The best email client for Linux
Linux has no single built-in mail app, which is good news: you get to pick. For most people the answer is Thunderbird. Here is when one of the others is the better choice.
Thunderbird is the best all-round email client for Linux: free, open source, with calendar, contacts and built-in OpenPGP encryption, and official Flatpak and Snap packages. Pick Evolution if you use Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 on GNOME, KMail if you use KDE Plasma, Geary if you want something simple, and NeoMutt if you live in the terminal.
Quick comparison
| Client | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird | Almost everyone | Free |
| Betterbird | Thunderbird users who want extra fixes and features | Free (donations) |
| Evolution | GNOME users on Exchange or Microsoft 365 | Free |
| Geary | A clean, simple inbox on GNOME | Free |
| KMail | KDE Plasma users who want control | Free |
| Mailspring | A modern look and a unified inbox | Free; paid Pro tier |
| Claws Mail | Older or low-power computers | Free |
| NeoMutt | Keyboard-only, terminal users | Free |
Thunderbird: the safe default
Thunderbird handles mail, calendar, contacts and tasks for any number of accounts, and has OpenPGP encryption built in. Mozilla offers official Flatpak and tarball downloads, and a Snap maintained with Canonical, so it installs easily on Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint and most others.
Since 2025 the default download updates monthly with new features. If you prefer fewer changes, choose the ESR (Extended Support Release) version, which gets security fixes but new features only about once a year. Recent versions also support Microsoft Exchange mail directly.
Betterbird: Thunderbird with extras
Betterbird is a "soft fork" of Thunderbird's ESR version that adds bug fixes and features, such as a multi-line message list. Almost all Thunderbird add-ons work in it. It is available as a Linux download and on Flathub.
Evolution, Geary and KMail: the desktop natives
- Evolution is the GNOME groupware app: mail, calendar, contacts and tasks. It is the long-standing Linux choice for Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts.
- Geary is a lightweight GNOME client that groups messages into conversations, much like Gmail. Fewer settings, less to go wrong.
- KMail is KDE's client, part of the Kontact suite. It is highly configurable, with strong filtering and encryption.
Mailspring, Claws Mail and NeoMutt
- Mailspring has the most modern look and a unified inbox. The core app is free; a paid Pro plan adds read receipts, link tracking and similar features. It is available as a Snap.
- Claws Mail is fast and light, with plugins, which makes it a good fit for older hardware.
- NeoMutt is a terminal email client controlled entirely from the keyboard, the actively developed version of the classic Mutt.
Using Proton Mail on Linux
To use a Proton Mail account in Thunderbird or another client, you need Proton Mail Bridge, which runs on Linux (DEB and RPM packages). Bridge is only available on paid Proton plans. On a free plan, use Proton in your web browser.
Questions people ask
- What is the default email client on Ubuntu?
- Ubuntu has shipped Thunderbird as its standard email app for years, installed as a Snap in recent versions.
- Does Gmail work in Thunderbird on Linux?
- Yes. Add your Gmail address and Thunderbird signs you in through Google's own sign-in window.
- Which Linux email client works with Outlook and Microsoft 365?
- Evolution has the longest track record with Exchange, and recent Thunderbird versions support Exchange mail natively.
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