Mailbird vs Thunderbird (Choosing The Best Email Client For You)
Mailbird vs Thunderbird: Compare features, security, customization, and pricing to choose the best email client for your needs in 2025.
Email takes up a lot of our time. Recent research found that the average office worker spends about 28% of their work week managing their email. That’s over 11 hours a week! So it’s no wonder many people are looking for ways to make email more manageable. One of those ways is to find the right email client to help them sort through their email efficiently. In this article, we’ll detail the features of two of the best AI Email Assistant: Mailbird and Thunderbird. Doing so will help you choose the best option for your needs and boost your productivity. Antispace’s AI-based productivity operating system can help you on your journey to efficient email management. Its advanced artificial intelligence and customizable email assistant can transform your email experience to help you regain control of your time.
Mailbird vs Thunderbird at a Glance
When comparing Mailbird and Thunderbird, you will find two very different email clients, each with strengths and approaches. Mailbird launched in 2013 and was designed as a sleek, modern alternative for Windows users who wanted something more polished than traditional email apps.
Inspired by the minimalist design of Sparrow (a now-defunct Mac app), Mailbird has evolved into a refined client available on both Windows and macOS. It caters to users who want a clean interface, smooth integrations with other tools like WhatsApp, Slack, and Google Calendar, and a productivity-first experience.
Flexibility vs Freemium
Thunderbird, on the other hand, has been around since 2003. Initially developed by the Mozilla Foundation and managed by MZLA Technologies (a Mozilla subsidiary), Thunderbird is open-source and completely free. It’s long been a favorite among tech-savvy users who appreciate its robust customization options, privacy-first philosophy, and community-driven development model.
It may not be as slick out of the box, but it’s powerful and flexible. One of the most noticeable differences is pricing. Mailbird follows a freemium model, offering basic features for free and more advanced functionality in its paid tiers. True to its roots, Thunderbird is entirely free and sustained by donations.
Features vs Freedom
That makes it a great choice if you're on a budget or committed to open-source software. In terms of language support, Thunderbird offers more global accessibility, supporting 65 languages compared to Mailbird’s 24. This wider support reflects its community-driven nature and broader international user base.
It comes down to how you use email. If you're looking for a modern interface and productivity integrations and don't mind paying for convenience, Mailbird is a strong option. If you prefer a highly customizable, free solution that respects your privacy, Thunderbird remains one of the most dependable tools.
What is Mailbird?
Mailbird is one of the more modern and user-friendly email clients. Its array of third-party integrations makes managing email and your most-used apps easy.
When connected, the integrations share the interface with your inbox, which makes Mailbird attractive for users who don't want to leave. Slack, Trello, Google Drive, Dropbox, and ChatGPT are just some apps with native integrations.
Easy Setup and App Integration
To get started, download the client, add your email (or connect to an existing client), and you're ready to go. You'll be asked to select a layout and connect third-party apps as your emails sync.
To connect, click on your app, sign in, and you're ready to go without leaving your inbox. Each app you add appears as an icon in the sidebar for one-click access.
Boost Email Productivity Fast
Mailbird claims its speed reading feature will increase your email productivity. This feature allows you to quickly absorb sentences rather than identify individual words.
While reading a message, select the speed read option from the dropdown menu, and the message will begin to play back. You can choose how fast (from 100 to 1,000 words per minute) you want the email displayed.
Themes, Filters, and Unified Inbox
The app features many background images, the ability to pick a color, and the option of matching your system's light or dark theme depending on the time of day. You can also set up a custom schedule for the Snooze feature, apply rules to incoming mail with Filters, and customize identities and signatures on a per-account basis.
With the unified mailbox feature, you can add multiple email accounts and manage all emails and folders from one inbox.
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What is Thunderbird?
With Thunderbird, you can specify where your email is stored locally, schedule backups, and connect virtually any email account. It also provides some security features like native OpenPGP encryption that aren't found in other clients.
Thunderbird is fully open source and has a thriving catalog of add-ons by various developers to help enhance the user experience. And it's all free.
Classic Look with Custom Theme Options
For a mail app in the age of Windows 11, Thunderbird doesn't have the most modern interface. The app is modeled after Mozilla's browser, Firefox, and uses a tab system. You wouldn't choose Thunderbird for its style points, but the client has options.
To see them, click on the hamburger menu at the top-right. From there, you can customize the app's look, select privacy settings, and access essential functions like email composition options. Themes such as Suave, Dark Fox, and Two Little Birds provide different looks for your inbox.
AI, Templates, and Smart Scheduling
Many extensions are available to get more out of Thunderbird. Innovative templates ($5/year) and Quicktext let you create email templates for quick responses, while ThunderAI adds a ChatGPT integration for free.
Send Later lets you schedule future times to send emails or send messages repeatedly using rules such as "every two days." Thunderbird is a solid foundation, but with the right add-ons, it can be whatever you want.
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We've built intelligence into every aspect of your workflow:
- Smart email responses
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Mailbird vs Thunderbird: Understanding the Key Differences
Mailbird was initially built for Windows, and while a macOS version is in the works, it’s not out just yet.
Thunderbird is more versatile. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so if you’re working across different operating systems, Thunderbird already has you covered.
Ease of Setup
Both Mailbird and Thunderbird make setting up your email accounts incredibly easy. Just plug in your name and email address, and the rest is pretty much taken care of, no fiddling with server settings.
You can manage multiple accounts, and both support POP and IMAP. Mailbird allows you to upgrade to a business plan if you need Exchange support, while Thunderbird requires a plugin.
User Interface
Mailbird wins in the aesthetics department, it’s sleek, modern, and designed to minimize clutter. Thunderbird has a more classic, utilitarian look. It’s not as clean, but it puts powerful features at your fingertips and offers more customization through themes and extensions.
If you’re used to Gmail shortcuts, Mailbird will feel familiar, though Thunderbird can mimic that with add-ons. Both support unified inboxes, but Mailbird’s “Snooze” feature for emails adds a productivity boost that Thunderbird currently lacks.
Email Organization & Management
This is where Thunderbird flexes its muscles. It supports folders, tags, filters, and advanced search features that help you sort and find messages effortlessly.
Mailbird has folders and a simple search bar, but no rules or automation—so you’re dragging emails around manually. Thunderbird gives you more tools to stay organized while managing a busy inbox.
Security Features
Both apps disable remote image loading to help avoid tracking. Mailbird relies on your email provider to manage spam filtering, while Thunderbird has a built-in AI-powered junk mail filter.
It learns what spam looks like to you and improves over time. If security and spam control are top priorities, Thunderbird gives you more control.
Integrations
Mailbird offers built-in integrations with tools like:
- Slack
- Google Calendar
Many of these work via embedded browser windows, they’re convenient but not deeply integrated.
Thunderbird, meanwhile, has its calendar, task manager, and chat tools built in. It also supports deeper integrations via iCalendar and CalDAV and has a rich ecosystem of extensions. So if you want full functionality inside your email client, Thunderbird wins on depth, even if Mailbird offers more trendy app logos on its site.
Pricing & Value
This is one of the most significant differences. Thunderbird is entirely free and backed by the open-source community. Mailbird is a paid product with a one-time fee or an annual subscription. If you’re looking to save money, Thunderbird is the better value.
The bottom line is that Mailbird is excellent if you want a clean, easy-to-use interface with modern integrations, especially if you live in the Windows world. Thunderbird is better suited for power users who wish to customize and automate and aren’t afraid to dive into settings and extensions. Thunderbird’s zero-dollar price tag is hard to beat if budget is a concern.
Choosing the Best Email Client for Everyday Use
Emails are vulnerable to hackers and other malicious actors. If you use your emails at work, the privacy and security of your data become even more significant concerns. So, before you choose an email client, look for one that can keep your data private and secure.
For instance, opt for an email client with end-to-end encryption to prevent unauthorized email access. Malware detection features can also improve security and keep your emails safe.
Customization: Finding the Right Fit for Your Email Client
You may get bored with an email client’s interface or dashboard pretty quickly if you use it for a long time. To avoid this, you should choose the one that allows customizations to its layout, color palette, themes, features, and more.
These customizations will help you personalize the email experience according to your liking and make it enjoyable to use.
Productivity Features: Streamlining Your Email Management
A great email client should provide essential productivity features such as:
- Send later
- Snooze emails
- Email labels
- Unified inbox
- Integrated apps and more
These features help you deal with your emails later, categorize them into groups, and manage everything in a single place. So keep these things in mind when choosing your next email client.
MIME-Type Support: Extending Your Email's Functionality
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) is a protocol that extends the capabilities of emails. Using MIME, you can add interactive videos, sounds, and other non-ASCII data. Three content types come under the MIME tree:
- Plaintext version (text/plain)
- HTML version (text/html)
- AMP version (text/x-amp-html)
Ensuring Compatibility in Your Email Client
Most email clients support the former two versions. But if you want to interact with AMP emails, your client must support text/x-amp-html content type.
This support will ensure that your email client understands and renders AMP code. If client doesn’t support the text/x-amp-html content type, see the HTML fallback version.
Budget: Finding the Right Email Client for Your Needs
There are both free and paid email clients on the market. First, you need to figure out your needs and budget. Then, to get the best email client that fits your budget, compare the pricing structure of different email clients and choose one that gives you everything within your budget.
Let Our AI-based Productivity Operating System Handle Your Boring Work
Antispace transforms your daily workflow with an AI-powered, gamified productivity operating system. Our platform seamlessly integrates with your essential tools like email, Calendar, and Notes, while our AI assistant handles everything from email management to task organization.
We've built intelligence into every aspect of your workflow:
- Smart email responses
- Automated calendar management
- Enhanced note-taking
- Streamlined task coordination
Antispace as Your Intelligent Workflow Partner
Antispace acts as your virtual executive assistant by reducing context switching and automating routine tasks. It lets you focus on what matters while our AI handles the rest.
Whether you're brainstorming ideas, managing communications, or coordinating projects, Antispace turns productivity from a chore into an engaging experience.
Get started for free with one click today!