Almost all of us have one or more email accounts and most of us check our Inbox regularly using either web browser or a dedicated email client.
Now-a-days almost all email service providers like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc provide so many advanced features in their web interface which makes the use of email desktop client negligible.
But personally we prefer using an email client over web interface. Most of the people who use an email client, prefer to use Microsoft Outlook which comes bundled with Microsoft Office suite but Microsoft Office is not free.
Today in this topic we are going to share some free email clients which can be used as an alternative to Microsoft Outlook:
1. Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail is our favorite email client and that's the only email client which we use. It provides all basic and advanced features which you need in an email client. Our favorite feature in this email client is the "2-line vertical view" which is not present in any other email client except Postbox (not free) and eM client.
Windows Live Mail also comes with calendar, RSS feed and newsgroup support.
2. Mozilla Thunderbird
Thunderbird is one of the most popular email clients. Its developed by Mozilla and can be used in Windows, Mac and Linux. Thunderbird and Firefox both are based on same Gecko engine so you'll find lots of similarities in both applications.
Similar to Firefox, Thunderbird also supports extensions and themes which makes using Thunderbird a fun.
3. Zimbra Desktop
Zimbra Desktop is another free email client which allows you to meld the online and offline worlds - storing and synching your email, calendar, contacts, files and documents in the cloud, yet having them locally accessible when on the road. Zimbra Desktop aggregates information across accounts (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.) and social networks (Facebook, Digg, Twitter, etc.) to help make communicating & sharing information easier than ever.
4. eM Client
eM Client is another free email client which can be installed in Windows XP, Vista and 7. It comes with full support for all email services like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. It also comes with Calendar and RSS feed support. It can also be used as an instant messenger.
5. Pegasus Mail
Pegasus Mail is a free email client suitable for use by single or multiple users on single computers or on local area networks. It has served millions of users since it was released in 1990. It is extremely feature-rich and powerful, yet remains small and fast.
6. MultiMi
MultiMi is a new free application developed by Zbang in association with AVG (one of the most popular free anti-virus company). MultiMi makes sharing and socializing across your email accounts and social networks a breeze. Chat, swap photos, update your status, check your inbox and calendar… all in one safe place.
7. SeaMonkey
SeaMonkey is a web browser, email client, newsgroup reader, RSS feed reader, IRC chat client and much more. Its based on the same Mozilla source code which powers Firefox, Thunderbird and other Mozilla programs.
SeaMonkey can be considered as an all-in-one Internet application suite.
8. Spicebird
Spicebird is yet another free email client which provides integrated email, calendaring and instant messaging with intuitive user interface. It can be used in Windows and Linux and can connect to any standards based email and calendar servers that support IMAP, POP, Caldav protocols. Its also based on Mozilla Thunderbird source code.
Please let us know your opinion about these free alternatives to Microsoft Outlook. Which one do you like the most and why? Feel free to share other free alternatives if you know...
This article was posted by VG in following section: Microsoft Office, Software.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles.
KTown
I prefer Windows Live Mail on Vista and 7 and Evolution on Ubuntu.
macpro622776
VG for Thunderbird you wrote "Thunderbird a fun" instead of "Thunderbird fun".
Samar
Opera Mail is missing...
Frank
DreamMail
Xoxmail
Frank
^Foxmail
lordrt
You could include the free version of IncrediMail as well, offers better email customizations than some of those mentioned here
MJPollard
@VG: I remember mentioning this before, but I don't think there was any acknowledgment, so I'll mention it again. :-) Right now, if I want to find anything here related to Thunderbird, I have to search for it (unlike Firefox, which has its own dedicated section). You should consider giving Mozilla Thunderbird its own section, as you've mentioned it often enough... either that or, alternately, create a "Mozilla Applications" category to compile all news related to Firefox and Thunderbird (and anything else Mozilla-related). What do you think?
SMBR
Thunderbird Awesome
Girish
You missed some more email client. Incredimail
VG
Yeah. Incredimail was not mentioned as I have read many complaints and bad reviews about it in past.
@MJPollard
Currently there are 3-4 articles about Thunderbird which are not enough to create a separate category for it. If the number increases in future, I'll definitely create a section for it. :)