The Bat! review
A security-focused Windows email client with useful calendar and filtering tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
The Bat! is a paid desktop email client for Windows users who want local email management with a strong focus on correspondence protection. Its core toolkit combines message sorting and filtering, quick templates, address-book profiles and groups, document viewing, RSS feeds, automatic backups, and controls for external images and tracking pixels. A built-in calendar handles meetings, tasks, and reminders, with synchronization for Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar. It is suited to individuals and organizations that prefer a dedicated Windows client rather than a broader multi-platform mail application.
Security is the product’s clearest point of distinction. Email encryption supports OpenPGP, S/MIME, and GnuPG, while encrypted backups add protection for stored data. The Home plan includes OpenPGP and S/MIME support, automatic backup, filtering, templates, and multiple interface themes, but is limited to non-commercial use. Professional includes the Home features for commercial and non-commercial use, along with The Bat! Voyager, on-the-fly message-base encryption, and biometric and hardware authentication. Those additions make Professional the more relevant choice where portable access or stronger authentication matters.
The trade-off is a focused platform and pricing model. The Bat! is available as desktop software for Windows, with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar as its listed integrations. There is no free plan, and the listed starting price is 49.99; the published licensing information describes perpetual new-license pricing rather than subscription billing. Choose The Bat! for Windows-based secure email, local control, and detailed message management. Choose another client if broad platform coverage, a larger integration ecosystem, or a free entry tier is more important than encryption and desktop-focused features.
The Bat! pros and cons
- Where it wins
- OpenPGP, S/MIME, and GnuPG support for encrypted email
- Encrypted backups plus filtering, templates, and tracking controls
- Calendar synchronization with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar
- Where it doesn't
- Windows desktop coverage limits platform flexibility
- No free plan and a listed starting price of 49.99
- Many integrations and ecosystem connections are not included
The Bat! fact sheet, pricing and score →
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