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Balsa vs Mailspring: catalog facts
Balsa	Mailspring
Free Free and open source under the GPL.	Freemium The client is free and open source. Mailspring Pro is a monthly subscription that adds…
Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Lightweight native GTK interface Fits in with the GNOME desktop	Unified inbox, snooze, send later, rules and templates in the free tier C++ sync engine keeps memory and battery use down for an Electron app
Linux only Smaller feature set than full PIM suites	Read receipts and link tracking are paid, and are tracking features Electron, so still heavier than a native client
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.