Head-to-head · Email Clients
Mozilla Thunderbird vs Mailspring
Mozilla Thunderbird leads on 1 check, Mailspring on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreMozilla Thunderbird · 9.4/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresMozilla Thunderbird · 4 of 4
Mozilla Thunderbird scores higher on our rubric for email clients: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.
Mozilla Thunderbird offers calendar tools; Mailspring doesn't.
Mozilla Thunderbird is the better fit for users wanting a free, established open-source client. Mailspring is the better fit for free desktop users wanting a capable open client.
- Mozilla Thunderbird fits best
Users wanting a free, established open-source client
- Mailspring fits best
Free desktop users wanting a capable open client
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Side by side
| Feature | Mozilla Thunderbird 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Mailspring 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #1 in Email Clients | #8 in Email Clients |
| Best for | Users wanting a free, established open-source client | Free desktop users wanting a capable open client |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Free | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Mozilla Thunderbird 4/4 · Mailspring 3/4 | ||
| Unified inbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduled sending | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calendar tools | ✓ (best) | — |
| Specs | ||
| App coverage | Not checked yet | Desktop |
| Account limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client for personal and business use. It supports multiple email accounts, unified inboxes, message search and organization, calendars, contacts, and tasks. The desktop application is… Read the review → |
Mailspring is a native desktop email client for people managing multiple accounts across macOS, Windows, or Linux. Its free plan covers core email functionality, multi-account support, and a unified inbox, while also providing advanced… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Mozilla Thunderbird — where it wins
- Unified inbox for managing multiple email accounts
- Calendar, contacts, and tasks included in the Free plan
- Offline access, local synchronization, and add-on extensibility
Where it doesn't
- No verified integrations are listed
- Send Later is a queue, not timed scheduled delivery
- Mobile availability is limited to Android
Mailspring — where it wins
- Unified inbox and search across connected email accounts
- Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux with offline access
- Pro adds scheduling, tracking, reminders, templates, and snoozing
Where it doesn't
- Advanced productivity features require a paid Pro plan
- Focused on desktop rather than mobile email access
- Full-featured calendar support is still planned
- Mozilla Thunderbird9.4/10 · Free plan
A capable free client for multi-account email, offline access, and desktop productivity tools.
Visit ThunderbirdFull verdict → - Mailspring8.6/10 · Free plan
A capable open desktop client with unified inboxes and optional productivity features.
Visit MailspringFull verdict →
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All email clients comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






