Comparison

EML Buddy vs EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX

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

Head to head
About

EML Buddy

Features
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EML Buddy is the simplest way to open and read .eml email files on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you've received an .eml file in an email, downloaded one from the web, or saved one to your Files app, EML Buddy opens it instantly — no sign-in, no account, no fuss. Features • Open .eml and .emlx files directly from the Files app, Mail, or any app that shares files • Or copy an .eml file to your clipboard and paste in the app • Full HTML email rendering, including images and formatting • View attachments: PDFs and documents open in a built-in viewer • Clean, simple design that gets out of the way • Works entirely offline: your emails never leave your device EML Buddy is registered as the default handler for .eml files, so tapping any .eml in Files or Mail opens it straight in the app – no extra steps needed.

About

EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX

Features
Read full description

Opens .eml and .msg email files and winmail.dat attachments on iPhone and iPad. The first file is free. Pro opens every other file and exports PDFs. The file is read on your device. It is never uploaded, and you do not need an email account. WHAT IT OPENS • .eml and .msg files from the Files app, Mail, AirDrop, iCloud Drive and other storage apps • winmail.dat (TNEF) attachments, including the files and meeting details inside them • .oft templates and .emlx files • .mbox archives and zip files that contain email: page through the messages one at a time • A whole folder: the app lists every email file in it, subfolders included • Recent files stay in a list on the home screen • In the Files app, Quick Look shows the subject, sender, date and attachment list of an .eml, .msg or winmail.dat file before you open it READING • The message in its original formatting or as plain text • Search inside the message and jump between matches • On iPad, three columns: your files, the message details with attachments, and the message body • Full headers, and for .eml files the complete source • Authentication-Results headers are shown as the receiving server wrote them. The app does not check SPF, DKIM or DMARC itself • Remote content is off by default. Images and other remote resources are blocked before they load, so opening a message does not tell the sender you read it. You can turn it on for one message from the banner, or for all messages in Settings • Security Check lists what it finds in the message: the SPF, DKIM and DMARC results in the headers, a Reply-To that differs from the sender, links whose text and destination differ, remote images, and attachments that can run code. It reads the file only and contacts no server ATTACHMENTS • Every attachment with its name, type and size • Preview PDFs, images, Office documents and other types Quick Look recognizes • An email attached to an email opens in the viewer PDF EXPORT (PRO) • Letter or A4 • Optional: sender, recipients and date; the list of attachments; page numbers; the full headers after the message FREE AND PRO • The first email file you open is free, with everything above except PDF export • Pro opens every file after that and exports PDFs • A file that fails to open does not use up the free file, and neither does the built-in sample • If you installed the app before version 1.3, every file stays free PRIVACY • Email files are read on your device and never uploaded • No account, no ads, no cross-app tracking • The app sends anonymous usage statistics and crash reports, with nothing from your files in them. You can turn this off in Settings • Reading works without a network connection LANGUAGES The app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. If a file will not open, use Report a Problem in the app. It sends app and device details, and nothing from the file. Privacy Policy: https://eml-msg-viewer.vercel.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

EML Buddy3 screens
EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EML Buddy at none against EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX's 3. EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.00 per 7 days. EML Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EML Buddy ships an update fortnightly, EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
EML Buddy versus EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEML BuddyEML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry JonesSheenu Jain

In-app purchases

None

EML Buddy

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX

Subscriptions2
  • Pro (Weekly)$1.007 Days
  • Pro (Yearly)$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro (Lifetime)$9.99

Questions

Is EML Buddy free?
EML Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX free?
EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do EML Buddy or EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX have ads?
Neither EML Buddy nor EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EML Buddy or EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX?
EML Buddy ships an update fortnightly, and EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX every 3 weeks. Most recently, EML Buddy was updated on October 31, 2026 and EML Viewer · MSG Viewer & MBOX on November 6, 2026.

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