Best Thunderbird Alternatives in 2026
Thunderbird has been the privacy-conscious email user's choice for decades. But it's showing its age. These modern alternatives add AI intelligence while respecting your privacy.
#1 TOP PICK
Inboxed
The modern evolution of Thunderbird's philosophy: local-first email with on-device AI intelligence built natively for Mac.
Pros
- • Free
- • 100% local AI
- • Native macOS
- • Lightweight (10MB)
Cons
- • macOS only
- • Newer app
#2
Apple Mail
The pre-installed macOS email client. Simple, private, and deeply integrated with Apple's ecosystem.
Pros
- • Pre-installed
- • Native
- • Private
Cons
- • No AI
- • Basic search
- • Limited customization
#3
Canary Mail
A cross-platform email client with encryption support and AI features.
Pros
- • PGP encryption
- • AI features
- • Cross-platform
Cons
- • Cloud AI processing
- • $20/year
- • Privacy claims questionable
#4
Spark
A polished email client with smart inbox and team collaboration features.
Pros
- • Smart inbox
- • Modern UI
- • Team features
Cons
- • Cloud AI
- • Emails on Readdle servers
- • $59/year for AI
Ready to make the switch?
Join thousands of users who chose privacy and intelligence.