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Thunderbird vs Apple Mail: catalog facts
Thunderbird	Apple Mail
Free Free forever, funded by donations.	Free Included free with macOS, iOS and iPadOS.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	macOS, iOS
Unified inbox across every account, or each account kept separate, your choice Mail, calendar, contacts and tasks in one application rather than four	Preinstalled on Mac, iPhone and iPad Supports iCloud and other email providers
The interface carries a lot of history and can feel dense next to a webmail tab Major ESR releases have historically been disruptive for add-ons and settings	Only available on Apple devices Closed source
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: MPL-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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