# eM Client vs Mailbird

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: eM Client at none against Mailbird's 2. eM Client also leads on review sentiment (48% vs 25%) and ratings volume (48 vs 1). Mailbird's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.7). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mailbird sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $34.49 per year. eM Client asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mailbird holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eM Client has 48 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of eM Client's written reviews are positive against 25% of Mailbird's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

eM Client ships an update every 10 days, Mailbird every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eM Client | Mailbird |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em-client/id1561166404/reviews) | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mailbird-the-email-app/id6749447444/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **48** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **48.0% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 178 MB | 550 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [eM Client](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561166526) | [Mailbird, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612488612) |

## What reviewers say

### eM Client

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em-client/id1561166404)

This app unifies email, calendar, tasks, contacts, and notes into a single, AI-enhanced platform. It offers advanced features typically found on desktop, including instant message translation and robust encryption, for seamless management of multiple accounts on your iPhone and iPad.

**Highlights:** AI-enhanced email drafting and replies, Unified inbox for email, calendar, tasks, contacts, and notes, Instant message translation, PGP and S/MIME encryption, Quick import from desktop app, Mail-tracking pixel detection, Snooze and Undo Send features

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable and customizable
- 🔒 Great privacy and security features
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 👍 Seamless sync between desktop and mobile

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow email sync and loading issues
- 🐛 Unreliable push notifications and badge counts
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior compared to other email apps
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches, especially in the initial release
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Emails not sending immediately
- Drafts not visible or editable
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between folders
- Trouble signing in to multiple Google accounts

**Requested features**

- Calendar integration
- Improved background refresh and sync
- Custom notification sounds
- Ability to sort emails by sender
- More customization options


### Mailbird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mailbird-the-email-app/id6749447444)

Manage all your email accounts from a single, beautifully designed inbox. Features include unified handling of multiple providers, customizable swipes for quick actions, and powerful search and filtering tools.

**Highlights:** Unified inbox for all accounts, Customizable swipe actions, Snooze emails for later, Advanced filters and search, Powerful email editor, Centralized attachment management, Customizable themes and layouts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium – Yearly Plan | $34.49 | per year |
| Premium – One-Time | $159.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eM Client free?

eM Client is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mailbird free?

Mailbird is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, eM Client or Mailbird?

Mailbird is rated higher. eM Client averages 3.7 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Mailbird averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do eM Client or Mailbird have ads?

Neither eM Client nor Mailbird shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eM Client or Mailbird?

eM Client ships an update every 10 days, and Mailbird every 2 weeks. Most recently, eM Client was updated on October 27, 2026 and Mailbird on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*