This article will present a list of the best email clients for the Windows operating system. We have studied the best applications in detail and have compiled a rating of the best and most functional software products.
The mail client is undoubtedly the best solution when working with e-mail. Consider the cases when you need such software:
- users can configure the software (software) in such a way that letters coming to the mailbox will be available directly on the computer;
- can connect multiple boxes, which will save you from confusion, each will have a separate structure, and you can switch between them in one click. It can be configured in such a way that all letters will be sent to one mailbox;
- also mailers have good enough encryption algorithms and security;
- users get access to letters, even if there is no way to go online;
- sorting mail by topic. You can create any number of folders, as well as set options for automatically sorting mail into these folders;
- when writing new letters, it is possible to interrupt this process by saving the draft to the draft folder in order to return to editing later;
- much Internet traffic is saved when viewing and downloading attachments.
Best email programs
Outlook
A mail program that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. Available with an Office 365 subscription (from 269.00 rubles per month. It is also possible to purchase the software as a stand-alone application (in this case, the final price will be 7,499 rubles).
One of the advantages of the product is that users do not need to use an Outlook domain. It is optimized to work with most email services. Users can add accounts: Gmail, Yandex, Yahoo, Rambler, Mail and others. Also the software has integration with the calendar, task schedule, contact manager. The main advantage of the program is that there are functions that allow you to set certain rules for processing e-mail. You can set an alert if a letter comes to your mailbox that contains certain keywords. Messages can be placed in separate folders and sorted by predefined attributes.
The disadvantages are the fact that the interface can be confusing for a novice user. But the developers are improving the software, recently it received an updated interface and support for some macros that can automate the work process. Thus, Microsoft Outlook is the best business solution. He will help to divide mail into personal and work.
Mailbird
Shareware client for working with mail. The free version has a significant limitation, so to access the full functionality, you will have to buy the extended one at a price of $ 1 per month or $ 45 for a lifetime license.
The email client lives up to its name (bird of the mail). It is a functional program that does not require a lot of resources and is excellent works on weak machines, this is precisely the feature of the software.
Mailbird - allows users to make flexible settings: displaying tool icons, theme, fonts. The Mailbird developers have created a truly functional and easy-to-use software. It eliminates unnecessary intermediate steps when performing various actions, which leads to an optimized workflow. Create quick reply templates, add attachments using drag and drop, and search for messages simply by clicking on your profile picture.
If you received a message from a contact that is not on the list, then in just a few seconds you can view his profile on the social network LinkedIn, which is an undoubted advantage over others. It is worth noting that the software has support for several third-party services: Dropbox, Facebook, Google Docs, Twitter and WhatsApp. 
Advantages:
- undemanding to computer resources;
- integration with additional services;
- opportunities for personalization;
- simple and quick management of several electronic boxes.
Flaws:
- the free version is devoid of many functions, you will need to purchase a paid one.
eM Client
The program has in its arsenal a fairly large set of necessary options: organizer, contact manager, task schedule. An important feature is the possibility of live communication between users in real time. It is also possible to import and export settings to other mail programs.
Additional features include spell check, built-in translator for more than 50 languages, exchange of events and tasks with other users. At the same time, live chat allows you to exchange files, which is very convenient than sending them in a letter.
It is distributed both under a free license and a paid one. The free version lacks many of the options for managing your email account. Therefore for full-fledged work with eM Client, you will need to purchase the full version for $ 50. 
Advantages:
- functionality;
- live chat in real time;
- import and export of settings to other clients.
Flaws:
- Compared to many other software, it does not offer a large selection of inbox management tools. The software is more focused on ordinary users who prefer to quickly access their mail;
- functionality limitations in the free version.
Inky
The client is the most secure email management tool. The developers have tried to make an application that will allow maximally protect your data. Indeed, in some cases, data transmitted by email can fall into the hands of intruders. End-to-end encryption from Inky helps prevent unauthorized access attempts.
Has an intuitive interface and easy navigation. Users can share files, import data to other clients. To optimize work with mail tags applied, allowing you to quickly find the desired message. Incoming processing is carried out automatically.
The program is shareware. The familiarization period is only 14 days long. During this period, users can take advantage of the full functionality, as well as add Outlook, Gmail or iCloud accounts. The subscription is made only monthly at a price of $ 5. 
Advantages:
- reliability and security of user data;
- functionality;
- convenient mail management;
- intuitive interface.
Flaws:
- support for a small number of postal services.
The application has been under development for a long time. It is worth noting that it is intended primarily for advanced users... When using this client, all the necessary settings must be done manually. The app can import an unlimited number of accounts.
The main feature is that it consumes enough few resources, which will be the ideal prerogative for low-power personal computers. But this is also a disadvantage, there is no possibility to use HTML and advanced application connection functions. The advantages in this case include a large number of built-in plugins that allow you to filter incoming and restrict unwanted mail.
A special feature is that the software is distributed absolutely free. 
Zimbra Desktop
A free mailer, which is under constant development, is due to the fact that the program is open source. Thanks to this feature of this software, the best application for Windows was created for users.
The program has a contact manager, functional organizer, task scheduler. All these features will help users optimize as much as possible your work with e-mail. Another feature is that Zimbra Desktop has - a multi-document graphical interface with tabs. Thanks to this, you can open several windows where different processes will be executed and you can switch between them in a couple of clicks.
If it is not possible to connect to the network, then all work data will be saved to the hard drive and will be available in a local copy. Allows you to work with the following accounts: Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook. 
Advantages:
- open source made the application as convenient and functional as possible;
- convenient navigation and tabbed interface;
- the ability to work without an Internet connection;
- the client is completely free.
No significant flaws were noticed during the work.
Free email client with good graphical interface for Windows 7/8/10. It combines easy navigation, eye-catching design and functionality. The program is optimized for portable computers, laptops-transformers and tablet PCs. Lets you import email and POP3 accounts.
The main feature of the client, first of all, is the design. This sets it apart from the rest of the software. Also at the disposal of users are tools that will allow optimize work with mail... Sort messages by specific folders, search by key phrases and tags. Advanced filtering helps you manage message flow with ease. The app is absolutely free. 
Advantages:
- graphical interface;
- convenient navigation;
- optimization for touch devices;
- convenient management tools;
- the program is completely free.
Flaws:
- the presence of advertising modules with a request to purchase related software.
Thunderbird from Mozilla Browser Developers Stands Out built-in extension system which allows you to extend the client's functionality with plugins created by the Thunderbird community. Analogue and almost the best alternative to Outlook.
The advantage of the program is that it has a built-in wizard that will allow you to set the necessary parameters for correct operation. Search algorithms will help you quickly find the necessary letters in a large amount of data. If you have to work with huge amounts of information, then built-in activity manager, keeping track of all the activities will be a useful tool to find the desired message.
Thunderbird uses a tabbed interface to make your mail easier and to keep things organized. Additionally, the software is equipped with a calendar, organizer, schedule, address book, attachment handler and filters to protect the user from unwanted messages. 
Advantages:
- functionality;
- setup wizard;
- convenient message search system;
- numerous tools to expand the functionality.
There were no significant shortcomings in working with the software.
The Bat!
The Bat! - one of the best and most functional email clients for the Windows operating system. The main feature is that the program has advanced security algorithms... Protects its users from unauthorized access to e-mail.
The Bat! can protect information using traffic encryption and SSL / TLS protocols. It is possible to encrypt user data on the hard disk. The program for working with e-mail is paid and available at a price of 2 thousand rubles for 1 license. 
Advantages:
- intuitive interface;
- protection of personal data;
- functionality.
Flaws:
- you can use the program only after purchase. There is no trial version available.
Free mailer from the developers of the Opera browser. Moreover, it is an additional built-in tool in the Internet browser itself. The program, in terms of the interface, is very similar to the browser of the same name, therefore, for Opera users, it will be the most optimal solution. 
The main features are support for most protocols: smtp, imap, esmtp and pops. There are also tools that allow you to filter mail, thereby getting rid of spam. The navigation and interface are quite user-friendly, which allows you to quickly access the options you need. There is a search engine with which you can quickly search for the messages you want by tags and keywords.
Advantages:
- the program is absolutely free;
- intuitive user-friendly interface;
- functionality;
- convenient e-mail management.
Flaws:
- inability to archive mail (saving a local copy);
- various crashes.
Windows 8 and 10 built-in client
The built-in service in Windows 8 and 10 operating systems is a pretty good tool for working with e-mail. Of the features, one can single out the fact that it can be customized to suit your preferences: change the window theme, background image. 
In the G8, this client has a very limited functionality and the minimum number of settings to control. According to the developers, it is optimized to run on touch devices, not computers. The following functionality is built into the program: working with several mailboxes, moving letters to separate folders, the ability to sort letters by certain attributes. In version 10 of the operating system, some additional functions were added: text formatting and working with tables.
Advantages:
- no need to download, the service is built into the operating system;
- optimized for touch devices.
Flaws:
- limited set of settings for managing mail.
Koma-Mail
Koma-Mail is a free email program for Windows designed to check the mail server for new messages using the popular POP3, IMAP, SMTP and WebDAV (Hotmail) protocols.
The program has the following functionality: antispam and custom filters, secure connection via SSL, blocking letters, which include ActiveX components and other scripts. It has a simple graphical interface, data export and import and RSS, the use of several accounts at once to manage two or more e-mail boxes. 
SeaMonkey
It is not only a postal agent, but is a set of different utilities: Browser, email service, HTML linker, address book and real-time chat that allows you to share files. Like Thunderbird, SeaMonkey is developed by Mozilla, so they are functionally quite similar. 
Advantages:
- functionality;
- the free version of the software is not inferior in functionality to the paid one;
- convenient user interface.
Flaws:
- there is no way to work with tools in one window;
- there are practically no updates.
Postbox
An unusual email client that stands out from other software. Unlike most mailers, who use folder-search or folder-search-tags to sort their inbox, things are a little different here. You can put messages in folders, and assign a shortcut to each. Another possibility for organizing correspondence is sort by favorites topics. Inboxes are grouped by discussion, the same principle used in Gmail.
In addition to the standard functionality, Postbox supports work with social networks... If the received letter contains a link, you can save it, and the necessary piece of text can be sent to Twitter or FriendFeed. 
Among the shortcomings, one can single out the fact that the spelling check is performed only in English-language texts. There is no possibility to expand functionality, there is no export.
Blue mail
This application is coming soon for the Windows operating system. Presently beta release is expected, you can access it now by filling out the appropriate form on the bluemail.me developer site. According to the developers, convenient tools for mail management, personalization, filtering and data protection will be introduced into the client. The service will be optimized for touch devices and desktops.
Rating of email clients
| Place in the rating | Service name | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The ability to expand functionality using plugins | |
| 2 | Zimbra Desktop | Functional |
| 3 | Mailbird | Undemanding to resources |
| 4 | Outlook | The best solution for organizing mail |
| 5 | Mailbird | The fastest |
| 6 | eM Client | Allows you to communicate with users via chat |
| 7 | Optimized for touch devices as much as possible | |
| 8 | Inky | The most reliable |
| 9 | A functional solution for advanced users | |
| 10 | The Bat! | The best protection of personal data |
| 11 | Convenient user interface navigation | |
| 12 | Koma-Mail | Advanced email filtering algorithms |
| 13 | Postbox | Integration with various services |
| 14 | SeaMonkey | Universal software which includes various utilities |
| 15 | Windows 8 and 10 built-in client | No download required. At the same time, a limited set of settings for working with mail |
| 16 | Blue mail | Functional software for touch devices. |
The site browser looked at several Windows email clients and discussed which programs would be appealing to heavy-duty email users who are tired of the Windows Live Mail or Microsoft Outlook interfaces.
Mailbird
An email client with an interface distinctly reminiscent of Sparrow for Mac OS. The application has won the IT World award for the best email client for Windows for the second year.
The Mailbird team understands that many users want to personalize and improve the usability of the final product, and offers customers the following personalization solutions: color choices, customization of user interface panels and keyboard shortcuts.
The trend towards expanding the functionality of applications by connecting other applications is gaining momentum. The developers took this into account, so the application supports touch control and connection of third-party applications such as Facebook, Dropbox, WhatsApp, Twitter, Evernote, Todoist and some others.
The app is available in paid (Pro) and free (Lite) versions. Paid subscription, in turn, also exists in two versions: for a year and a lifetime for $ 12 and $ 45, respectively. The paid version offers users a quick preview of long messages and snooze messages.
Dormant snooze messages allow the user to postpone reading non-urgent mail for a specified period of time. After the grace period expires, the message reappears as unread.
Also, the Pro version offers the connection of an unlimited number of email accounts, versus the maximum three in the free version. The free trial period for the Pro version is 30 days.
Mozilla thunderbird
Cross-platform email client from the developers of the Mozilla Firefox browser.
The creators of the application laid the foundation for the OpenSource principle. The advantages of such projects are timely search and elimination of vulnerabilities, as well as quick product updates.
The developers of the application did not ignore the issue of the security of personal correspondence. Message encryption, digital signature and certificate verification are responsible for the confidentiality of users' personal correspondence. A powerful spam filter does its job well and is amenable to training.
The functional features include support for modern mail protocols, RSS and Atom-feeds, lightness, branched folder directories. Thunderbird is "friendly" with almost any encoding, can filter messages and work with multiple accounts at the same time.
According to Mozilla, the product is used by 495 thousand users in Russia and 9 million worldwide. The austere and conceptual old age of the user interface is designed to brighten up the large green button on the product site with the inscription "Free download".
eM Client
Simple and convenient email client in Outlook style.
Users are offered two versions of the product - Free and Pro. The $ 30 version offers unlimited account creation (versus a maximum of two for the free version) and a license for commercial use.
The pluses of the application include the connection of third-party services Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, iCloud, support for touch devices and customizable widgets. Importing data from Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, The Bat facilitates a possible transition from other mail clients.
the bat
An email client characterized by powerful security mechanisms on the one hand and the complete absence of built-in spam filters, tedious interface customization and a plain design on the other.
Compared to free competitors, the app wins in privacy, stays on a par when comparing features, and loses miserably in usability.
In everyday correspondence, the security requirements of most users are met by standard means offered by other email clients, so the price tag of 2,000 rubles for the Home version seems too high.
Inky
A beautiful, modern and free email client.
In addition to a well-made user interface, Inky boasts the ability to work with multiple accounts, flexible filters, cloud sync and convenient visualization, within which the user is invited to choose colors and icons for different accounts.
The developers have built in the application an automatic sorting of incoming letters by relevance. Messages from the closest contacts are marked with a blue drop, which means that the message is of high importance. Less important messages and spam are marked with less bright blobs and are dropped in the list.
In practice, there are often cases when sorting occurs on a temporary basis, which means assigning more importance to the most recent message. A logical simplification of the sorting system, which destroys the excellent idea of caring and attention to each user.
In terms of ease of personalization, Inky is a trainable and highly customizable client.
Finally, it is worth mentioning an interesting OpenSource development of Mailpile, which is in beta testing.
This application is distributed free of charge and "lives" on voluntary donations, and therefore does not contain ads.
The standard Windows 10 mail client is a modified evolutionary continuation of the application "Mail" Metro-interface of the Windows 8.1 predecessor system. The mail application in Windows 10 received a little more settings than its counterpart in the state of Windows 8.1. In particular, this is the ability to select the interface color and background image in the parameters section.
At the same time, full-time "Mail" did not go beyond the specifics of Metro applications: this mini mailer, which provides only basic features for the needs of an ordinary user, and the emphasis in the application is made on a modern usable interface and ease of use with a touch screen.
Below we will take a closer look at how to set up a regular Windows 10 mail client.
Quick mail account setup
When you first enter the Mail application, we will see a button, after clicking which the wizard for adding a mail account will follow.
The Mail app in Windows 10 allows you to work with several mail accounts, each of which must be added to the mailer in a separate step. We press.
The form for adding accounts offers at the beginning of the list to quickly add e-mails of individual mail services, such as: Outlook.com, corporate mail service Microsoft Exchange , Gmail from Google , Yahoo Mail, as well as iCloud... For these mail services, you do not need to enter connection data for mail servers, you just need to log in. Let's look at how to quickly connect a mail account using an example. Gmail.
After selection Gmail we will see the standard window for connecting to the service from Google... - email address Gmail - and click "Further".
In the next window, click the button, respectively, allowing access to account data Gmail from the app "Mail" Windows 10.
Ready: the account is connected, synchronization of letters is in progress.
Advanced mail account setup
To add another mail account, go to the mailer settings section. It is there that the form for connecting mail accounts is located. We press the parameters button at the bottom of the left panel of the application, and in the list of the section that appears in the ribbon on the right "Parameters" choose.
Then we click.
We will see the same form for adding mail accounts. For mail services that are not included in the quick setup list, the application "Mail" also optionally provides for the ability to quickly configure without the need to enter detailed server data, but only by entering a username and password from the mailbox. This is the point "Another account POP, IMAP". However, for most of the mail services, such a quick setup will not work, and the synchronization of letters with the mail server will not occur. For mail services not listed in the quick setup checklist, you need advanced customization... This, accordingly, is the last item in the form for adding mail accounts.
For example, let's add to the application Windows 10 Mail mailbox of a popular mail service Yandex Mail... In the next window, select the option.
Next, you need to fill in the fields of the form for adding a mail account, and we will need to enter the addresses of the servers of incoming and outgoing mail, as well as decide on the mail protocol - POP or IMAP. Therefore, let's take a break from the application for a couple of minutes. "Mail" and first of all, let's check if the mail service provides access to mail from any mail client installed in the operating system. So, not all mail services are configured for this by default, in some of them it is necessary to activate the permission to manage mail via mail clients. For example, on the postal service Yandex Mail access to mail from client programs is provided in the mailbox settings, in the section.
The next step is to choose the POP or IMAP mail protocol. The protocol will further determine the data of the servers of incoming and outgoing mail.
POP protocol works, as a rule, on the principle of unloading letters from the mail server to the user's computer. Emails are deleted from the mail server after some time.
IMAP Is a modern and more secure protocol that provides access from a software mail client to mail on the server. The mail on the server will be stored securely, waiting for the user to be manually cleaned.
Having decided on the choice of the protocol, the next step is to find out the addresses of the servers of incoming and outgoing mail. To do this, you must enter a query by type in the browser search engine "Mail service + protocol"... In our case, this will be a search query.
The articles on such a key request will provide information about the specifics of connecting mail using the selected protocol.
Returning to the application form for adding a mail account "Mail" and enter the data: account name, username, incoming mail server address. We select the type of account, i.e. protocol POP or IMAP.
Fill in the bottom of the form: introduce Username (essentially an email address) , password, outgoing mail server address. We do not remove the preset checkboxes of the settings at the bottom. We press.
Ready: mail account is set up, synchronization of letters is in progress.
Deleting a mail account
Deleting a mail account occurs, as well as adding it, in the subsection of the application settings section "Mail".
When you click on the selected account, we will receive options for possible actions, including - deletion .
Changing mail account settings
Another option when you click on a mail account in the settings section is to change the preset mail synchronization parameters and some of the settings for the account itself.
Here you can configure the time intervals for loading letters, the format of the letters, the age of the letters for synchronization. Mailbox synchronization can be turned off altogether.
Clicking at the bottom "Advanced Mailbox Options", we will get access to the form for changing addresses and settings of incoming and outgoing mail servers.
Windows Central has compiled a collection of the best email clients for Windows 10. Most are optimized for touch screens and have enhanced email capabilities
The flow of emails never stops and requires a robust and easy-to-use application to handle it. There are several hundred different email clients on the market, but only a few deserve your attention. If you prefer a local client over a web interface, we suggest that you check out the following selection of apps for working with mail on Windows 10.
Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is included in the Microsoft Office suite of office tools, available with an Office 365 subscription (from RUB 269.00 per month), but can be purchased as a standalone application (RUB 7,499).
To work with the program it is not necessary to use an address on the Outlook.com domain - Microsoft Outlook supports almost all mail services. The user can add all their accounts to the application and conveniently manage them from one workspace. Outlook has calendar and task scheduling integration and offers a rich set of customizable rules for handling incoming mail flow. Set up sound alerts when a certain person sends you a message containing certain keywords, or automatically move the letter to the appropriate folder if it comes from a specific addressee - ideal for separating work and personal streams.
Outlook offers an incredible number of different tools that can be confusing for novice users. Fortunately, the product has received an updated interface in recent years, which has made it very convenient to organize various functions. As you become familiar with the program, you can also start using the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) development environment, which lets you create macros for your application. A large number of ready-made scripts are available on the network that are designed to automate the workflow.
Mailbird
This application has received a very apt name Mailbird, which perfectly characterizes it - the program is lightweight, undemanding to resources, easy to use and visually attractive. Mailbird provides flexible customization of a huge number of interface parameters - from account icons to text color scheme. The app will delight the eye every time you launch it.
The Mailbird developers have done a great job of removing unnecessary intermediate steps when performing various actions, which ultimately leads to increased productivity. Create quick reply templates, add attachments using drag and drop, and search for messages simply by clicking on your profile picture.
Received an email from an unknown contact? In two clicks, you can view a person's profile on the LinkedIn social network. Integration with other applications is supported: Dropbox, Facebook, Google Docs, Twitter and WhatsApp.
Import mailboxes from mail services into Mailbird for easy viewing and management. The free version has limited functionality, and the paid version will cost as little as $ 1 per month, or $ 45 for a lifetime license.
eM Client
This email client has all the basic features you need: calendar, contacts and task manager, as well as live chat between users. The program allows you to import settings and content from many other email clients, so the migration process is straightforward. Keep in mind that the free version only allows you to import 2 profiles, while the $ 50 Pro version has no import restrictions.
In terms of built-in tools, eM Client will surely offer you useful features: spell check, translation into other languages using the Bing translator, easy exchange of calendar events and tasks with other users, flexible configuration of the contact list for better organization when using multiple mail profiles. The built-in live chat even lets you quickly share files.
Inky
The Inky app is mainly focused on security. We transfer personal information by mail, which is often not protected from prying eyes. End-to-end encryption from Inky helps prevent unauthorized access attempts.
Despite the addition of security features, Inky remains extremely easy to use. User can import various accounts for use in Inky. Tags are provided for organizing different letters, which will be useful for quickly finding groups of messages.
The intuitive user interface is easy to navigate, and the automatic processing of streams saves valuable time. For the same purpose, there is a powerful search system that allows you to instantly find the letters you need.
The trial version of Inky runs for 14 days. Inky is free to use with Outlook, Gmail, or iCloud accounts. Users of other services can purchase a monthly subscription for $ 5. Inky is available for Windows 10, Mac OS, iOS and Android platforms.
Claws mail
Longtime Windows users are likely to sink into nostalgia when they first see the Claws Mail interface. I must admit, the application is intended for advanced users who are not afraid to configure everything manually. The application allows you to import an unlimited number of accounts, but you need to do it yourself, there is no automatic import function or at least a step-by-step wizard.
Claws Mail has an active bug tracking tool that keeps track of app updates and potential issues. Ideal for older computers, it uses a minimal amount of memory and does not overload the processor. You pay for this by the lack of HTML support and advanced application connectivity features. However, there are several plugins built into Claws Mail, most notably SpamAssassin, which helps fight spam.
If you are not intimidated by the need to manually tweak the parameters and are looking for an undemanding, lightweight solution for a car that is not fresh, then the free retro-style Claws Mail client is a good choice.
Zimbra Desktop
Zimbra Desktop is a free open source email client that has gone through several major changes. Work on the program has never stopped and now we have one of the best email apps for Windows 10.
A built-in calendar, contacts, and organizer keep you productive throughout the day, while a tabbed messaging system eliminates the clutter of your workspace.
Want to work offline? No problem! Zimbra allows you to work anywhere, and the results of your work will be saved to your local drive. When connected to a network, you can import Gmail, Yahoo! and Outlook for easy organization of emails in one place.
Zimbra is a cross-platform solution for Windows, Linux and Mac OS and is distributed free of charge.
TouchMail
TouchMail is a convenient email client for owners of convertible tablets or laptops. Import email accounts other than POP3 accounts and enjoy a touch-optimized interface.
The interface is colorful, which sets TouchMail apart from other similar applications. The user has a rich set of useful tools at his disposal. The application allows you to organize several messages from different accounts into one folder for quick access, and a powerful filtering system is able to effectively cope with large message flows.
TouchMail will be especially useful for touchscreen devices. The app is distributed free of charge, but contains several in-app purchases.
Thunderbird
Mozilla's Thunderbird is unique in that it has a built-in extension system that allows you to extend the client's functionality with numerous tools created by the Thunderbird community. The product offers extensions for almost any task and for any automation scenario.
A client setup wizard will help you import email accounts, and a powerful search engine will help you quickly find the information you need. If you work with huge volumes of emails, then the built-in activity manager, which tracks everything in Thunderbird, is a useful tool. Don't remember which folder you sent the desired message to? Check the log for the action you want.
To avoid confusion when writing multiple messages, Thunderbird uses a tabbed system to display all messages in one window. Naturally, the product contains standard email tools: address book, attachment handler, spam filter, and other features that make Thunderbird one of the best email clients for Windows 10.
The Bat!
The Bat! was not included in the collection of the portal Windows Central, but we think many users will agree with us - this is also one of the best email clients. It stands out not only for its functionality, but also for its attitude to the security of data transmitted by e-mail. After all, the main task of the program is to protect correspondence from monitoring by third parties.
The Bat! Mail client can protect your information in a variety of ways. In addition to encrypting traffic using SSL / TLS protocols (which most email clients and services can do today), the program allows you to encrypt user data on a hard disk. The license price starts from 2,000 rubles.
Sooner or later, any Internet user gets himself a mailbox. You can work with it directly in the browser or using special programs - mail clients. One way or another, all users are familiar with the web interface. At the very least, you need to use it to register a mailbox. There are more than a dozen programs for working with e-mail, and it is not so easy to understand them in order to choose one worthy of attention. Today we will look at free email clients for Windows and the possibilities that they open to the user.
To put the programs under consideration on an equal footing, each had the same set of requirements.
- Easy to install and configure.
- The ability to connect Russian accounts.
- Support for IMAP / POP protocols.
- Integration with cloud services and social networks.
- Implementation of transfer or import of contacts.
- Convenience of the interface.
Mozilla thunderbird
The development of "Burevestnik" is carried out by the Mozilla Corporation, the same one that produces the Firefox browser. The program is cross-platform and is distributed under a triple free license.
Thunderbird setup starts already during installation. In the process, you can independently select a set of required components.
At the first start, it is proposed to integrate with the system. In addition to the standard email client function, the program can receive newsletters in Atom or RSS formats.
Mail configuration is performed in a semi-automatic mode. To connect Google, Yandex or Mail.ru accounts, it is enough to specify the existing address and access password. Thunderbird takes the parameters for connecting to the server from its own database. The choice of the protocol is done manually. By default, the connection is in IMAP mode.
To communicate on social networks, chat accounts are set up. Possibility of integration with Facebook and Twitter is provided. IRC and Jabber / XMPP protocols are supported. In the Russian-speaking segment of the network, they have lost their popularity, giving way to mobile messengers.
Large attachments can be sent using the Box cloud service (do not confuse with Dropbox). Upon registration, the user receives 10 GB of disk space. On a free account, the size of the uploaded file is limited to 250 MB.
Transferring data, including contacts, messages, and filters from another email program, can be done using the wizard.
If the email client has not been used before, the contact database can be imported from the web version by first saving to a file.
Thunderbird is designed using the same XUL markup language as Firefox. This allows the application to adapt to the environment in which it is used. As a result, after installing the mail client for Windows 7, you will get Aero-style frames and colored window control buttons.
Tabbed technology allows you to use all the built-in capabilities in one window. Additionally, the appearance of the program can be changed using themes, and the functionality can be expanded using add-ons.
As a result of installing Thunderbird, the user receives a flexible mail client with many settings. Online help is available, and it is completely in Russian. The presence of a portable version, placed on a USB flash drive, allows you to use the program on any computer with a network connection.
eM Client
A young American company is positioning its software product as a replacement for MS Outlook. Users familiar with its Microsoft Office interface will find it easy to rebuild.
After the installation is complete, the program is ready to completely replace the standard mail client for Windows 10.
EM Client is available in two configurations: Free and Pro. Initially, the user gets a month to fully test the capabilities. Before it expires, you need to decide: will you purchase a license or get a free key for the free version. Apart from VIP support and commercial use, the only difference is the number of accounts supported. The free version requires you to limit yourself to two active email addresses.
At the time of launch, the user is prompted to migrate existing accounts or configure them on his own. The demo has no restrictions and recognized all three test accounts. After entering the "@" sign, it is proposed to substitute the domain ending, including for Russian servers.
There is no choice between transmission protocols. The program is automatically configured in IMAP mode.
The user is offered a choice of integration with five online calendar services, including Google and iCloud. Integration with these services is also possible to download the contact list. Thus, it is possible to synchronize the database of contacts accumulated on the mobile device with the mail program. Linking to iCloud in Windows is a rare phenomenon, and it will be in demand by users of Apple mobile devices.
Implemented support for XMPP protocol and connection to Hangouts chats. In the calendar settings, there is an option to integrate with the AccuWeather weather server.
The user's location can only be specified in English, but the forecast is accurate and updated in real time. As a result, weather icons appear next to the dates, clicking on which expands a short meteorological information.
There is no built-in support for cloud services in the program, but a convenient function of previewing and quickly saving the contents of attachments is implemented.
In addition to supporting popular services for storing contacts, the user has the option of manually transferring them from another program or service.
EM Client provides several presets for displaying the address book. In addition to the traditional list, you can view contact cards and even sort them by geographic location.
The appearance of the program can be changed using ten built-in themes. Changes made to the preset style additionally can be saved. The principle of this feature is similar to how personalization settings work in Windows.
The styling and layout of the main controls have been redesigned, but the general focus on replacing the office email client is visible.
Despite the fact that the eM Client interface is completely translated into Russian, you will have to deal with the additional features of the program by studying the English help. The paid version with support for an unlimited number of accounts will cost the user 1795 rubles. If you can get by with two boxes, you can get a free license key.
Opera Mail
The mail program for Windows Opera Mail is actually a separate M2 client, which was previously built into the browser of the same name. Users who have used it will recognize the design style.
Of all the programs under consideration, Opera has the smallest distribution size. Installed quickly and the only one placed its icon in the Windows taskbar.
With such intrusiveness, the program initially determined the version and bitness of the OS incorrectly.
As part of testing, we enter all accounts manually, not allowing to import settings. Opera first encountered problems setting up Google Mail. As it turned out, "Corporation of Good" put the program in the list of unreliable applications. After making the necessary changes in the security settings, the account was successfully connected.
Of the Russian servers, Opera easily connected only to Yandex. For Mail.ru, all connection parameters had to be entered manually.
Of the good, it is worth noting the ability to manually select the protocol between POP3 and IMAP.
The settings of the program cannot be called even poor, they simply do not exist. The maximum that the user can do in this "separately living tab" is to change the fonts and encoding of messages.
Import of contacts, integration with cloud services and social networks are not provided.
Zimbra Desktop
The developers of the program position it as a collaboration tool. Zimbra cross-platform products are free software with available source code and have their own version of the public license.
During installation, the program requires Java Oracle Runtime Environment installed on the computer. It includes the minimum set of components required to run java applications in Windows.
Java Runtime Environment is free, and you can download it from the official website of the company.
Zimbra easily connected to Google and Mail.ru accounts, but Yandex identified its requests as spam. Russian servers are configured completely manually. The user must select the protocol and independently specify the type of connection.
Additional program settings allow you to change the settings for notification and display of mail. Personalized account settings provide for the creation of separate filters, signatures and ready-made sample letters. Internal division of the working window into zones has three typical presets.
To integrate additional services, Zimbra implements an add-on mechanism, the so-called "zimlets". With their help, you can organize the transfer of correspondence and contacts from any program. Taking into account the fact that the application is cross-platform, import not only from Windows applications is supported.
The allowed size of attachments in a message is 750 MB. In the Zimbra gallery, the user is offered add-ons for integration with any third-party services: social networks, instant messengers, office software packages, weather services.
In fact, the program is a universal "combine" for teamwork, in which e-mail is only one of the functions. For a home user, its functionality will be superfluous, but for a small office it will be a real boon.
Claws mail
Let's finish the review of mail clients for Windows on a guest from a UNIX environment, the Claws Mail program. This free software representative is a version of a Linux application developed based on GTK + elements.
When installing, Claws Mail does not ask for any additional components and is immediately ready to go.
Setting up accounts in the program is carried out in a semi-automatic mode. It is enough to specify the postal address and connection protocol. Claws will add the sending and receiving servers by itself, including for Russian services.
During the configuration process, the program will ask you to confirm the reliability of the secure connection certificate. All three test accounts, including Google, were identified as unknown publishers. After receiving the user's consent, the program accepts them and works stably.
Changing the appearance is possible due to additional themes obtained in the tar.gz archive format. To check the spelling, the program uses the Russian dictionary from the free Open Office package. The download link is specified directly in the settings.
You cannot import contacts from other Windows programs or files. To quickly fill the address book, you can use the automatic collection of addresses. You can enable it entirely for a folder or for selected messages.
Externally and functionally, Claws Mail resembles a simplified version of the well-known The Bat program, while being distributed free of charge.
Finally
According to the criteria in question, the best email client for Windows among free programs is Mozilla Thunderbird. Extensibility and flexibility of settings allow using it with any accounts.
The second place should be given to Claws Mail. The ideal email program, undemanding to resources. There is nothing superfluous in it, and each parameter can be "adjusted" to the needs of the user.
The third place is honorably occupied by eM Client. It is convenient, expandable, but limited in the number of accounts.
Zimbra Desktop is too powerful a "tool" for private use, and Opera Mail has not yet grown from a "separate tab" of the browser into a full-fledged mail client.
