Meet the contenders

Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or corporate executive, there's an email app for you. We're here to help you decide.

Let's look at how these two email apps stack up against each other.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a free, open-source, cross-platform email client that’s managed by a core staff and a community of volunteer developers. Although the app is already quite robust, there are optional add-ons that you can install to enhance its functionality. So, when it comes to cost-effective email client apps, you can’t go wrong with free—there are no separate paid versions.

Kiwi for Gmail

Kiwi for Gmail lets you take the Gmail and Google Workspace experience out of the browser and onto your desktop. Whether you’re using a PC or a Mac, Kiwi can transform Gmail into a standalone desktop application and save you from having to juggle multiple browser tabs.

Thunderbird vs Kiwi for Gmail: A side-by-side comparison

	Thunderbird	Kiwi for Gmail
Operating system	WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid	WindowsmacOS
Versions	Free	Starter Pro Power Pro Kiwi for Teams
Price(s)	Free	Starter: $4/month (annual subscription) Pro: $6/month (annual subscription) Power Pro: $8/month (annual subscription) Kiwi for Teams: By contact only
Notable features	Multi-account support Unified inbox Extensive library of add-ons End-to-end encryption (S/MIME and OpenPGP) Junk mail filtering Spam filtering Phishing protection Built-in chat Built-in newsgroup and RSS reader Tabbed email interface Customizable user interface Multi-language support (currently translated into 65 languages)	Multi-account support Standalone desktop experience Focus Filtered Inbox Google Workspace integration Gmail and Drive search in same app One-click document creation from sidebar AI Companion Zen Mode for better focus Native desktop notifications