales teams, or small agencies) should look at Missive. The collaboration features are miles ahead of trying to share a Gmail account, and the Mac app is fast enough to use all day without wanting to throw your laptop out the window.

Security-focused folks or anyone dealing with sensitive information might prefer Canary Mail for the PGP encryption and privacy features. And if you want to completely rethink how you do email, HEY Email is polarizing but brilliant once you commit to their system.

Bottom line? Don't settle for Apple Mail if you spend more than an hour a day in email. The apps on this list will save you time, reduce stress, and make email feel less like a chore. Try the free options first (Spark, Airmail trial), and only upgrade to paid tools if you actually need the premium features.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What's the best free email app for Mac?**

Spark Mail takes this one. The free tier includes smart inbox sorting, unified accounts, AI writing tools, and works across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It's way more powerful than Apple Mail and costs nothing.

**Is Superhuman worth $30/month?**

If you handle 50+ emails daily and email is core to your job, yes. The speed and AI features save hours every week. But for casual users checking email a few times a day, it's overkill. Stick with Spark or Mimestream.

**Which email app has the best AI features?**

Superhuman and Canary Mail both have strong AI. Superhuman's AI writes better responses and summarizes threads more accurately, but Canary's AI Sidekick is cheaper and works across more platforms.

**Can I use these apps with Outlook/Microsoft 365?**

Yes. Superhuman added Outlook support in late 2026. Spark, Canary Mail, and Missive all work with Microsoft accounts. Mimestream is Gmail-only though.

**What happened to Airmail? Is it still good?**

Airmail still works fine, but the design feels dated compared to newer apps like Spark and Superhuman. It's basically a slightly upgraded Apple Mail. The Vision Pro version might breathe new life into it, but for now there are better options.

**Which app is best for managing multiple email accounts?**

Spark Mail and Canary Mail both have excellent unified inbox features. Spark's free tier makes it the better value unless you need Canary's security features.

**Do any of these work offline?**

Superhuman, Spark, Mimestream, and Airmail all have solid offline support. Canary Mail's offline mode is weaker. HEY Email requires internet for most features.