Lightweight email client. Review of email clients for Windows

For ordinary people who do not use email for commercial purposes, the capabilities of the web interface of email services are often sufficient. These provide basic functionality for working with mail and in most cases are equipped with a user-friendly interface aimed at beginners. Some email services, such as Yandex.Mail, can even offer a choice of design themes. But when using email in a commercial environment, greater efficiency can be achieved due to the capabilities of a special type of software - mail clients, programs that are installed into the operating system, receive data from the email server and present it to the user in its own interface. Such email programs, as a rule, are capable of providing multi-account work with by email, can offer flexible settings, filtering, sorting and other capabilities for working with large volumes of correspondence. Many mailers, in addition to this, also provide organizational functions such as a calendar, scheduler, contact database, etc.

In this article we will look at current offers on the market of email clients for operational Windows systems 7, 8 or 10. Not all of the email clients discussed below are functional tools. The review also includes minimalistic products, such as email applications included latest versions Windows. Let's start the review with them.

1. Mail app included in Windows 8.1

The Mail program, which appeared in Windows 8, then migrated to its upgrade version Windows 8.1, became one of the aspects of Microsoft’s global idea - to offer the user a new format of the operating system with the old familiar and new simple tools designed for the average person on board. The built-in Windows 8.1 mailer is a product in the Modern UI (Metro) interface style, and, as befits mail programs of this format, it contains only basic functionality and a minimum of settings. The Mail program, being initially focused not on functionality, but on the convenience of working with email on touch devices with small screens, can do a little: it supports working with several mailboxes, provides receiving, sending mail, moving it inside the mailbox, the ability to configure the display of letters in the order they were received or by type of conversation, and a couple of other little things.

Mail Windows client Since version 8 of the system appeared on board, 8.1 has not grown into anything more. The reason for this is the short time of relevance of Windows 8/8.1 itself. The evolution of the email client has already taken place in the Windows 10 version.

2. Mail app included in Windows 10

The Windows 10 email client has been constantly changing since the official release of this version of the system, and users who did not disable updates could periodically find new options in the settings. However, the mail client on board Windows 10 differs little from the Windows 8.1 mailer. Significant differences include the choice of interface colors, background images, and greater capabilities when creating emails, in particular, text formatting and working with tables.

3. Microsoft Outlook 2016

Native postal Windows applications will never develop into functional email clients, otherwise they will bury Outlook as part of paid software Microsoft package Office. We will see everything that Microsoft is capable of as the creator of an email client in current version Microsoft Outlook 2016. In addition to a functional mailer, Outlook also includes an RSS client, contacts, notes, calendar, and task scheduler. Among the functional advantages of the mail client module are developed systems for tagging, filtering and sorting correspondence, applying notification rules to new letters and automatically moving them to the desired folders, choosing the layout of the Outlook window for convenient presentation of mail, auto-archiving and other features.

Microsoft Outlook is an ideal product for the marketing industry. The mailer contains not just an extensive toolkit for formatting text when creating emails, it, in fact, has a stripped-down built-in Microsoft version Word. When creating letters, you can work with tables, autotext, shapes and express blocks, use Wordart and other functions text editor from Microsoft. The text of letters is pre-installed with a spell check, a built-in translator, a word count, and an intelligent search function.

4. Windows Live Mail

Another solution from Microsoft is a free client application for working with email services, part of the Windows Live software package. It appeared as a result of the separation of the Windows Mail email client on board into a separate product Windows Vista. Windows Mail In terms of functionality, Live can be classified as something between Microsoft Outlook and minimalistic email applications included in Windows 8.1 and 10. While Microsoft Outlook is a product aimed at corporate user, mailman Windows Live- This is a product for the average person. It is created in the Ribbon interface format (with a toolbar divided into horizontally oriented tabs), provides, in addition to the email client, RSS client modules, databases with contacts, and a calendar with the ability to schedule events.

The functionality of the Windows Live email client is a stripped-down version of the capabilities of Microsoft Outlook. When working with mail, you can customize a convenient layout of the client window, apply filters, selections, sorting options, use the presentation of letters by conversation type, create rules for letters automatic deletion, moving to the desired folders, forwarding to individual recipients, etc. The form for creating emails, compared to Microsoft Outlook, has a more meager arsenal, however, the necessary text formatting options are present, and among the insertion functions there is even the ability to create a photo album inside the letter.

5. The Bat!

Let's start our review of third-party email clients with the market leader - The Bat! , the most functional program of all those presented in this article. The Bat! can offer the user a customizable interface, mail sorting, advanced search through the contents of the mailbox, an RSS client, a database with contacts, protection against viruses and spam, setting a password for accessing mail, checking spelling when creating letters and other features. One of key features This email client contains templates, a more advanced analogue of the rules of behavior in Microsoft Outlook. Using The Bat! You can create template letters and set rules for the mailer.

The Bat! – an email program, a paid product, there is a monthly trial version to evaluate all the features.

6. Mozilla Thunderbird

Opera Mail consists of three modules - the mail section, the RSS client and the newsgroup client. For the mailer window, you can choose a convenient layout for presenting letters. Directly for working with electronic correspondence, Opera Mail can offer a tagging system, mail sorting, and the use of a contact database. The options for creating letters are minimal - text without formatting and attaching attachment files.

8. eM Client

The last participant in the review is the eM Client email client. Organizationally and functionally, it is similar to Windows Live, but, in addition to the modules of an email client, a calendar planner, a database with contacts, and an RSS client, it also provides a chat function. You can connect accounts of such services to the eM Client chat for exchange text messages such as: Jabber, ICQ, IRC, MSN, Yahoo!, GaduGadu, etc. Among the capabilities of the email client we will find a standard set of functions such as mail sorting, tagging, a developed search and filtering system inside mailboxes. It is possible to work with rules for automatic deletion, forwarding, moving correspondence to the desired folders, etc. The eM Client interface is customizable: you can choose a design theme, adjust the window layout and the position of the sidebar on the right to your preferences.

While all previous participants in the review, except for the paid The Bat!, allow you to connect an unlimited number of mailboxes within free use programs, the free eM Client is limited to only two connected mailboxes.

Have a great day!

Computer email programs allow you to use electronic correspondence more flexibly. Filters, rules, shortcuts and much more, and most importantly - offline access to what was downloaded earlier.

1. Mozilla Thunderbird

Time-tested multifunctional tool from Mozilla.

Supports any number of accounts

Extensibility with plugins

Limited opportunities calendar

Like the Firefox browser, Mozilla's email client works with third-party plugins, which can significantly expand the capabilities of the application. In addition to reading and sending emails, Thunderbird allows you to read RSS feeds even without plugins.

Setting up mail is quite simple. In most cases, all you need to do is remember your email address and password. The program will configure everything else itself.

2. eM Client

Thunderbird's main competitor in the free email client market. The main advantage is simple migration from other email programs and a smart translator.

Migration Tools

Built-in chat

Thoughtful design

Only supports two accounts

eM Client has a 10-year history and is considered by many to be the best email client for Windows.

eM Client allows you to easily and quickly transfer your messages from Gmail, Exchange, iCloud and Outlook.com, has built-in search, calendar and address book. The built-in chat supports working with third-party instant messengers, like Jabber or Google Chat.

From additional features– built-in translator, delayed sending of messages and encryption. If you only have two mail accounts, then eM Client is an excellent choice.

3. Mailbird Lite

Nice email client with extensive social capabilities

Integration of social services

Very easy installation

Only supports one account

Mailbird Lite is not just an email client. This is a whole platform for communications. It allows you to expand the application's capabilities for maintaining schedules, chats, file synchronization and teamwork.

IN free version there are certain restrictions. For example, previewing files attached to emails before opening them or quickly reading them. But the free functionality is quite wide.

When setting up, you don’t need to bother with email service addresses; just remember the login and password for your mailbox. You can add your Facebook account, WhatsApp, Google Calendar, free manager Moo.do tasks and Asana application for teamworking.

4. Claws Mail

Minimalistic and intuitive client.

Operation speed

Intuitive Design

Easy to set up

Small set of plugins

The minimum resource requirement allows you to use the Claws Mail email client even on old computers. It will still work quickly.

The application allows you to import your settings from other clients, such as MS Outlook or Thunderbird. Therefore, if one of them does not suit you, it will not take long to switch to a simpler solution.

Thanks to the plugins, you can additionally install a calendar, RSS subscription and something else.

5. Opera Mail

An open source project from the team behind the Opera browser.

Any number of accounts

Customizable tagging system

Difficult setup

This solution allows you to create template letters, which is especially important for business. Convenient message filters and sorting. Abundance of manual settings.

It is possible to read RSS feeds, which eliminates the need to use a browser for these purposes.

Users are divided into two categories: those who use the Web interface to work with mail, and those who prefer to work in software environment. I consider myself to be the latter. Mail program It’s convenient because if you have several addresses, with one click of a button you can collect all the correspondence and gradually, slowly, begin to study it. When in the first case you need to open several browser windows, there is a high probability that during work you can accidentally close the tab and you will have to re-enter passwords, logins, search for the desired letter, and all this takes time.

Email programs for Windows 10

It makes no sense to describe them all; firstly, there are quite a lot of them. Secondly, they all work on the same principle and are configured in the same way. Therefore, I will focus on the more well-known and frequently used among users. The list will include both paid and free products.

Mozilla Thunderbird

I'll start with my favorite - Mozilla Thunderbird. It's not hard to guess who the developer is by the name :)

pros: Simple interface. Virus protection. A large number of additions. Spellchecking. There is no problem with encoding at all. Blocking advertising, spam and dangerous objects in letters. Acceptability of working with RSS. There is a problem book and a calendar. Search. Import settings from The Bat and Outlook Express. Constant update. Blocking malicious objects, including images. Ignoring all various third-party codes and scripts. SMTP/POP3 protocol support

Minuses: Not noticed by me.

The Bat

Great email program. I haven't seen any analogues yet.

Positive Features: Encryption of correspondence, including via the SSL/TLS protocol. Ability to create your own letter templates. Ability to use macros and install various modules, including antispam and antivirus. Backup. Password protection of the mailbox. Supports SMTP/POP3 protocols.

Negative: Paid

eM Client

Very similar to Outlook Express, as it was developed as an alternative to it. Is an expanded version of Sylpheed.

Flattering reviews: Encrypt everything you send. User-friendly interface. Import settings from other applications. RSS. Creation of widgets. Spell check. Antispam. Antivirus. Synchronization with contacts and calendar Wonder Mail Server. Quick search e-mail addresses and letters. Supports SMTP/POP3/SSL protocols. Creating rules and filters and much more.

Not flattering: Paid. In the free version, you can create only 2 accounts.

Claws Mail

Pros: Protocol support (POP3, SMTP, NNTP, SSL, IMAP4rev1, etc.). Data encryption. Antispam. Antivirus. Ability to use additional plugins. Like all similar applications, there is an address book. Auto-encoding. Creating templates. Spell check and much more.

Minuses: Not defined by me.

IncrediMail

What's good: A very unusual program. Can add animated characters to the text of the message, special effects and 3D design. Another feature is non-standard processing of correspondence and a set of functions that are not available in any other application of this type. For example: When a new message arrives, a lokey appears in the corner of the screen and says the accompanying phrase. You can choose other characters. And also when designing a letter, you can choose animation of letters and paper. And the shipment can be issued in the form of a paper airplane. When answering, use animated emoticons. Plus, almost all the professional functions of the above utilities are included.

What's wrong: The recipient must have this utility. Lack of Russian language. But if you wish, you can find a crack on the Internet.

The efficiency of your work largely depends on how convenient, functional and demanding your computer resources are. Therefore, of course, choosing it correctly is very important. Today we will talk about the most popular email programs.

Mozilla Thunderbird: Free and Universal

Brother Firefox browser is open source and available for free. This is one of the most popular email programs, with more than 25 million installations.

Thunderbird can manage email accounts from any service provider and will walk you through setup using the appropriate setup wizard.

The program supports virtual folders that allow you to save search queries by folders. The interface adapts to your taste using various themes. Thunderbird also provides a customizable and very robust spam filter.

With the Lightning extension, you add software calendar function. Here you can easily subscribe to Google calendars.
You can install full version Thunderbird, but there is also a portable version.

Microsoft Outlook: the flagship among email programs

Outlook is part of the Microsoft Office suite, but can also be purchased and installed separately. The program offers a wide range of functions and is aimed primarily at business users. By tightly integrating email, address book, calendar, and task functions, Microsoft Outlook makes collaboration easy. Thus, a central repository of personal and resource mailboxes, calendars and employment information makes it easy to organize meetings or rent rooms.

As part of the Microsoft Office Suite, this email program easily pairs for use in combination with other MS Office software, such as Excel, OneNote or Skype.

Disadvantage: The retail price of MS Outlook is 8,199 rubles for the single-user version in the Microsoft Store - it is by far the most expensive email program.

eM Client: A Less Expensive Outlook Alternative

Similar to Microsoft Outlook, eM Client offers full package solutions for mail, contact processing, calendars and other tasks, and even supports a chat function. Most services are supported automatically.

The program has its own tool Reserve copy. Special attention easy setup of email encryption deserves. The corresponding functions for PGP and S/MIME are activated with just a few clicks of installation.

The eM client is free for private use and supports two email accounts in this option. In the advanced version, the number of accounts is unlimited. It costs 1795 rubles.

The Bat!: For safety

The Bat! from the developers Ritlabs has been on the market for many years and is very popular. This email program is intended for private users and business clients.

It supports multiple user accounts, each with its own folders, templates, and IDs.

The software comes with numerous security features: PGP based on OpenSSL; encrypted email database, etc. Plus, The Bat! has its own HTML viewer, making it independent of Windows features.

An interesting point for use in a business environment: The Bat! supports tokens for authentication on the mail server.

“Bat” is available in a home version for 2,000 rubles, which allows it to be widely used in private use. Pro Edition costs 3,000 rubles and is convenient for commercial use. In combination with Pro version The Bat mobile email client is also available! Voyager.

Windows Mail: Built-in Windows 10

Windows Mail is the integrated email client for Windows 10. Actually, it's just mail. The program's interface is laconic and limited to basic functions; there is no direct integration of calendars and contacts, but you can launch corresponding applications from Windows 10. Encryption features are only available for email accounts connected to Exchange.

The Mail app for Windows 10 is free. Recommended for those who do not have special requirements for functionality and security, but who are looking for an easy-to-use and well-organized program.

The most popular email client included with Microsoft Office. Allows you to work with contacts, tasks and calendar. Integrates with most corporate systems for collaboration. Eat mobile versions for smartphones and tablets.

Free email program from Mozilla that's easy to install and configure - and has a lot of features

Free open-source email client for Windows, based on Mozilla Prism technology. In addition to mail, it contains the functions of an organizer, task manager, portfolio, calendar and much more.

Secure and efficient email client for Windows. Main tasks mail program The Bat! are: maintaining the confidentiality of correspondence, convenience and saving time when working with mail.

Updated Outlook Express is an email client included in Windows 7,8,10. Good protection against spam and phishing. Messages and contacts are divided into separate files with the EML extension, this allows you to view them using a file manager if necessary.

Free, simple, easily customizable email client. Supports working with multiple accounts. Built-in spam filter (with training function) shows good results and has several degrees of protection.

Mail client for Window. Can connect to POP/IMAP servers such as Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail and import from other email clients. The program also offers a fully functional calendar that can even sync with a Gmail calendar or mobile device.

Program for working with e-mail and contact database for Windows XP. Outlook Express comes with operating systems Windows family starting with Windows 95. In later versions of the OS it was replaced by Windows Live Mail, and then by Windows Mail.