Microsoft Outlook may be the most well-known email client, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s not an alternative out there that could serve you better!
Though clearly, a huge number of individuals, companies, and groups use Microsoft products, such as Outlook, they do so not without a fair amount of grumbling and complaint.
As a comparison, Apple products and software certainly appear to get a lot more love and loyalty from their users, and the way in which these services are arguably more capable of flexibility, such as when using iMessage for PC or other similar examples of versatility.
With this in mind, take a look at our list of six great Outlook alternatives that could save you time and money – and even help you get more done in a day.
WPS Office
Although nowhere near as well-known as Outlook, WPS Office is a great alternative that offers multi-lingual support and boasts several stand-out features. Choose between a generous free tier or a premium tier for upgraded tools.
The free tier gives you access to an email client, as well as Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations, alternatives to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, plus a PDF converter supporting bulk exportation. As well as being easy to use, the latter can also split-merge PDF files if required. Users also get 1GB of free cloud storage.
Signing up for the premium tier enables you to connect up to nine devices at once, offers advanced tools, and guarantees an ad-free experience.
Spike
The new kid on the block, Spike, is shaking up the world of email. Fusing the ease of messaging with the functionality of emailing, users benefit from clutter-free threads without all the messy repeating headers, footers, and digital signatures clogging up the screen. The platform’s team chat app allows users to easily switch from messaging to video conferencing to audio messaging without having to switch screens, so there’s no need to interrupt workflow to hop onto a video meeting, for example.
Spike has been designed to support remote and hybrid working, and its numerous tools and features have all been created to integrate with the modern office or place of business. Plus, its priority inbox and advanced search tools are powerful ways to make even the most hectic of days run more smoothly.
LibreOffice
A popular Microsoft Office alternative, LibreOffice is open source (and therefore free to use), relatively lightweight, and supports cross-platform working. The suite is available in 110 languages and incorporates an email client, word processor, spreadsheet creator, and presentation software. There’s also a PDF converter included and a range of other tools, which provide an Outlook-style experience.
LibreOffice supports a wide range of format types – while it’s currently the default suite for the majority of Linux distros, it’s available for Windows and Mac OS, and a LibreOffice Viewer is available for Android.
As an open-source platform, any technical support needed must be sought from online forums. However, the LibreOffice community is generally a helpful and friendly one, and any issues you have should be quickly resolvable. Extensions from the LibreOffice website are available, such as additional document templates.
Thunderbird
Another open-source Office alternative, Thunderbird, was created by the email client Mozilla and is widely considered to be easier to set up and use than its Microsoft cousin. Again, as open-source, it’s free to use, and there are lots of add-ons users can incorporate to make the software work best for them.
Thunderbird’s key features include a multi-tab interface, search bar, email filters, message archives, phishing protection, and spam filters. It also incorporates an address book and has a wide range of customization options. The software supports IMAP, SMTP, and POP3 protocols.
eM Client
Designed for Windows and Mac, this Microsoft Outlook alternative offers many of the same tools as the latter, including calendars, tasks, and notes. It has an easy-to-use, intuitive interface that’s super simple to get to grips with. Choose from the free tier, or upgrade to a paid tier to unlock more features and tools. The Pro for Individuals package costs $49.95, and it’s $188.95 for the Pro for Companies upgrade.
eM Client has a fully customizable interface, allows for the instant translation of messages, lets users snooze emails, and also facilitates chat-style instant messaging. The platform uses PGP encryption to ensure data protection.
Mailbird
As a Windows alternative to Microsoft Outlook, Mailbird is definitely worth considering. Like eM Client, it offers a free tier for those requiring a single email account or paid personal and business account tiers for those needing additional addresses, features, tools, and storage.
One of the key benefits of Mailbird is that it integrates with a huge range of other apps and platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Slack, Dropbox, Asana, and Whatsapp – plus, the software supports IMAP and POP3 accounts.
The personal paid tier costs $3.25 a month, while the business plan will set you back $4.92 a month.
Choosing the Best Microsoft Outlook Alternative
Switching from Microsoft Outlook to an alternative email client could save you time and money and help your day-to-day personal or business life run more smoothly. To choose the best platform for your needs, consider carefully what you want from an email client and the features and tools that would be of the most benefit. While pricing is crucial, it’s worth noting that, in the vast majority of cases, you’ll be able to upgrade if you start out on the free tier – so opting for this could be a great way of test-driving a Microsoft Outlook alternative you’re considering.
