Comparison

Spark Mail 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

Spark Mail

Streamline your email and calendar management with an AI-powered assistant. Organize multiple accounts, declutter your inbox with smart sorting, and use AI to draft replies, summarize threads, and manage your schedule efficiently.

Highlights
  • Unified inbox for multiple email accounts
  • AI-powered email summarization and drafting
  • Smart Inbox for prioritizing emails
  • Calendar management and meeting scheduling
  • Gatekeeper for sender screening
  • Team collaboration on emails
  • Integrations with productivity apps
Features
Read full description

Manage priorities, not emails. Spark brings every account into one inbox and automatically surfaces what matters most — so nothing slips through the cracks. Loved by millions and named "Best of the App Store" by Apple. "It's a combination of polish, simplicity, and depth." — FastCompany "You can create an email experience that works for you." — TechCrunch EVERY ACCOUNT, EVERY EMAIL, IN ONE PLACE Connect Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, GMX, and any IMAP account in a single unified inbox. STAY ORGANIZED WITH SMART INBOX Important emails from real people rise to the top. Newsletters and notifications stay neatly grouped below, out of your way. GET MORE DONE WITH EMAIL ESSENTIALS Mark emails as done or set them aside for later Mute threads you're no longer following Schedule emails to send later — even if your device is off Find anything fast with Smart Search and Smart Folders PROTECT YOUR INBOX WITH GATEKEEPER Pre-screen new senders and block unwanted contacts instantly. PRIORITIZE WHAT MATTERS Mark important senders so their emails always stay on top. Group emails by sender or domain to keep your inbox clean. WRITE FASTER WITH SPARK +AI Summarize long threads, draft replies, rephrase messages, and adjust tone. Your AI Assistant helps you clear your inbox, translate emails, and keep projects moving. MANAGE YOUR CALENDAR AND MEETINGS Connect your calendars to stay on top of your day in one app. CONNECT YOUR FAVORITE TOOLS Link Spark to Notion, Asana, Things, and 10+ integrations to act on everything in your inbox. COLLABORATE WITH YOUR TEAM Co-author emails and discuss in private comments Assign messages so everyone knows who owns what Share secure links to specific emails Track read receipts to keep work moving SECURE AND PRIVATE Spark encrypts your data, runs on Google Cloud's secure infrastructure, and is fully GDPR compliant. TRY IT FREE Stick with our powerful free plan, or try Spark Plus or Spark Pro free for 7 days. Download Spark and reclaim your day. FAQ Is Spark the best email app for managing multiple accounts? Spark brings Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and any IMAP account into one unified inbox, so you can manage every email in one place instead of switching between apps. How is Spark different from Apple Mail and Gmail? Spark helps you focus on what matters, not just read email. It automatically prioritizes messages from real people, keeps newsletters out of the way, and can summarize, draft, and follow up so less falls through the cracks. How does Spark help with email overload? Spark surfaces important messages first, lets you snooze emails until you're ready, and helps you reach Inbox Zero without the grind. Higher plans flag what needs attention so nothing gets missed. Does Spark have AI features? Yes. Spark uses AI to write faster, reply clearly, and summarize threads. On Plus, AI helps you make better inbox decisions. On Pro, it acts on your behalf — drafting, organizing, and following up. Is Spark good for team collaboration? Yes. Teams can share drafts, comment privately, assign messages, and manage shared inboxes — no forwarding chains. Collaboration is available on Pro. Can I schedule emails to send later? Yes. Schedule any email to send at the right time, or snooze incoming messages to return when you're ready. Is Spark free? Yes. Spark is free to download and use. Spark Plus is for professionals who want a more focused inbox; Spark Pro is for those who need Spark to handle follow-through so nothing gets missed. Is Spark available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad? Yes. Spark works on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, and stays in sync across all your devices. Spark is made by Readdle. Terms of Service: https://sparkmailapp.com/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://sparkmailapp.com/legal/privacy-app Help: support@sparkmailapp.com

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 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 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

Spark Mail4 screens
Mail App for Gmail4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Spark Mail at free with in-app purchases against Mail App for Gmail's subscription. Spark Mail also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (61% vs 39%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Spark Mail sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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 — 4.6 for Spark Mail against 4.6 for Mail App for Gmail. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark Mail has 83K ratings behind it against 9.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Spark Mail's written reviews are positive against 39% of Mail App for Gmail's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spark Mail ships an update weekly, Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Spark Mail versus Mail App for Gmail: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpark MailMail App for Gmail
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (83K ratings) — better4.6 (9.5K ratings)
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews — better39.0% of reviews
Number of ratings83K — better9.5K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#105 — better#181
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size393 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReaddle Technologies LimitedBloop LTD

Customer experience

Spark Mail

All ratings82,743 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.3%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews3,178 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative28.4%

Mail App for Gmail

All ratings9,407 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews254 reviews
Positive39.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative57.9%

User reviews

Spark Mail

From 83K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent email management features
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
  • 📂 Effective email organization and categorization
  • ⏱️ Efficient workflow with snooze, scheduling, and templates
  • 💻 Seamless cross-device experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
  • 🔒 Concerns over privacy and data usage
  • 💰 Aggressive push for paid subscription
  • 📥 Unreliable notification delivery
  • 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality

Mail App for Gmail

From 9.5K 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

Spark Mail

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Emails disappearing from the inbox
  • Delayed email delivery and sync
  • Crashes and freezes when opening the app
  • Issues with Exchange calendar and account sync
  • Incorrect email grouping and threading

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved spam filtering and email blocking
  • Option to disable email threading
  • Better calendar integration and management
  • Customizable email signatures and layouts
  • Expanded third-party app integrations

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

13 purchases

Spark Mail

Subscriptions10
  • Spark Premium7 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Spark Plus Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$10.001 Month
  • Spark Premium7 Days trial$11.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Spark Pro Monthly7 Days trial$20.001 Month
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$41.991 Year
  • Spark Premium1 Year trial2 variants$59.991 Year
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Spark Plus Annual7 Days trial$99.001 Year
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Spark Pro Annual7 Days trial$199.001 Year
One-time3
  • Regular Powerbank$4.99
  • Big Powerbank$9.99
  • Huge Powerbank$19.99
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
  • Yearly14 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Spark Mail free?
Spark Mail 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, Spark Mail or Mail App for Gmail?
Spark Mail is rated higher. Spark Mail averages 4.6 out of 5 from 83K ratings, while Mail App for Gmail averages 4.6 from 9.5K ratings.
Do Spark Mail or Mail App for Gmail have ads?
Neither Spark Mail nor Mail App for Gmail shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spark Mail or Mail App for Gmail?
Spark Mail ships an update weekly, and Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spark Mail was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mail App for Gmail on October 29, 2026.
Which is more popular, Spark Mail or Mail App for Gmail?
Spark Mail currently peaks at #105 in the App Store charts, and Mail App for Gmail at #181. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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