Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Pangalactic

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 28, 2016
514
1,443
I like the default client quite a bit...
HOWEVER
Its search ability is really poor, especially compared to Gmail's web client capabilities.I could often find emails in just one search in Gmail, that just simply would not appear in Mail search at all (or with considerable effort).

So, can anyone please recommend a client that
1) Has a good looking UI
2) Is relatively lightweight
3) Has a quality mail search
 

flaubert

macrumors 6502
Jun 16, 2015
485
200
Portland, Oregon
I've always been pretty happy with Thunderbird as an email client. Thunderbird has two different search methods; one is a "quick filter" method that applies to whatever IMAP folder is currently active, and allows you to specify whether the search term you entered is expected in the "From," "To," "Body," "Subject," or other field. The other search is less configurable, but searches across multiple folders; once it has completed it gives you a list of emails with an opportunity to further include or exclude certain folders, or senders, or whatever. I don't think I've ever run into a situation where I felt like it failed to find what I wanted, in near-instantaneous time.

As for UI, it's a pretty standard three-pane interface: folders on the left, list of emails above an email body.

 

mfram

Contributor
Jan 23, 2010
1,356
406
San Diego, CA USA
I use Thunderbird on Mac and Windows. Same interface on both but it runs way better on the Mac. I’m using it with an IMAP email server. Search is very fast.
 

EdwardC

macrumors 6502a
Jun 3, 2012
544
460
Georgia
I use an Exchange account so I use Outlook on my Win box as well as my Mac but with that said I think Mac Mail does a fine job as well. I actually use them both.
 

kschendel

macrumors 65816
Dec 9, 2014
1,309
588
Another vote for Thunderbird. I use apple Mail for personal stuff, mostly out of inertia, and Thunderbird for 3 decades worth of work emails.
 

triptolemus

macrumors 6502a
Apr 17, 2011
875
1,774
I went to Outlook. I tried for years, but Apple Mail is just a pain in the ass. I use Outlook with my personal IMAP, work gmail, and work gmail calendar. Outlook's UI is much cleaner and the search works. Apple Mail is a cluster.
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,248
13,322
After fiddlin' around with a few 3rd-party email clients, I've come to the conclusion that nothing beats Apple's Mail.app for what it does, even with limitations that it may have.
 

triptolemus

macrumors 6502a
Apr 17, 2011
875
1,774
After fiddlin' around with a few 3rd-party email clients, I've come to the conclusion that nothing beats Apple's Mail.app for what it does, even with limitations that it may have.

What does it do so well that "nothing beats" it?
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,248
13,322
"What does it do so well that "nothing beats" it?"

Hmmm....

The way it handles attachments.
The way it handles fonts & formatting.
The way I can create customized mailboxes to my needs.
The way it handles "rules" for incoming mail.
It's overall appearance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Meuti
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.