5 E-Mail Clients to Replace Microsoft Outlook

Written by:  • Edited by: Linda Richter
Updated Jan 3, 2012
• Related Guides: Microsoft | Microsoft Outlook | Mozilla Thunderbird

Are you looking for a way to replace Outlook for your email client needs? Do you like the features of MS Outlook, but dislike the interface? Find a list of the five great alternatives in this informative Bright Hub article.

Why Replace Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular e-mail clients available for messaging and communication. While it is popular, it has its weak spots. The price of this program can be a setback, and Outlook may offer functions not needed. Some of the alternatives to Microsoft Outlook pride themselves on the fact that they deal better with Spam. Below is a list of five great alternative e-mail clients for those who are looking for change.

Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is, perhaps, the best-known alternative to Micrsoft Outlook. This program is open-source and is downloadable for free. The program operates much like Microsoft Outlook. It allows users to track RSS Feeds and Newsgroups in addition to its email and address book functions. Like Outlook, the address book offers the ability to customize fields so that you can keep track of the contact information you need. You can Import mail messages, address book enteries and preferences from other E-Mail clients into Thunderbird mail. This makes Thunderbird an easy-to-convert to alternative.

GMail

Picture courtesy of Stock.xchng Did you know that you can have GMail handle all of your e-mail needs? If you do this, you will always be able to access that important message - even when you are using your friend's computer. In order to set GMail up to handle like an e-mail client, select "Settings," then "Accounts." Under accounts, you will see the option "Get mail from other accounts." You can add up to five accounts here. You can select labels for your mail, and star it for follow up. Gmail is another great contender when it comes to e-mail clients.

Barca

While Barca is not free (59.99 for the basic or 79.95 for the professional), it provides an excellent alternative to Microsoft Outlook. In addition to the e-mail client functions, Barca also has calendar, tasks, note, diary and planner functions. Barca Pro takes these functions a step further by offering more options, the ability to have multiple calendars, mail notes with ease, and use the Planner and Calendar interchangeably. You can even set up the planner key any way you like. If you like all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Outlook, then you will like Barca.

Pegasus Mail

Pegasus Mail is a free email client that can be used at home or in an office network. Because it is network friendly, this program can download email, and allow you to communicate with office mates without leaving your desk. One great feature of Pegasus mail is the ability to send telephone messages utilizing the program. This program does not have a calendar or task list built into it, so you would have to find alternatives if you wished to use this program.

Opera

Opera is a web browser that also serves as an e-Mail client. Label your emails with "Important," "To Do," "Send Reply," "Funny" or "Valuable." This program is easy to use, as it integrates with a web browser. You can also track notes and contacts. The widgets function allows you to customize your Opera web browsing experience. If you like the convenience of being able to check email from anywhere - this program might be for you.


Comments

Showing all 12 comments
 
Carly Jan 3, 2012 8:21 PM
RE: 5 E-Mail Clients to Replace Microsoft Outlook
Thanks for commenting - we have fixed that error.
oxygen Jan 3, 2012 9:54 AM
RE: 5 E-Mail Clients to Replace Microsoft Outlook
@author <br><br>"open source" means just what it reads: you can have the source code. <br>It does not automatically make a software free of charge, unless one has no morals and will ignore the associated software license.<br><br>Please correct your article ("This program is open-source, which means that it is downloadable for free").
Barbara Dec 7, 2011 8:14 PM
RE: 5 E-Mail Clients to Replace Microsoft Outlook
I have always used Outlook Express or Windows Mail until I got Windows 7 because Outlook is boring bloatware, IMHO. I don't use the formatting functions, I don't work in an office, I don't need the calendar or 99% of the crap that is in it.  I just want to be able to use stationery that I design myself, send an animated gif once in a while, and utilize the KISS principle - keep it simple, stupid.  Why won't MS give us a simple alternative like they used to do?  I'm not interested in those other email clients.  I don't want to use LiveMail, either, and leave my mail on a web server instead of in my computer where it belongs.
Marc D. Jan 12, 2011 7:26 AM
EverDesk - new email king?
Strange that you folks never heard of EverDesk and it is not reviewed or mentioned in most tests. Is this some kind of conspiracy or simply EverDesk is not known to the public? In my opinion this is by far THE best Outlook replacement with so many great features! Besides, their support rocks - I always get help from EverDesk support guys in no time. Since I am loyal user of EverDesk I was accepted to be their beta tester - they send me their internal beta releases for testing. What can I say - as soon as they release new EverDesk the email will never be the same - this thing is so cool! What I really like is that new EverDesk will sync with Google calendar, contacts AND DOCS - sort of offline client for Google Apps.
Vipin sharma Sep 4, 2010 1:09 PM
problem with MS Outlook
i have configured my outlook 2007 to download my mails from my yahoo mail and gmail accounts. problem is that every time i do "send and recieve", all my mails from yahoo account are downloaded but from my gmail account only some mails are coming and not all (here i am not talking about junk or bulk mails). can any body tell that why all my mails from gmail account are not coming into outlook 2007??
Anonymous Jul 31, 2010 4:21 PM
thunderbird
I find thunderbird to not user friendly
i really do think it is junk

there is no support for anything about it
Hungry Guy May 31, 2010 12:43 PM
XP to W7 upgrade
I just bought a new computer with W7 which uses Live Mail as its email client. How can I copy all my old email from Outlook on my old XP machine into Live Mail?
MK May 14, 2010 4:11 AM
replacing MS Outlook
Try Zimbra Desktop. Looks/feels like Outlook but faster. Has a calendar function that Thunderbird lacks and it completely free.
zizza07 Oct 29, 2009 3:53 PM
RE: 5 E-Mail Clients to Replace Microsoft Outlook
There is also postbox and spicebird as outlook alternatives.
digish Oct 26, 2009 4:36 PM
Client One
http://www.pimero.com/

This one looks cute. And the personal Edition is free.

I dont like the word free sound like. But, if it does what it says.
Mike Sep 18, 2009 6:13 AM
replacing MS Outlook
I don't know if Thunderbird can handle an amount of data larger than 2GB, but Pimero (www.pimero.com/en) can. It has some good group functions, so it might be an option for you.
Keith P Aug 29, 2009 8:29 AM
replacing MS Outlook
I want to replace MS Outlook for my company's email and contacts and calendar. We are a small office with 5 users and need to share emails, contacts and calendars. We are using Softalkltd's 'Workgroupshare" and since updating to a new server we are having too many problems and Outlook is too sensitive to data larger than 2GB. we chose this program because it does not require MS Exchange server.
Would Thunderbird be a good replacement for Outlook?
 
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