Thunderbird

Thunderbird brings several email accounts into one desktop application and supports common mail protocols, filters, folders, search, address books and calendar functions. It can be extended and customised without tying the user to a single mail provider.

Why we recommend it

We recommend Thunderbird because it gives users control over their email workflow and works with many providers instead of being built around one web service. For people who manage several addresses, a local client can be considerably more efficient than multiple browser tabs.

Strengths

• Works with many email providers
• Unified desktop workflow for multiple accounts
• Integrated calendar and contacts
• Extensible and highly configurable

Things to consider

Initial account setup and advanced filtering can be more involved than using a provider’s webmail. Mail data should also be included in a reliable backup strategy.