Comparison

Gmail vs Mail App for Gmail

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Gmail

This application provides a secure and efficient email experience with advanced features like spam blocking, smart replies, and multi-account support. It integrates with other Google services for enhanced productivity and collaboration.

Highlights
  • Robust security & spam blocking
  • Real-time notifications
  • Multiple account support
  • Smart Reply & Compose
  • Undo send
  • Google Chat & Meet integration
  • Threaded conversations
Features
Read full description

The official Gmail app brings the best of Gmail to your iPhone and iPad with helpful AI features, robust security, real-time notifications, multiple account support, and intelligent search that works across all your mail. With the Gmail app, you can: • Make Gmail your default email app on iOS • Stay up to date on your latest packages, upcoming events, bills, and travel details with helpful summary cards • Declutter your inbox with built-in email subscription management • Use Gemini* in Gmail to summarize lengthy emails, craft or refine responses, or search your inbox to find what you’re looking for • Connect and switch between multiple email accounts from different providers • Automatically block more than 99.9% of spam, phishing, malware from ever reaching your inbox • Quickly add events to Google Calendar based on your emails with Gemini in Gmail • Find top deals faster with a personalized Promotions tab • Respond to emails faster with AI-powered Suggested Replies that understand the context of your emails and match your unique tone and style • Undo send for up to 30 seconds, to prevent embarrassing mistakes • Access Google Meet and Google Chat without leaving Gmail • Organize your mail by labeling, starring, deleting, and reporting spam • Swipe to archive/delete, to quickly clear out your inbox Gmail is part of Google Workspace, allowing you and your team to easily connect, create, and collaborate. You can: • Connect with coworkers via Google Meet or Google Chat, send an invite in Google Calendar, add an action to your task list, and more without leaving Gmail • Use Gemini in Gmail features like Help me write, Suggested Replies, AI Overviews, and Proofread to help you stay on top of work and take care of simple tasks, so you can be more efficient with your time • Stay safe. Our machine learning models block more than 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware from reaching our users *Some Gemini features may require a Google One AI subscription. Internet connection required. Language and country availability may vary. Check responses for accuracy.

About

Mail App for Gmail

This app offers a streamlined experience for managing your Gmail inbox, focusing on quick triage and instant message sending/receiving. It boasts a fast, reliable performance, especially on VPNs, and a beautiful, animated interface.

Highlights
  • Fast email management tools
  • Multiple actions for inbox tasks
  • Reliable VPN performance
  • Instant sync via HTTPS
  • Beautiful custom animation engine
  • Real-time inbox monitoring
Features
Read full description

Mail App for Gmail is a brand new app for the next generation of Gmail. It’s perfect for quickly triaging your inbox and uses Gmail’s blazing fast new platform to instantly send and receive messages. Mail App for for Gmail features: - Fast tools for managing your email - Multiple Actions - A brand new, rock-solid codebase written entirely in Swift - Zero wait time for launch - Much more reliable performance on Virtual Private Networks (VPN) since it does not use IMAP or POP connections - A beautiful interface built on a custom new animation engine - Instant sync thanks to secure, all-HTTPS communications Note that Mail app for for Gmail a native Gmail app for triaging recent email, but not currently an archival utility for searching your entire history. We’d love to hear what you think about Mail app for Gmail. To reach us, use the in-app support option in settings. Mail app for Gmail is an auto renewable subscription: - Badge removal - Realtime Inbox Monitoring for Notifications - Themes ------- Price may vary by location and active promotion. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial peri​od, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. ------- Privacy Policy: https://mailappforgmail.com/privacypolicy.html Terms of Service: https://mailappforgmail.com/eula.html

Screenshots

Gmail4 screens
Mail App for Gmail3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Gmail at free with in-app purchases against Mail App for Gmail's subscription. Gmail also leads on ratings volume (2.4M vs 9.3K) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). Mail App for Gmail's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (39% vs 29%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Gmail sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Mail App for Gmail sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Gmail against 4.6 for Mail App for Gmail. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gmail has 2.4M ratings behind it against 9.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Gmail's written reviews are positive against 39% of Mail App for Gmail's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gmail ships an update weekly, Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Gmail versus Mail App for Gmail: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGmailMail App for Gmail
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.4M ratings) — better4.6 (9.3K ratings)
Positive reviews29.3% of reviews38.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4M — better9.3K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#4 — better#179
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size719 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGoogleBloop LTD

Customer experience

Gmail

All ratings2,439,152 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews4,072 reviews
Positive29.3%
Neutral10.1%
Negative60.6%

Mail App for Gmail

All ratings9,268 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews250 reviews
Positive38.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative58.0%

User reviews

Gmail

From 2.4M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Efficient email management
  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 🔒 Secure and reliable
  • 😊 Positive user experience overall

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 💡 Lacking advanced features
  • 🔒 Security concerns
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly

Mail App for Gmail

From 9.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and easy to use
  • 👍 Clear and intuitive interface
  • 💡 Helpful for managing multiple accounts
  • 🚀 Efficient email management

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security
  • 🙄 Annoying pop-ups and ads

Bugs and requests

Gmail

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Notifications not working properly
  • Emails disappearing from inbox
  • Inability to remove accounts
  • Conversation view issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Swipe to delete/snooze emails
  • Ability to mark all emails as read
  • Customizable notification settings
  • Improved file attachment functionality

Mail App for Gmail

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and account authentication problems
  • Syncing and email loading delays
  • Inability to send emails in some cases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved notification system
  • Better integration with other email services
  • Bulk email management tools

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Gmail

Subscriptions7
  • 100 GB2 variants$1.991 Month
  • 100 GB1 Month trial3 variants$1.991 Month
  • 200 GB2 variants$2.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • 200 GB1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)2 variants$9.991 Month
  • 100 GB1 Month trial$19.991 Year
4 purchases

Mail App for Gmail

Subscriptions4
  • Premium$2.997 Days
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Yearly$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Gmail free?
Gmail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mail App for Gmail free?
Mail App for Gmail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Gmail or Mail App for Gmail?
Gmail is rated higher. Gmail averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.4M ratings, while Mail App for Gmail averages 4.6 from 9.3K ratings.
Do Gmail or Mail App for Gmail have ads?
Gmail shows ads; Mail App for Gmail does not.
Which is updated more often, Gmail or Mail App for Gmail?
Gmail ships an update weekly, and Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. Most recently, Gmail was updated on September 24, 2026 and Mail App for Gmail on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Gmail or Mail App for Gmail?
Gmail currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Mail App for Gmail at #179. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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