# Gmail vs Mail App for Gmail

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.

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.

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.

Gmail ships an update weekly, Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gmail | Mail App for Gmail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmail-email-by-google/id422689480/reviews)** | [4.6 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mail-app-for-gmail/id1462419097/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.4M** | 9.3K |
| Positive reviews | 29.3% of reviews | **38.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | #179 |
| Size | 719 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Bloop LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460809170) |

## What reviewers say

### Gmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmail-email-by-google/id422689480)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Grossing · Productivity, #5 Top Free · Productivity, #19 Top Grossing, #25 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Mail App for Gmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mail-app-for-gmail/id1462419097)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

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:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved notification system
- Better integration with other email services
- Bulk email management tools


## Frequently asked 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 25, 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.

---

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