Inboxed vs. Mailspring
Mailspring is a solid Electron-based email client. But Electron apps can't match native performance, and Mailspring lacks built-in AI entirely.
| Feature | Mailspring | Inboxed |
|---|---|---|
| AI Features | ✕ None | ✓ Local LLM (Apple MLX) |
| Architecture | ✕ Electron (Chromium) | ✓ Rust + Tauri (Native) |
| Performance | ✕ ~300MB RAM | ⊙ ~50MB RAM |
| Cost | $8/mo (Pro) | ⚡ Free (Pro: $1 lifetime) |
| Privacy | ✕ Mailspring ID required | ⊕ No account needed |
Native performance. Built-in intelligence.
Mailspring brought modern design to desktop email, but it's still an Electron app with no AI features. Inboxed is what Mailspring would be if it were rebuilt from scratch for Apple Silicon.
Bottom Line
Mailspring is a cross-platform Electron-based email client with a clean interface, read receipts, link tracking, and a Pro tier at $8/month. It works on Windows and Linux as well as macOS, which is its primary advantage over macOS-only alternatives. The honest downsides are architectural: Electron apps carry a heavier memory and battery footprint than native apps, Mailspring requires creating a Mailspring ID to use the app (including the free tier), and the Pro features like link tracking and read receipts are aimed at sales professionals rather than privacy-focused users. For Mac users, Inboxed delivers a lighter, faster, more private experience at a lower total cost — though Mailspring edges it out on cross-platform reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Mailspring require a Mailspring ID just to use the free version?
Mailspring requires account creation because the app uses Mailspring's servers to handle push notifications, open/read tracking features, and account sync. Even if you use only local IMAP features, the architecture involves Mailspring's infrastructure. This has been a long-standing user complaint: creating a third-party account to access a local email client feels like unnecessary data collection for a tool that should operate independently. The Mailspring ID also creates a single point of failure — if Mailspring's authentication service is down, login to the app can be affected. Inboxed has no account creation requirement and connects directly to your email provider.
How does Mailspring's Electron architecture affect performance on a Mac?
Electron wraps a Chromium browser instance to render the app interface, which means Mailspring's memory footprint is substantially higher than native macOS applications. On Apple Silicon Macs with ample RAM, this may be imperceptible, but on older Intel MacBooks or machines with 8 GB RAM, Electron apps noticeably impact battery life and contribute to thermal throttling under load. Users have reported Mailspring consuming 300-500 MB of RAM in typical use. Inboxed is built with Rust and Tauri — a lighter-weight native webview bridge — and has a roughly 10 MB installation size with significantly lower memory consumption than Electron alternatives.
Who should use Mailspring rather than switching to Inboxed?
Mailspring's strongest case is for users who work across Windows, Linux, and macOS and need a consistent email client experience on all three platforms. No macOS-native email client, including Inboxed, runs on Windows or Linux. Mailspring is also a reasonable choice for sales professionals who specifically want read receipts and link click tracking — features that Inboxed does not offer. The $8/month Pro tier is expensive relative to its feature set, but the free tier covers basic email needs adequately. If you're a Mac-only user who doesn't need cross-platform support or sales tracking features, Inboxed is a meaningfully faster and more privacy-respecting alternative.