Talk:Comparison of email clients

Thunderbird: POP3 selected by user
What does this column mean? If it means that a mail client can download a list of message headers and the user chooses which mail bodies he wants to download, then Thunderbird is very well able to do this. --188.99.236.199 (talk) 23:36, 21 February 2012 (UTC)

If I'm not mistaken, when POP3 is selected (by user) then all mail is removed from server when downloaded. Generally even if the provider's default is POP3 Thunderbird auto-selects IMAP (for safety) so that if your machine crashes bad, You don't loose your messages, i.e. they are still on the server. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Edward27821 (talk • contribs) 01:42, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

Elm versus Elm Millenium Edition
This table

This table and feature tables are confused between
 * Elm
 * Elm Millennium Edition

For Creator of Elm: Dave D. Taylor, Sydney Weinstein, Bill Pemberton

For Creator of Elm Millennium Edition: Dave D. Taylor, Sydney Weinstein, Bill Pemberton, Michael Elkins, Kari Hurtta

However that table "Release history" gives release of "Elm". Therefore these tables are confused

For Latest stable release of Elm: 2.5.8

For Latest stable release of Elm Millennium Edition: Elm 2.4ME+ PL125 (25)

For Protocol support of Elm: does not include POP3, IMAP4, SMTP (or any of these)

For Protocol support of Elm Millennium Edition: include some POP3, IMAP4, SMTP

For SSL and TLS support of Elm Millennium Edition: supports STARTTLS (IMAP4) or STLS (POP3) commands

For General features of Elm Millennium Edition: Subset of UTF-8 is supported (does not support right-to-left scripts for example), and some have PGP support

/ Kari Hurtta 89.27.50.125 (talk) 09:48, 18 March 2012 (UTC)

Should webmail be here?
Why is the veteran Squirrelmail in the list, but Roundcube and proprietary interfaces (Gmail etc.) aren't? Generally, are webmail applications meant to be in the list or not? --88.73.24.179 (talk) 17:24, 2 May 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree, I'd keep strictly desktop e-mail clients, NOT webmail. --Anonymous — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.216.185.162 (talk • contribs) 09:21, 31 August 2012 (UTC)

Roundcube is on the list. I'd say a mail user agent which you can install and host on your server should be on this list. With a 3rd party externally hosted service like GMail et al, you have no guarantee about the feature set, or whether it will be there tomorrow. Jdz (talk) 22:00, 20 May 2012 (UTC) ik'

notmuch and sup
I understand these are very popular "up & coming" command-line email clients. Would any users care to add them to this list? Thanks. Jdz (talk) 22:03, 20 May 2012 (UTC)


 * Hi, Jdz, I have drafted articles for Notmuch, Archivemail, User:Zazpot/Grepmail, and User:Zazpot/Mairix, but it seems that Notmuch is Articles for deletion/Notmuch not (yet) notable enough for a Wikipedia article. Want to help me merge those drafts into an article about mailbox search utilities? Such an article could potentially also serve as a wikilink target for those among these utilities (e.g. Notmuch) that (a) can also serve as email clients, and (b) would therefore be suitable for inclusion into Comparison of email clients? zazpot (talk) 15:05, 27 December 2016 (UTC)

MS Outlook and PGP
Outlook is marked as not supporting PGP whereas the facts are it does not natively but does via a plug-in. Given that multiple other mail clients are marked as supporting but via a plug-in should not the Outlook entry be corrected?BernTH (talk) 06:19, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

mutt
The displayed release history for mutt is out of date. The latest version is: "Mutt 1.5.21 was released on September 15, 2010." (See: http://www.mutt.org/ )

I tried editing the mutt section on the wikipedia page, but the interface was unusable, due to the information not being contiguous enough to find the relevant text, despite having found the start of the mutt text. If someone knows how, and cares enough for accuracy, please whack it in.

The only way I found to create this new topic block was to hack another, and mimic its heading. I wonder if that is the preferred method?

Erik Christiansen — Preceding unsigned comment added by 118.209.98.203 (talk) 13:11, 23 August 2012 (UTC)


 * (Rearranged this page to chronological order.)
 * There is a tab "New section" (next to "Edit") on top of the page to start a new topic.
 * The release must be changed in Template:Latest stable software release/Mutt; done.
 * -- Ajv39 (talk) 14:21, 23 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Reverted to original version 1.4.2.3. Version 1.5.21 is a development version, not a stable version.
 * -- Ajv39 (talk) 14:37, 23 August 2012 (UTC)

webmail versus email clients
Webmail, like squirrelmail, Thunderbird (most of the list) are not email clients. They talk to email ports on an email server but are http clients. This substantially changes their risk profile. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.211.236.19 (talk) 19:43, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

PGP / SMIME ATmail
ATMail does not support PGP nor S/MIME — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.38.60.171 (talk) 02:43, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

What happened to OUTLOOK EXPRESS?
AND WHY pray tell does the article table never mention Outlook Express (although the archive DOES!), an bundled part of most MS Windows releases. Not everyone is a rich brat able to upgrade computers sooner (or get mummy and daddy to pay for such) than every eight or ten years. Most people buy a car sooner Lot's of remote places around the English speaking world, much less the third world, where buying fuel or food is a much higher priority than replacing a perfectly functional tool with the latest newer and better or best model. Try the outback of Australia, India, much of rural North and South America. The worship of the new over the tried and true is a characteristic flaw of the young and inexperienced, not the 'twice burned, you're not going to fool me again' crowd. A computers longevity is solely limited to whether it still services a need and keeps on running it's compatible software. Unless you're a 'video gamer', a perfectly old P4 machine (y: 2000) will do you fine for the next ten years. So will Outlook Express.

The P4 given enough base memory yawns at internet browsing, and plays videos... if you have no need for fancier 64 bit software, like a car, it's unwise to replace. A good computer edition is like an steady old reliable friend.
 * A new one is a net loss to the family's net worth much like the definition/trick question of " What do you get when you buy a boat :"
 * The Answer: A hole in the water you throw money into.


 * A new computer needs a new software suite. That's a big additional investment. An older computer can run it's software until Hell freezes over, if it stays alive. You acquire all that expensive stuff the next two years, then stay comfortably mellow. It's kids-think to always want a new shiny toy, or people that have a rich person's budget. Most of your readers haven't the means to get new and shiny more often than they buy a car, if that. We'd all like to be well to do or better. The reality is that 80% of the college educated crowd barely get buy paycheck to paycheck in their better neighborhoods than the 80+% of American's who never have college, nor want, so live in lesser neighborhoods, with lesser remunerative salaries, and get buy, like the mid-middle class, pretty much paycheck to paycheck, with a struggle to save at all.
 * In short, the article is biased by 'inexperienced and narrow think' -- not mentioning a common package like that makes you all crazy, dumb, biased or really inexperienced.
 * Outlook Express needs put back in the article. // Fra nkB 23:07, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

International email
The topic International email as written, states that standards are in "preparation". That is, there is no agreed-upon standard for what a client would do precisely to satisfy this label. That being, cites in this section look more like advertising than stating facts TEDickey (talk) 22:42, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

I'd like to see a column in the general features table for EAI support. For example gmail (I realize not relevant to the self-hosted/hostable email clients, but there aren't many examples) supports both localpart/EAI for example "دگ@" as well as IDN domain names (برت.com). Thunderbird (68) only supports ASCII local parts (برت@دگ.com fails), but does support IDN domains (dg@برت.com works). Valid entries in an EAI column might be "YES" "IDN only" "No" and "?" (I suppose it is possible a client could support EAI mailboxes but not IDN domain names, but I doubt any will).

I found some fairly clear guidance for client support at https://uasg.tech/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/UASG019B-Email-Address-Internationalization-A-technical-perspective.pdf and for server support at https://community.icann.org/download/attachments/132940436/Configuring%20EAI%20-%20African%20Association%20of%20Universities%20EAI%20webinar%20-%2016Nov20.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1608023031000&api=v2 DGessel (talk) 00:57, 30 April 2021 (UTC)

Missing from the article: Incredimail
I use several email clients, one of which is called Incredimail and is missing from the list. Is there a reason for omitting Incredimail?

This software is only suitable for Windows computers, users are able to create email messages which include sound and (animated) images. Whilst the software can be used for free it is also possible to buy an unlock code which adds extra features, such as the ability to download just the message headers and then choose which full messages to download / which to delete, etc. Simon Spsmiler (talk) 11:17, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

Incredimail should, indeed, be included in the article. It has a high rating and is ideal for sending cute messages. However, some paste functions do not work. I used it for many years on a Win98 machine and was quite satisfied. Edward27821 (talk) 01:05, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

Incredimail has been added to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_email_clients#Graphical Edward27821 (talk) 01:33, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

What about AOL?
IS AOL an email client? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.56.1.227 (talk) 02:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

No. AOL is an e-mail provider. With correct configuration clients can access imap/smtp.mail.aol.com with few issues. AOL is two of my accounts that I access with Thunderbird and one with SeaMonkey. Edward27821 (talk) 00:54, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

Portable availability
There should probably be a column indicating the availability of portable versions of the programs. People like to keep their email on a flash-drive these days, so portable versions are in high demand now. Synetech (talk) 17:12, 30 November 2014 (UTC)

My opinion only: Portability should not be an issue. Simply using IMAP settings instead of POP3 leaves the messages on the server. This allows users to access their e-mails from almost any device.Edward27821 (talk) 01:14, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

Page needs updating
A lot of recent email clients are missing: Airmail, Unibox, Post Mail, etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Chipotle (talk • contribs) 21:34, 29 December 2014 (UTC)

Support for acknowledgment and priority
I went on this page for searching a e-mail client for android which support setting acknowledgment and priority but it looks like acknowledgment and priority support arenʼt compared. 92.103.102.2 (talk) 10:12, 26 January 2015 (UTC)

Android & iOS clients?
These platforms have been popular for several years now & the userbase is large so I feel that it would be useful to add the relevant columns to the tables now 20:11, 5 March 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.174.119.101 (talk)

Real Cross Platform Email Clients : PC-Mac/Apple-to Cellphones-Android-IOS?designation?-Windows Phones
Agree w last comment I found, 9/17/15 I believe this needs to be updated - prospective apologia sua keyboarding as I can't seem to spell or write in complete sentences today -- But the update should, I believe be expanded to include true or all inclusive email clients - windows phones now running flavors 8.1 and Windows 10, but also Android based phones, and Apple iPhones (my apologies if I misspelled or distorted anybody's brand name or O/S designation.

Many friends and relatives have gone entirely to smartphones and phablets (such as the Samsung Galaxy Notes 3, 4. and recently 5)and now there's also the Blackberry reincarnation -- the Windows based and Apple based iPhones seem to used mobile versions of their operating systems and their mobile versions of email clients, but Samsung, Moto, and other Android based systems send and receive email, but also IM and text. Some people I know, much more facile, switch from one to the other depending on "To Whom" they are responding -- several people have described having to send a automated text or an automatic IM to a spouse, significant or insignificant other, or a 'good friend' someone persistently emailing them at work or at meetings communicating, "I AM AT WORK - WILL CONTACT YOU LATER." a few even add, "do not IM, text, or email me again at risk of ____________" with choices depending on individuals involved.

So computing has gone portable and mobile as well as that phase of communicating which is still email based.

These are the reasons I believe this section on email clients needs to be updated, expanded, and perhaps retitled/repurposed?

Thank you. Dergrunner (talk) 21:45, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

Merger proposal
As has already been suggested its talk page, on I propose that List of email clients be merged into this article. All the types of information in List of email clients are included here, so maintaining a separate list is not useful. MichaelMaggs (talk) 09:09, 19 December 2015 (UTC)

I would support the merger of the articles since maintaining two is more trouble then then merging them. FockeWulf FW 190 (talk) 20:22, 22 March 2016 (UTC)

Da. A list is a list is a list, but no real information. Merge them. 124.171.245.136 (talk) 09:23, 24 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Support merge; list page has no further useful information, and comparison page is not so large as to hamper readability. — JFG talk 06:43, 25 August 2016 (UTC)

What about EssentialPIM?
http://www.essentialpim.com It's a pretty full featured POP3 and IMAP4 client, it's been around for a number of years and is still currently supported. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ccdrop (talk • contribs) 06:34, 19 June 2016 (UTC)

Well Done Mr Ollie
G'day sport. Of course, all lists must be cleaned from time to time.

Now, please tell us what criteria you used, if it wasn't some short-sighted dislike of red-linked reference pages?

I did indeed look through this talk page to see if any discussion had taken place. "Discussion" is the thing you do when you have a major edit in mind, like a "List Clean". You removed information which at least some people may still be looking for. Now I am in the position that I can safely say your action was no less than simple trolling. Unfortunately I cannot simply push "Undo" as too many intermediate edits have happened.

So now I must tediously work through adding back many of the clients you deleted in bad faith. And I must also NOW call for an ADMIN to look at your selfish and self-serving vandalism. If you do not like any of the clients on this page that is your burden: we need not and will not carry it for you. I will be monitoring this page for some months now, and I will revert any such cleanup or other mass vandalism imediately I find it. 124.171.245.136 (talk) 06:33, 24 August 2016 (UTC)


 * You appear to only edit the page twice. When did you "tediously" adding back of it though? NgYShung  huh? 06:46, 24 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Look again. 124.171.245.136 (talk) 07:40, 24 August 2016 (UTC)


 * I removed the list entries with no corresponding Wikipedia article. I did this per the statement at the top of the article ('Please see the individual products' articles for further information.') Myself and other users have been doing periodic cleanings to these criteria for years. It was discussed briefly on article talk here: Talk:Comparison_of_email_clients/Archive_1. If you feel you need to consult an admin, you can find some at WP:ANI. If you edit war to keep nonnotable entries in as you suggested above, I may find myself submitting a report there even if you do not. - MrOllie (talk) 13:07, 24 August 2016 (UTC)
 * the edit-then-revert vandalism, for what it was worth was to drive up the edit count. High edit counts=experience.  VegasCasinoKid (talk) 01:04, 25 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Yeah, the good old'e Editcountitis. NgYShung  huh? 06:58, 25 August 2016 (UTC)

Windows Mail Update
This article needs updating to reflect that Windows Mail is now currently actively developed again, ever since it was released in Windows 8 (in 2011 or 2012) & 10. Since it probably differs w/ the older version (for Windows Vista) w/ respect to most of this article's comparison criteria, maybe the older version should be left alone & new distinct Windows Mail (for Win. 8 & 10) entries added.104.178.189.70 (talk) 07:03, 20 November 2016 (UTC)

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Comparison of PGP and S/MIME support?
New table for comparison of encryption support? --59.93.202.121 (talk) 06:01, 10 January 2018 (UTC)

Single versus Multiple Accounts/Postboxes
This basic point is totally missing. --Itu (talk) 15:41, 8 June 2018 (UTC)

Umuse
Currently In beta

https://umuse.io/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.227.95.240 (talk) 13:19, 3 July 2018 (UTC)

OE Classsic & RunAsXP
Obviously both OE Classic and Run As XP are missing in the List. What about them? --ProloSozz (talk) 07:23, 29 July 2019 (UTC)

Virtual Folders and adding Postbox and Pandora
Virtual Folders Ritlabs- TheBat! is very strong. (I have dozens in my Bat.)

Thunderbird-Postbox (not on list) definitely, by saved search. Seamonkey probably, since, like Postbox, afaik it is a fork on a Thunderbird code base. See - https://www.lifewire.com/folder-organization-thunderbird-1173118

Afaik, Eudora does not have virtual folders in any way, yet it is marked yes. I am a long-term Eudora user.

And I am a little skeptical about Mailbird, Em Client, and the Opera ("all folders are virtual") entries. Also Pegasus, Poco and Zimbra. Maybe so, but since Eudora was called yes, all should be checked. I will do what I can, only working with Windows clients.

==

Two Additions Recommended: Pandora should be on the list, new, a modern Eudora-style attempt, maybe in Beta or out, but it does work and has support. Postbox as well, established now as an independent client.

StevenAvery.ny (talk) 11:17, 16 August 2019 (UTC)

Missing feature columns
These options are missing in separate columns in the tables - please add them ... --ProloSozz (talk) 09:38, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Which mail clients show both sent and received columns? (Microsoft email clients do - but many others (like Thunderbird, Sylpheed, Claws, OEClassic) do not; they just show a single column "date".
 * Which mail clients support two step deleting process by "strike through & purge" (and not only by "move to trash & empty trash")?
 * Which mail clients have the option to not mark a mail as read when selecting in preview pane?
 * Which mail clients can go directly to the last mail at the bottom of the list when the date is set ascending (and not descending?

These options are useful for projects that rely on plaintext mail for collaboration. -- Shemminger (talk) 18:57, 26 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Which mail clients support plaintext mail correctly (see https://useplaintext.email/)?
 * Which mail clients preserve (good) or reformat (corrupt) plain text email? Email clients that modify the mail look better, but make them unsuitable for use on projects that send patches for review.

Import/Export eMail Credentials (Account Settings)
Which eMail clients allow import/export of eMail credentials (account settings)? The functionality allows to export (save into a file) of the eMail account settings into a file and then reimport it into another installation of the client. This allows a fast configuration of an eMail client with a bunch of eMail accounts on several computers. Btw: MS Outlook Express, MS Outlook, MS WinMail Vista allow this and save the credentials into an .iaf-file. Btw: the format of the .iaf-file of Outlook Express is not the same as for WinMail Vista; import of .iaf-files from OE is possible in WinMail Vista, but not vice versa. A second question would be if there is interoperability between different formats of such credentials files? Please add an appropriate column. --ProloSozz (talk) 09:46, 4 December 2020 (UTC)

JMAP?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSON_Meta_Application_Protocol links to this page, but this page doesn't tell me what clients support JMAP. Can this be added as a column next to IMAP/POP/MAPI? 2403:5804:C6:0:0:0:0:ADD (talk) 10:19, 9 March 2023 (UTC)