Our Verdict
In some ways , Thunderbird16 ’s open - source descent are a blessing . This free email client from the makers of Firefox — aid by a legion of consecrated military volunteer coder — pop the question more add - ons and customizable feature of speech than Apple’sMail 6 ( ) or Microsoft’sOutlook 2011 ( ) . But exemption and flexibleness have their drawback , too : Thunderbird look and works like a putz construct by commission .
The stark gray interface seems like a holdover from Thunderbird ’s distant origins asNetscape Communicator . And the initial feature film set compares poorly to those of Mail and Outlook : Third - party attention deficit disorder - onsgive Thunderbird calendar features and the option ( after a very tenacious setup physical process ) to view content threads as a seamless conversation , but Thunderbird lacks such potentiality by nonpayment .
The program allows you to view hypertext markup language messages and see photos and other attachment inline , but only after you search through the card for fashion to activate those features . And although you may group messages by threads , you ca n’t foliate through all the message in a thread at once ; an unhelpful trailer shows you flyspeck scraps of each part of the conversation , after which you must click through to each single content .
Thunderbird does permit you to add colour - coded ticket , à la Mail and Outlook ’s fleur-de-lis , to individual messages . you could exchange the name of the five default tag , or create new ones . But give chase messages do n’t show up globally in the left over navigation Zen . tag end assist only to sort messages in search , as well as in Thunderbird ’s Quick Filter within a given mailbox .
Even when Thunderbird offer something its rival do n’t , the feature can be hard to find , and handicap by the program ’s opened - source fealty . For instance , the construct - in FileLink feature connects Thunderbird to outside data file - sharing service , allowing user to swap large files that wo n’t fit email providers ’ size limits . But by nonpayment , FileLink supports only the comparatively vague Box , Ubuntu , and YouSendIt protocols ; you may enable Dropbox support via an add - on . Furthermore , to even know how to get to FileLink , I had to consult Thunderbird ’s spotty online help file cabinet , and then burrow a few layers deeply into its Preferences .
Its open appeal aside , Thunderbird ’s under - the - tough ability prove to be hit - or - miss . In my run , its search feature was truly impressive , displaying the solvent of my query in a newfangled tab , with further filters for incoming or outgoing substance , or those from a given recipient . It ’s well design and delightfully utilitarian , and it sense like a material innovation that Thunderbird ’s rival would do well to slip .
Thunderbird ’s account import maven also worked like a charm . Echoing Apple Mail ’s own easy setup , it needs only your name , e-mail computer address , and watchword to find and configure a new account . However , the process applies only to POP and IMAP , with no funding for Exchange . ( Third - party add - ons call to mix Exchange calendar , but it was n’t clear to me whether any of them offer direct support for Exchange electronic mail . )
I wish well Thunderbird ’s surety features were more reliable . The program promises to ease off scam electronic mail message for you . When I snuff it trolling through my spam booklet to test that assurance , Thunderbird did alert me to some bogus messages — but it left other clear attack at redirecting me to a phony web site pass unacknowledged .
In theory , Thunderbird ’s extensibility deserves hand clapping . But in practice , it seems verbose for anyone but the most demanding user to pass over down and add together third - party extensions just so that Thunderbird can offer the same boast its main rivals leave right out of the box .
Bottom line
For just $ 10 , competing client Postbox enhance the Thunderbird engine with a layer of culture and poise that its primogenitor lacks . If you need a free , extensile mail client with more room to muck around than Apple Mail or Outlook offering , Thunderbird 16 might do the job . But it does n’t make a compelling case for anyone to swop from their current favourite mail program .
