freeproprietary, freeLocal★ $0 forever
Apple Mail
The client already on the Mac has send-later, reminders and swipe actions; customization stops where Apple says.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Free tier / Free tool)
- License
- proprietary, free
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopmobileone-click install
- Installation
- Preinstalled on macOS, iPhone, and iPad; add an IMAP, Exchange, iCloud, Google, or other supported mailbox
- Where Your Data Lives
- Messages remain in the connected mail provider and are cached or indexed in the local Mail profile; local mailboxes can be exported as mbox files
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Apple Mail does not expose Airmail’s deep custom-action, URL-scheme, and third-party workflow flexibility.
Replaces 3 paid apps
up to $16.99/mo ($204/yr) in subscriptions
Apple Mail FAQ
Common questions
Is Apple Mail free and open source?+
Apple Mail is a free tool that runs on local. The client already on the Mac has send-later, reminders and swipe actions; customization stops where Apple says.
What paid software does Apple Mail replace?+
Apple Mail serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Airmail, Canary Mail, Fastmail, saving up to $16.99/month ($204/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Apple Mail?+
Installation: Preinstalled on macOS, iPhone, and iPad; add an IMAP, Exchange, iCloud, Google, or other supported mailbox.
What is the catch or trade-off with Apple Mail?+
Apple Mail does not expose Airmail’s deep custom-action, URL-scheme, and third-party workflow flexibility.