Outlook alternative: four practical programs compared

Almost everyone is familiar with Microsoft Outlook. The email program is part of the standard software for sending emails, especially in the office. But there are also good and above all free alternatives to Outlook. We present to you the four most popular.

1. Why an alternative to Outlook?

Outlook is a popular software for sending, receiving and managing emails and contacts. The program also has a handy calendar feature that you can use to organize appointments and tasks. Operation is simple and clear, multiple email accounts can be managed in parallel and the email client, part of the Office package, is compatible with numerous other software solutions, both on Windows and Mac.

That’s why Outlook is still the number one email program, especially in the business sector. But this comfort also has a price: Private users pay Office 365 at least 69 euros per year. As a company you already have to spend €105.60 per year per user. (as of 2019)

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If that’s too expensive for you and you’re looking for an Outlook replacement, luckily you’ll find some good email programs. We present the best Outlook alternatives in comparison.

2. Thunderbird: Frequently used alternative to Outlook

One of the most popular Outlook alternatives is Mozilla Thunderbird. This is an open source project from the same organization that also offers the Firefox web browser. Thunderbird offers many features and numerous add-ons. The email program is free and the basic version provides you with everything you need: Cryptography of emails over S/MIME, management of multiple email accounts and a clear view in large tabs. With Lightning you also have the calendar function available.

Setup is simple: After installation, all you have to do is enter your email address and password for GMX, Freemail or Co. and Thunderbird will set up everything else independently. You can also add RSS feeds and choose between IMAP and POP3.

Suggestion: If you choose IMAP during setup, your emails will remain on the server, so you can access them too Smartphones, Tablet or another computer to access your messages. You can find out what else you should consider if you decide to use Thunderbird in our Thunderbird setup tip.

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3. SeaMonkey: Free Complete Package

The free SeaMonkey software also comes from Mozilla. Here you get not only an email program, but also a browser, a chat and an HTML editor. This also saves storage space on your computer, because instead of installing all programs individually, all components are downloaded as a common program file.

In terms of functionality, the open source project is similar to Thunderbird: the management of multiple email accounts and S/MIME encryption mean that the Outlook replacement can also be used in the business sector. SeaMonkey also has a built-in spam filter that you can train to suit your needs. Messages can be color coded and sorted individually, and various extensions are available.

4. eM Client: clear and complete

eM Client is an Outlook replacement that scores particularly well due to its attractive appearance and ease of use. It has a calendar for managing appointments, tasks and to-do lists as well as a practical chat function. Switching is also very simple thanks to full synchronization with Gmail, Thunderbird and other email programs. Sending encrypted messages is also possible thanks to PGP encryption.

eM Client is only available as a free version for home users and is limited to managing two accounts. If you want to use multiple accounts or integrate eM Client as a company, you must purchase the Pro version for 39.95 euros. However, it is a perpetual license that also offers you a practical translation function.

5. Mailbird: Easy-to-use Outlook alternative

Like eM Client, Mailbird is also based on a clear interface and intuitive operation. The program is well structured and quick to set up. The integration of apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Twitter or Dropbox is also practical. Mailbird also has another special feature: a built-in fast reader. This allows you to read emails faster. This is especially useful if you have to go through a large number of emails every day.

Compared to the other alternatives, the free version of Mailbird offers the fewest features: Only one email account can be managed with it, and some features are limited. The Pro version costs 2.89 euros per month for individuals or 87.95 euros once.

6. Conclusion: Which Outlook Alternative is Best?

Free email programs can certainly compete with Microsoft Outlook, and some even offer interesting additional features. It is not so easy to answer which alternative is the best Outlook replacement. It depends entirely on your priorities: looks, functionality or security? It’s best to test individual providers and find your favorite.