Thunderbird: when to install it, and when not to
A real desktop mail client for more than one mailbox, with local mail and no account required by us. It keeps reading and drafting possible when the…
The short version
Thunderbird: The desktop mail client that stopped the argument: handles any IMAP or Exchange account, has a real calendar, and runs your own rules locally. Newer versions are fast again after years of neglect.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Category | Communication — 6 programs |
| Official download | https://www.thunderbird.net/download/ ↗ |
What it is for
A real desktop mail client for more than one mailbox, with local mail and no account required by us. It keeps reading and drafting possible when the connection drops, which browser-based mail does not.
When to pick something else
If you have one mailbox and live entirely in its web interface, a separate client is another thing to configure and update. Setup also requires the server settings from your provider.
How it compares in Communication
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | The benchmark for private messaging, run by a non-profit and audited repeatedly. Everything is end-to-end encrypted including calls, and the desktop app links to your phone rather than existing on its own. |
| Element Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | A client for the open Matrix network, which means you can self-host or join someone else's server and still talk to people on other servers. Choose it for sovereignty, not for polish. |
Practical notes
- Use IMAP rather than POP so the client is a view of the mailbox, not the only place a message exists.
- Back up the profile folder; that is where local folders, filters and account settings live.
Questions people ask
Will it work with my provider?
Almost any provider offering IMAP or POP. You will need the server names and authentication method from them.
Where it appears in our guides
- Setting up a new Windows PC: the order that actually works
- Building a reliable remote-work machine
- Why we link to publishers, and how to check a download yourself
See the full Communication explainer for the other 5 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.