Thunderbird vs eM Client

by Gralio Feb 09, 2025

Thunderbird and eM Client are both robust email clients, but they cater to different needs. Thunderbird shines with its free, open-source nature and customizability, while eM Client offers a smoother, more modern user experience with better integration with popular productivity suites, especially for Google Workspace users.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 685 reviews and 60 websites, saving 4 hours, 18 minutes of reading.

Thunderbird

Website LinkedIn Twitter

eM Client

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

Thunderbird is a free and open-source email client software known for its focus on privacy and customization. It allows you to manage multiple email accounts, organize emails with tags and filters, and access calendars and contacts. Funded by donations, Thunderbird is part of the Mozilla family and prioritizes user privacy by not collecting data or selling ads. It's available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

eM Client is an email client for Windows and macOS, offering a combined inbox for your emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, and chats. Supporting major services like Gmail and Outlook, eM Client allows easy data importing from other email clients. A free version is available after a 30-day trial, with the option to upgrade to a paid version at any time.

Summary

Main difference

Thunderbird is better for users prioritizing a free, open-source email client with extensive customization options and a strong focus on privacy. eM Client is a better choice for those who value a modern interface, seamless integration with other productivity apps, particularly within the Google Workspace ecosystem, and are comfortable with a subscription model after a trial period.

Relative strengths of Thunderbird (compared to eM Client)

Free and open-source, ensuring no hidden costs and community-driven development.
Highly customizable with themes, extensions, and user interface adjustments.
Prioritizes user privacy by not collecting data or displaying ads.

Relative weaknesses of Thunderbird (compared to eM Client)

Lacks a native mobile app, creating a fragmented experience across devices.
Can experience performance issues, particularly with syncing and large attachments.
User interface, while customizable, can feel dated compared to more modern email clients.

Who should use Thunderbird VS. eM Client

Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client ideal for users prioritizing privacy and customization. It's praised for its multi-account management and robust features but criticized for slow syncing and occasional errors. Perfect for individuals and businesses seeking a cost-effective email solution with offline access.

eM Client is a user-friendly email client suitable for individuals and businesses seeking an efficient way to manage their emails, calendars, and contacts. Users praise its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, including integration with major services like Gmail and Outlook. While some users have reported slowdowns and syncing issues, many appreciate its ease of use and robust functionality. A free version is available after a 30-day trial.

Best for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a free email client.
A good fit for various sectors, especially those prioritizing data privacy and control.

Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses seeking an alternative to Outlook.
A good fit for various sectors, including Healthcare, Finance, and E-commerce.

Thunderbird and eM Client features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Calendar and Tasks

Supported

Thunderbird supports calendar, tasks, scheduling, and invitations via the Lightning add-on.

Supported

eM Client supports calendar, tasks, scheduling, and invitations.
Contact Management

Partially supported

Thunderbird offers basic contact management. More detailed information and group management is possible via add-ons.

Supported

eM Client supports contact management, groups, and detailed contact information.
Note Taking

Partially supported

Thunderbird supports note taking with add-ons, but without inline images or formatting.

Partially supported

eM Client supports notes with formatting. Inline images are not confirmed.
Multi-Mailbox Management

Supported

Thunderbird supports multiple email accounts and a unified inbox.

Supported

eM Client supports multiple email accounts, up to two in the free version.
Send, receive and manage emails.

Supported

Thunderbird can send, receive, and manage emails.

Supported

eM Client allows sending, receiving, and managing emails.
Shared inbox

Supported

Thunderbird supports shared inboxes, but setup requires manual configuration.

Supported

eM Client supports shared inboxes for team collaboration.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.6

Rather positive sentiment
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

+0.73

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.86

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

-0.09

Neutral sentiment

+0.2

Neutral sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+0.6

Rather positive sentiment

+1

Strongly positive sentiment
Scalability

No data

No data

Thunderbird and eM Client Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Strongly positive

We couldn't find a pricing page for Thunderbird.

eM Client offers a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Mobile versions of eM Client are free to use and do not require a license. NGOs, schools and universities are eligible for a 30% discount.

Plans

User sentiment

Rather positive

+0.6

See full Pricing page

Thunderbird and eM Client review insights

564 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Free and open-source.
Easy-to-use interface for managing multiple email accounts.
Powerful search and filtering capabilities.
Customizable with various add-ons and extensions.
Stores emails locally for offline access.

User-friendly interface, easy to use.
Comprehensive features for email management.
Supports undo send functionality.
Excellent integration with Google Workspace accounts and other services.
Useful "Notes" feature.

Users dislike

Slow syncing with servers, sometimes taking hours.
Occasional errors saving sent messages or drafts.
Email templates with visual elements often don't render correctly.
No mobile app creates an inconsistent experience across devices.
Recent UI changes and updates are not well-received by some users.

Slow email downloading and attachment handling, especially noticeable lately.
Lack of new email notifications on Windows lock screen.
Autosaving drafts every few minutes and difficulty deleting them.
No automatic "Sent" folder.
Inconsistent calendar synchronization, sometimes requiring manual adjustments.

Thunderbird and eM Client Ratings

No data

Company health

Employee growth

2% increase in the last year

14% increase in the last year

Web traffic

7% increase in the last quarter

No data

Financing

September 2004 - $2M

No data

How do Thunderbird and eM Client compare in calendar sync reliability?

Thunderbird users report slow syncing with servers, sometimes taking hours. eM Client users report inconsistent calendar synchronization, sometimes requiring manual adjustments. While neither product seems to have perfect calendar sync reliability, the issues present differently. Thunderbird's sync issues appear to be related to speed, while eM Client's involve inconsistencies requiring user intervention.

Which product offers better offline access to emails and attachments?

Thunderbird offers superior offline access. Its core functionality centers around local storage of emails and attachments, ensuring access even without an internet connection. While eM Client may offer some offline capabilities, it's not explicitly highlighted as a core feature like it is with Thunderbird.

What are the advantages of Thunderbird?

Thunderbird's advantages include being completely free and open-source, prioritizing user privacy by not collecting data or showing ads, and offering extensive customization options through add-ons and extensions. It also allows for local storage of emails, enabling offline access.

What are the disadvantages of Thunderbird?

Thunderbird's disadvantages include slow server synchronization, occasional errors saving messages, inconsistent rendering of HTML emails, lack of a dedicated mobile app, and recent UI changes that have been met with criticism from some users.

Alternatives to Thunderbird and eM Client

Front

Front is a customer service platform designed to help businesses manage customer interactions efficiently. It offers a shared inbox that combines email, chat, social media, and other channels into one place. This allows teams to collaborate, automate tasks, and access customer information easily. Front also provides analytics and insights to help businesses improve their customer service operations and measure performance. It's suitable for businesses of all sizes looking to streamline customer support and enhance team collaboration.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is an email and personal organization software. It allows you to manage emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks in one place. Outlook integrates with other Microsoft Office tools, making it easy to share files and collaborate with colleagues. It's a popular choice for businesses of all sizes due to its comprehensive features and seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based subscription service that provides access to familiar applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, alongside cloud services like email, online storage, and teamwork tools. Offering a range of plans for businesses of all sizes, it allows users to work from anywhere with an internet connection, collaborating on documents in real time and improving productivity through its suite of integrated apps. Microsoft 365 aims to be a central hub for communication, content creation, and data management for modern businesses.

Drag

Drag transforms your Gmail inbox into a collaborative workspace for your team. It allows you to manage emails, tasks, and even WhatsApp messages from a single, centralized location. With features like shared inboxes, automated workflows, and real-time performance tracking, Drag aims to streamline communication and improve team efficiency for various departments like Sales, Customer Support, HR, and Operations. It integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace and offers a free trial for those interested in exploring its capabilities.

Mailbird

Mailbird is an email client that works on Windows and Mac computers. It allows you to access all of your email accounts, such as Gmail or Outlook, in one centralized inbox. Mailbird has a clean design and offers integrations with popular apps like LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Google Calendar. It also includes features designed to increase productivity, such as email tracking and speed reading.

BlueMail

BlueMail is a free email app available on all major platforms. It allows you to manage unlimited email accounts from different providers in one place. BlueMail also offers a calendar feature to manage your schedule. For businesses, BlueMail for Teams provides a platform for team communication and collaboration. They prioritize user privacy and security, ensuring that users have control over their data.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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