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About Balsa
Balsa is an email client built with GTK for the GNOME desktop on Linux. It aims to be lighter than a full personal information manager, focusing on reading and writing mail rather than bundling calendars and other tools.
The project is developed on GNOME's GitLab under the GNU General Public License v2.0 or later, with releases published there. It suits Linux users who want a simple native mail program instead of a larger suite such as Evolution.
Strengths
- Lightweight native GTK interface
- Fits in with the GNOME desktop
- Open source under the GPL
Limitations
- Linux only
- Smaller feature set than full PIM suites
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the GPL.
- License
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Developer
- The Balsa contributors
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- GNOME users who want a light desktop mail client
- Categories
- Email clients
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Balsa
Compare allSoftware that can replace Balsa for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Geary
GNOME email client built around conversation threads.
Geary is another GNOME mail client, organised around conversation threads with fast search, but it lacks encryption, a rules engine and a calendar.
Thunderbird
Mozilla’s desktop mail client, with calendar, contacts and a unified inbox, funded by donations rather than ads.
Thunderbird is heavier but adds calendar, contacts, OpenPGP and add-ons, and runs on Windows and macOS as well as Linux.
Evolution
GNOME's mail, calendar, contacts and tasks suite, and the usual answer for Exchange on Linux.
Evolution adds calendar, contacts, tasks and Exchange support on GNOME, but is heavier than a mail-only client and slower to start.
Claws Mail
A fast, keyboard-driven email client that loads a hundred thousand message folder without thinking about it.
Claws Mail is a fast, keyboard-driven client with PGP, spam and RSS plugins that handles very large folders, and also offers Windows installers.
KMail
KDE's email client with IMAP, filtering and OpenPGP support.
KMail is KDE's client with integrated OpenPGP and S/MIME, but it depends on the Akonadi storage service and fits the KDE desktop better.
Mailspring
A desktop mail client with a unified inbox, snooze and send later, whose paid tier adds read receipts.
Mailspring offers a unified inbox, snooze and templates across Windows, macOS and Linux, but it is Electron-based and heavier than a native GTK client.
Betterbird
A Thunderbird fork that ships extra fixes and features, and can run side by side on the same profile.
Betterbird is a Thunderbird fork with extra fixes and features, bringing a much larger feature set than Balsa on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
