Best Spark alternatives in 2026
Written by Niels Segers, last updated October 16, 2026, prices checked October 14, 2026
Spark from Readdle is a popular free email app, with native apps on every platform and one unified inbox for all your accounts. But its full AI assistant needs Spark Plus at $10/month, and some people want a different take on a busy inbox altogether.
So we compared five Spark alternatives, and checked every plan and price on the vendor’s own pages.
How we reviewed these alternatives
We looked at each alternative across the things people choose Spark for:
- •Accounts: Can you use several email accounts, and do they share one inbox?
- •Platforms: Which devices does it run on?
- •Organization: How does it help you sort a busy inbox?
- •Price: What does the free plan include, and what does the first paid plan cost?
No single alternative wins at everything, so we’ll be upfront about where each one shines and where it falls short.
TLDR? Here are our top picks for Spark alternatives:
- 1.Mejl, the Gmail client at mejl.cc. Splits Gmail into focused views you can read one at a time and clear.
- 2.Canary Mail: A unified inbox with AI prioritization, and one license for every device.
- 3.Apple Mail: The built-in app on Apple devices, with an All Inboxes view.
- 4.Thunderbird: A free, open source desktop client with unified folders across accounts.
- 5.Gmail: Already where your Gmail lives, with nothing to install.
All Spark alternatives at a quick glance:
| Alternative | Best for | Email accounts | Platforms | Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mejl | Focused views instead of one busy Gmail inbox | Several Google accounts, one at a time | Web, iOS, and Android | Yes, the whole client | $4.99/month for Mejl Plus |
| Canary Mail | Spark’s setup with cheaper AI | Unlimited, unified inbox | macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android | Yes, on up to 2 devices | $36/year, billed yearly only |
| Apple Mail | People who only use Apple devices | Several, with All Inboxes | Mac, iPhone, and iPad | Yes, built in | No paid plan |
| Thunderbird | A free desktop app, including on Linux | No limit, unified folders | Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android | Yes, open source | No paid plan |
| Gmail | Using Gmail without another app | Several, each its own inbox | Web, iOS, and Android | Yes, with 15 GB of storage | $1.99/month for more storage |
1. Mejl
Mejl is the Gmail client we build at mejl.cc. It’s a separate app that connects to your Gmail account, not an extension that runs inside Gmail. It works on the web, iOS, and Android, and opens the mail already in Gmail, so there’s nothing to import.
Accounts and organization
Instead of one smart inbox, Mejl splits your mail into focused views, each a Gmail label with its own unread count. Gmail filter rules sort new mail by sender, subject, or phrase, and sorting by description uses AI for everything else. You can add several Google accounts and switch between them.
Mejl pricing
| Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|
| Yes, the whole client | $4.99/month for Mejl Plus |
The free plan is the whole Gmail client, with no time limit and no credit card. It includes focused views, unlimited Gmail filter rules, and AI sorting by description for 10 emails a day. Mejl Plus costs $4.99/month or $44.99/year. It removes the daily sorting limit and adds thread summaries, writing tools, and reply suggestions.
Where it falls short
Mejl works with Gmail and Google Workspace only, so it can’t replace Spark for iCloud, Outlook, or IMAP accounts. There’s no unified inbox across accounts; you switch between them. There’s no desktop app either: on a computer, you use Mejl in the browser.
2. Canary Mail
Canary Mail is an email app with an AI copilot for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Like Spark, it handles Gmail next to other providers, and one license covers all your devices.
Accounts and organization
Canary puts every account in one unified inbox and adds AI inbox prioritization on the free plan. It supports Gmail labels, including several labels on one message, and snooze.
Canary Mail pricing
| Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|
| Yes, on up to 2 devices | $36/year, billed yearly only |
Canary’s free plan supports unlimited email accounts on up to 2 devices. The AI copilot, writing help, summaries, and rules need a paid plan. Growth costs $36/year (about $3/month), billed yearly only. Pro+ costs $100/year.
Where it falls short
The free plan is limited to 2 devices, and rules and filters need a paid plan. The unified inbox can’t be turned off, which doesn’t suit people who keep their accounts apart.
3. Apple Mail
Apple Mail comes with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Add your Google account and your Gmail shows up next to iCloud and any other accounts.
Accounts and organization
Apple Mail shows Gmail labels as folders, and All Inboxes combines your accounts. On iPhone, Mail sorts your inbox into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions, though categories aren’t available in every country. On a Mac, you can set up rules. Apple Intelligence adds priority messages, summaries, and Smart Reply.
Apple Mail pricing
| Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|
| Yes, built in | No paid plan |
Apple Mail is free and has no paid plan. Its AI features come from Apple Intelligence, which is included at no cost but needs a supported device, such as an iPhone 15 Pro or later.
Where it falls short
Apple Mail only runs on Apple devices, so it’s not an option if you also use Windows or Android, which Spark supports.
4. Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a free, open source email client for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It’s the only option here with a Linux app.
Accounts and organization
Thunderbird has unified folders across accounts, message filters, and a Quick Filter toolbar for narrowing down a folder. It shows Gmail labels as folders, so a message with two labels appears in two folders. It also includes a calendar and contacts.
Thunderbird pricing
| Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|
| Yes, open source | No paid plan |
Thunderbird is free, with no paid plan for the email app. It’s funded by user donations, and there’s no AI built in.
Where it falls short
There’s no iOS app yet, and it’s a classic desktop app with folders and toolbars, so it takes more getting used to than Spark. There’s no AI.
5. Gmail
Gmail is where your Gmail already lives. It’s free with every Google account, and works in any browser and on iOS and Android.
Accounts and organization
Gmail has real labels, and filters can send mail to a label, archive it, or star it. The inbox sorts mail into five fixed categories: Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums. Snooze removes an email from your inbox until the time you choose.
Gmail pricing
| Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|
| Yes, with 15 GB of storage | $1.99/month for more storage |
Gmail is free with every Google account, which includes 15 GB of storage shared with Drive and Photos. AI Overview thread summaries are free. If you run out of space, Google One starts at $1.99/month for 100 GB, but that plan doesn’t add Gemini in Gmail.
Where it falls short
Each Google account has its own inbox, so there’s no unified inbox like Spark’s. There are no native desktop apps; on a computer, you use Gmail in the browser.
We hope this guide helps you pick the right Spark alternative. This article is written by Mejl, the Gmail client at mejl.cc. Mejl has a free plan, you don’t need a credit card, and you sign in with Google to start.