This tutorial aims at introducing Top Modern Desktop Email Clients For Linux and macOS users. I know there are lots of email clients for Linux and sometimes choosing the right one can be challenging. I’ll highlight top email clients that you can never go wrong with on your Linux Desktop or Laptop.
1. Mailspring
This is a new version of Nylas Mail maintained by one of the original authors. Mailspring is leaner and faster as compared to Nylas Mail. It replaces the JavaScript sync code in Nylas Mail with a new C++ sync engine based on Mailcore2.
Mailspring uses roughly half the RAM and CPU of Nylas Mail and idles with almost zero “CPU Wakes”, which translates to great battery life. It also has an entirely revamped composer and other great new features.
Mailspring’s UI is open source (GPLv3) and written in JavaScript with Electron and React – it’s built on a plugin architecture and was designed to be easy to extend.
Features of Mailspring
Here are the top features of Mailspring:
- Spell Check: Mailspring auto-detects the language you’re using and spell checks for that language. No need to change your settings.
- Unified inbox: Mailspring supports every major mail provider – Gmail, iCloud, Office 365, Outlook.com, Yahoo!, and IMAP/SMTP—so you have a single, streamlined command center for all your messages. This should help you get things done quickly.
- Advanced Search: Mailspring indexes your mail so you can use advanced, Gmail-style search queries and search message contents across all your connected accounts.
- Signatures: Mailspring’s comes with a beautiful signature editor which makes it easy to create and use custom signatures, even with images.
- Multiple themes: Mailspring includes multiple layouts and themes, so you can match your desktop or your mood.
- Runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux
- Connect to Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Office 365, FastMail, IMAP, SMTP email accounts.
Installing Mailspring on Linux
Grab the latest release for your Distribution from Mailspring Releases page. You can also visit https://getmailspring.com/download. Once downloaded install it with your package manager. See below examples of installation.
Install Mailspring on Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt install wget curl -y
URL=$( curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/Foundry376/Mailspring/releases/latest|grep browser_download_url|grep '\.deb'|cut -d '"' -f 4)
wget $URL
sudo apt install -f ./mailspring-*-amd64.deb
For RHEL / CentOS / Fedora
sudo yum -y install wget curl
URL=$( curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/Foundry376/Mailspring/releases/latest|grep browser_download_url|grep '\.rpm'|cut -d '"' -f 4)
wget $URL
sudo yum install ./mailspring-*.x86_64.rpm
### RHEL 8 / CentOS 8 / Rocky Linux 8 / AlmaLinux 8 ###
#You'll need Raven repo https://pkgs.dyn.su/el8/base/x86_64/
sudo yum -y install https://pkgs.dyn.su/el8/base/x86_64/raven-release-1.0-2.el8.noarch.rpm
sudo yum -y install epel-release
sudo yum install ./mailspring-*.x86_64.rpmFor macOS
URL=$( curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/Foundry376/Mailspring/releases/latest|grep browser_download_url|grep '\.dmg'|cut -d '"' -f 4)
open Mailspring.dmgInstall the package by double-clicking it. The first window should be like below:
Click on “Get Started” button to initiate Mailspring configuration. The next window will ask you to create Mailspring. Fill in the details and click next.
The next stage is linking your email hosting provider account. You can link Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Office 365, FastMail and IMAP/POP3 with Mailspring.
From there you should be able to sync emails from your provider and manage added accounts.
2. Mozilla Thunderbird
Thunderbird is another open-source email client application from Mozilla foundation. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Thunderbird has been around for over a decade and is the most popular of all email clients.
Thunderbird is full-featured with a number of plugins to add more functionalities. Some of its cutting-edge features include calendar support, Spam filtering, POP and IMAP email syncing, theming, large file management e.t.c.
Download and Install Thunderbird from the Official Thunderbird download page.
3. Claws Mail
Claws Mail is a free and open-source, GTK+-based email client. It offers easy configuration and an abundance of features. Claws Mail stores mail in the MH mailbox format. The support for Mbox mailbox format is also supported via a plugin.
Some cool feature of Claws Mail include:
- Quick response
- Graceful, and sophisticated interface
- Easy configuration, intuitive operation
- Abundant features
- Extensibility
- Robustness and stability
To get started, use the official Download and Install Claws Mail link. All major Linux/Unix operating systems are supported via directly downloadable binary packages.
Conclusion
These are the top Email clients for Linux, macOS, and Windows I know. My vote goes to Mailspring. It appears to be the best email client for your Linux system, with outstanding features, themes, and plugins. Let me know your thought from the comments section below.
