Best Open Source E-mail Client for 2018?


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #1

    Best Open Source E-mail Client for 2018?


    Hi, it's January 2018 and I just did my annual reformat, and I'm a bit out of touch with the open source apps at the moment. So to get right down to it, what are the new "best" open source email clients? I'm looking for something that looks good, not too cluttered, not too metro. Perhaps something with a certain level of customization? It also has to support most large e-mail providers( g-mail, outlook, etc)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #2

    sorrymargaret said:
    Hi, it's January 2018 and I just did my annual reformat, and I'm a bit out of touch with the open source apps at the moment. So to get right down to it, what are the new "best" open source email clients? I'm looking for something that looks good, not too cluttered, not too metro. Perhaps something with a certain level of customization? It also has to support most large e-mail providers( g-mail, outlook, etc)
    These 3 are often top picks:

    Thunderbird

    eM Client

    Mailbird
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 26,416
    Windows 11 Pro 22631.3374
       #3

    I use T-Bird, it does the job.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #4

    Another is OE Classic, seems to work good especially for those familiar with Outlook Express of WinXP days.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 856
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2 build 19045.2193 Dual Boot Linux Mint
       #5

    Thunderbird has my vote.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #6

    Josey Wales said:
    I use T-Bird, it does the job.
    clam1952 said:
    Thunderbird has my vote.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 109
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit
       #7

    eM Client Been using it for ages, and I see no reason to use anything else
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #8

    simrick said:
    Hi there

    I use T-Bird on Linux (although I use Outlook 2016 on Windows)

    I prefer the integration of the whole office 2016 suite including things like SKYPE / meetings / video conferencing but of course it's not free unlike T-Bird -- and T-Bird does allow multiple accounts from different servers (including exchange) .

    Particularly to @Berton

    OE express doesn't allow IMAP which makes it a bit of a No No currently as I did like the simplicity of the old OE in XP. (Outlook Express for those not familiar with XP). They are however working on that though -- if they incorporate that feature it would be worth looking at again.

    These days especially if you use multiple types of devices (or even just multiple computers) IMAP is essential - if an email client doesn't support IMAP then that's a 100% show stopper for me.

    One disadvantage though with T-BIRD -- actually same in OUTLOOK 2016 -- not OUTLOOK 2010 is this wretched idea of trying to automate the setup process so it's a real pain if you have non standard mail servers to do it manually -- if it can't find something it just errors out so you can't do the rest manually or at least without a whole lot of hassle.

    I got round the problem by creating a dummy valid email account (standard GMAIL type of one), then I could manually CHANGE the mail servers etc.

    The system really breaks down with these automatic configuration things if you have different mail servers for inbound and outbound mail (for the same account) with different user id and password on each server !!!

    -- This won't affect a lot of users but if this is your case it's a pain to get any of these email systems working -- for Outlook 2016 I had to re-install OUTLOOK 2010 and then upgrade to 2016 !! then it copied the email config and worked.

    I do wish developers would allow an "expert option" where you could configure the whole thing manually rather than try and dumb the whole thing down for everybody.

    So to any software developers here -- 1-click / simple installs / configurations are a good idea when they work but do allow more experienced people the option of a bit more manual stuff if the 1-click install doesn't work.

    For more experienced readers -- the problem of inbound / outbound mail servers occurs when you are away from your home ISP and want to send mail without using those usually hideous supplied web / browser based email clients.

    A lot of ISP's won't allow SEND of mail when you aren't logged on to their network so you need another SEND server. The reason ISP's usually prohibit SEND from non Web / Browser based applications when you are not logged on to their network is to prevent robots sending loads of SPAM, SPAMBOTS, MAILING LISTS etc etc. With a browser based application they can control this stuff (and pepper you with commercials too!!!).

    INBOUND mail is never normally a problem but if you use say a service like AUTHSMTP or you have a Domain which incorporates a mail server - most do BTW then your OUTBOUND user id and password will be different from the INBOUND server (your ISP one). This is where the auto config of these programs fails !!!!

    Cheers
    jimbo
    Last edited by jimbo45; 31 Jan 2018 at 03:41.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 668
    Win 10 pro
       #9

    Edwin said:
    These 3 are often top picks:

    Thunderbird

    eM Client

    Mailbird
    Only Thunderbird is Open Source, there is a fundamental simple difference between freeware (as the other two seems to be) and open source that many seems to miss.

    So @sorrymargaret if you are interested in open source mail client Thunderbird is a good choice IMO.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 668
    Win 10 pro
       #10

    Atomcrusher said:
    eM Client Been using it for ages, and I see no reason to use anything else
    It's not Open Source, it may be a good reason.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 13:45.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums