Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Canary Mail
Best for Privacy & AIPrice
—
—
Summary
Leads the pack on end-to-end encryption and built-in AI writing assistance. PCMag's top pick for users who want modern features without sacrificing security.
Built by a former Apple engineer specifically for Gmail on Mac, it's fast, native, and rock-solid. Nothing else delivers a Gmail experience this polished on macOS.
Pros
- End-to-end encryption built in — standout privacy feature among email clients
- Built-in AI that can draft and write messages for you
- Works with most major email services
- Available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows
- Native macOS app built by a former Apple engineer — feels truly at home on Mac
- Extremely fast and reliable performance
- Deep Gmail integration including labels, filters, and keyboard shortcuts
- Clean, minimal UI that matches macOS design language
Cons
- Premium features require a paid subscription
- AI and advanced features may feel like overkill for simple email needs
- Smaller community and fewer third-party integrations than Thunderbird
- Gmail-only — won't work with other email providers
- Mac-only, no Windows or mobile version
- Paid subscription required after free trial
Our take
Canary Mail is the rare app that takes privacy seriously without making you feel like you're using security software. The AI writing tools are genuinely useful, not gimmicky.
If you're a Mac user with Gmail, stop looking — Mimestream is the answer. It feels like Apple built Gmail's official Mac app, and that's exactly what you want.
Buy
