Mail app for mac. Spark is the best email client for macOS High Sierra

By default, you definitely need to familiarize yourself with some features, thanks to which new letters will arrive faster, spam will be automatically deleted, letters will be sent at a specified time, and much more. Let's make life with Mail easier and more productive!

How to receive new emails faster?

By default, the Mail application checks your mailbox on the server every 5 minutes. The settings will help correct the situation, so in the menu bar open Mail → Settings…(or press the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘) + comma).

Go to the tab Basic and in the field " Check mail availability» set time interval - every minute. Letters will arrive faster.

How can I view more messages?

Thanks to the classic view, you can see many more emails on one page without scrolling. This feature will be very useful when actively working with a client.

In the default view, enlarged lines of the mail list are displayed in the left column, and previews are displayed in the right column.

To accommodate more letters, go to the menu Mail → Settings… and in the tab View check the box next to “ Use classic view».

Now lines with letters will be displayed at the top of the display, and previews at the bottom. The number of emails displayed will increase significantly.

Automatic removal of junk and spam

By default, all spam and junk are stored in the mail client forever. But why keep all this rubbish? In Mail settings, go to the " Accounts ", then select the account you are using and on the right side of the window go to the " Mailboxes" In paragraphs " Spam" And " Basket» set an acceptable time interval after which unnecessary correspondence will be deleted.

Use VIP status for important emails

The VIP mark allows you to highlight important letters from the entire flow of correspondence. To add to favorites, open any important email and move the cursor to the left of the sender's name. An asterisk will appear there.

After you assign VIP status to at least one interlocutor, a new item will appear in the left side menu of the Mail application, where all your favorite messages will be displayed.

By the way, if you go to Settings → General and in the field " New message notification» select the item « VIP", then Mac will only bother you with incoming emails from important contacts and you will no longer be bothered by some mailing.

Preview websites using Quick View

Don’t know what kind of link this or that subscriber sent and don’t want to open your browser again? We suggest using the “ Quick view " It allows you to view the contents of a link in a special window without launching your default browser.

To view a URL using Quick View, hover over the link and click the check mark that appears to the right of it. A preview of the page will be displayed below.

In general, the function " Quick view"has a huge number of useful features that we talked about in.

Send emails with attachments directly from the Dock

The panel on macOS is quite interactive. Another confirmation of this is the ability to quickly send attachments. Just drag the image, document, video or any other file you are interested in onto the mail icon in the dock, and a new letter will be created immediately.

Speeding up your email client

If you receive an email with a huge number of multimedia attachments, most of your Mac's resources will be devoted to opening their thumbnails. This kind of correspondence sometimes really slows down the system. Disabling thumbnails will greatly help in this matter, especially relevant on older Macs.

To disable thumbnails run Terminal and enter the following command:

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool true

After you press Enter, to apply all changes, restart the Mail application.

How to send a Mac to sleep remotely using a letter?

Thanks to simple manipulations, you can prepare your Mac to remotely switch to . For example, if you forget to turn off your Mac, it will be enough to send a letter with the text “ Sleep mode».

1 . Launch the application AppleScript Editor(conductor Finder → Programs → Utilities).

2 . Create a new container by clicking the " New document».

3 . Paste text:

tell application "System Events" to sleep

4 . On the menu bar, click File → Save As... and enter " sleepmac.scpt" Save it to the folder " Documents».

5 . Open the application " Mail» (Mail) and go to Settings → Filters. Click the button Add».

6 . Set the following options:

• Description: Sleep mode via email.
• If: All of the following conditions are met.
• Terms: Sender - contains - the name of the contact in the address book from which the shutdown command will come.
• Click on the plus sign and enter the second condition: Topic - contains - Sleep mode.
• Follow these steps: Run AppleScript - open in Finder. Next, drag the container “ sleepmac.scpt", which we saved in documents. After that it will appear in the list of scripts.

7 . Click the button OK».

After you send an email to your Mac with the subject " Sleep mode", the Mac will immediately go to sleep.

There are a whole bunch of email programs for Windows and Mac, but many of us still continue to use services through a web browser. Maybe there are good reasons for this? Today we are looking into email clients - what are the benefits of them, what are the harms, and is it even possible to find the ideal one?

Let's start, as usual, with the good. Email clients have many advantages over their web options.

No advertising or other information junk

On the mail page in a web browser, along with letters, a lot of unnecessary information appears. Annoying advertisements, news, links to other services, pop-up tips and tricks - all this is terribly annoying. Email clients lack all this, especially if you use the paid version.

You can connect several boxes at once and not get confused

Most often, we use several mailboxes at once, and on different services. For example, one address is work, another is personal, the third is for secondary information that is sent to the post office after registering in online stores, forums, services, and so on.

Switching between links in the browser to have instant access to the contents of the boxes is inconvenient: to do this, they must always be open in the browser. And there will be one email client, no matter how many accounts you have.

You can view letters even if there is no Internet

Typically, when you use an email application, emails are saved on your computer. This means you can view incoming and sent messages even when you are not connected to the network. When working through a browser, this option will not be available for obvious reasons: no Internet means no mailboxes.

No need to keep watch at the mailbox

To instantly notify about a new incoming message, you need to either keep tabs with mailboxes open, or install some kind of browser plugin - both options are quite inconvenient. In addition, even a plugin will not save you when you close your web browser - an important letter will arrive, but you will not see it right away.

Mail clients themselves contact the servers and request information about new letters. If the answer is positive, you immediately receive a notification that is difficult to miss.

But!

Email clients also have a lot of disadvantages. Here are the nastiest ones.

They have so many functions that you won't be able to figure them out right away.

While browser versions of mailboxes are made as simple as possible, developers often get carried away with applications, stuffing them with all sorts of options, functions and settings that most users don’t care about.

As a result, instead of just adding mailboxes and enjoy life, you have to delve into the jungle of the interface, trying to find where to set the signature, and how to disable the stupid spell checker.

Multiplatform is a total disaster.

If you often work with mail on different devices with different operating systems, it will be difficult to call the application a suitable solution. And then there’s the addictive effect: if you’re “stuck” to one application, then it’s inconvenient to use another, even if they have the same functionality.

Importing contacts can be difficult

While browsers have at the very least learned to pull up each other's history and logins with passwords, email applications have not always done this successfully. Usually the problem occurs when importing contacts from another application, not the web version.

As a rule, with large decisions ( Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird) no problem. In the settings, select an item like “Export”, create a file with contacts, then in the new client click on “Import” or a similar button, and the document is added.

Less common or not very recent applications may use their own formats to store data, and then you will have to suffer a lot, transferring what you need to other services, for example Google Contacts.

Security is also not very clear.

Any program has vulnerabilities, and email clients are no exception. There is an opinion among experts that the more archaic the application, the more reliable it is, because there are no loopholes for hacking in the form of additional scripts and extensions. Mutt can be considered a kind of standard, but in 2017 only the most severe paranoids will be able to use it without pain in the eyes - this application is ungodly outdated in design and convenience fifteen years ago.

So do you need an email client and if so, which one?

We at the site are confident that the pros outweigh the cons, and with an email program it is still better than without it. The problem is that there are no perfect mailers, so you still have to turn a blind eye to the shortcomings.

So we have selected the best email clients for different platforms: some are on Windows, others on OS X, others on both, and you decide which one suits you best.

Microsoft Outlook

The application is convenient due to its close integration with others Windows services and great for work email. For example, there is a link to the to-do list and calendar, which will help optimize your work and make it more comfortable. Microsoft Outlook is also okay with multi-platform functionality: in addition to desktop OS, the application is available for iOS and Android.

The problem is that Outlook client included Office package 365, the personal version of which is priced at 2,699 rubles per year. You will receive Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other standard programs. If you specifically need Microsoft Outlook, then hold on - it is a one-time purchase and costs 8199 rubles. Given the availability of many free analogues, this is, to put it mildly, an exorbitant amount.

Apple Mail

The standard application for OS X has decent functionality - you can get by with it. The client is free and comes straight with the Mac operating system. Work with the main services is supported: Google, Yahoo! and others. Among the pleasant bonuses is the ability to slightly edit the image attached to the letter by adding a comment or highlighting the desired area.

The problem is that This is an email client for Apple devices only.

Mailbird

The free mail client Mailbird captivates with its laconic, but at the same time very modern appearance, which can also be customized indefinitely. In addition, you can set combinations for hot keys: switching between folders, replying to all participants in the correspondence, and so on, this greatly speeds up the work.

The client has synchronization not only with the usual services - Dropbox, Google Calendar, Todoist, but also with social networks and instant messengers - Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp.

Free version supports up to three accounts, while there is no limit for the paid version ($1 per month/$22.5 lifetime). In addition, the Pro version has another useful feature - the ability to postpone incoming letter for later, so that after a specified time you will receive a second reminder about the received message.

The problem is that Mailbird is an email client for Windows and only for it.

Spark

This is an email program for Apple technology: the application appeared first on iOS, and then reached OS X and watchOS. Spark follows the logic of the popular Mailbox, which closed a year ago. The main folder stores new and important emails, and when they are no longer relevant to you, you can move them to the archive.

The service is free and works quickly. You can set parameters for a quick response, such as “Thank you,” “OK,” and so on.

The problem is that In the desktop version, at first it’s unusual to work with gestures, but if you use a trackpad or Magic Mouse, the controls will be quite intuitive. For example, to delete a letter or move it to another folder, you can hover the cursor and move it left or right: this will display several options. In addition, along with swipes, you can select regular buttons to select a letter or move it to another folder.

AirMail

Another popular email client for Mac and iPad/iPhone with Apple Watch, is also controlled by gestures. There is also support for the TouchBar panel in the new MacBook Pro. Flexible settings, integration with third-party services, support for smart sorting and the ability to connect a bunch of accounts - all this makes AirMail one of the best alternative email clients for Apple devices.

The problem is that AirMail has a paid distribution model. The desktop version costs 749 rubles, the mobile version costs 379 rubles. Is it worth paying when free analogues no worse?

Thunderbird

Mail application created by Mozilla - the developers of the notorious Firefox browser. The program, like a web browser, is flexible in configuration and has a bunch of extensions - useful and not so useful. There is support modern systems protection: suspicious emails are noted, URL authentication is checked, blocking automatic download attached pictures. Most importantly, Thunderbird is a completely free email client. No trial versions or reduced functionality.

The problem is that Thunderbird is completely unceremonious with your computer's resources. Firstly, the function of archiving folders and clearing deleted folders does not always work, as a result of which a lot of space on the hard drive is wasted, and secondly, the client likes to eat up RAM.

The Bat!

This email client is extremely laconic and undemanding in terms of resources. But the application provides a high degree of security: data is encrypted on the hard drive, and the letters themselves are processed using SSL and TLS protocols. True, you will have to pay for this: the Home version costs 2,000 rubles, and for the Professional version, which offers even more advanced protection, you will have to pay 3,000 rubles.

The problem is that design by The Bat! - from the last century, and even then the developers hardly bothered with it. Everything looks very simple and faceless.

Inky

A free email client with a modern design that works under Microsoft Windows, and for macOS, and for iOS, and for Android. The mail application supports an unlimited number of mail records and can automatically sort letters by importance, which is especially pleasing when there are a lot of messages. In addition, you can manually set relevance settings: messages from which contacts to move to the top of the list.

The problem is that support Google Apps, Office 365, Microsoft Exchange and a number of other useful services is available only by subscription, and you will have to shell out $5 per month for it.

Do you often receive and send mail? In this article, we decided to collect the best email clients for the OS X operating system, which will make working with email easier. We present the most functional and high-quality email clients.

The structure of this email client is very similar to the native Mail application, but Airmail 2 differs from the standard application in appearance and the presence of numerous settings.

Let's add to all this a set of different design themes and a markdown email editor.

The mail client is primarily intended for users who like the standard mail client in OS X, but want more functionality and customization.

Mail Pilot 2

The main advantage of this alternative email client is the presence of a dashboard that displays all incoming mail, as well as active tasks and upcoming appointments.

The undoubted advantage of the application is the presence of a system that effectively organizes letters and work tasks. The creators of Mail Pilot 2, however, did not bother to add push notifications.

The email client is suitable for those users who often use email for work purposes.

Post Box

This email client differs from most analogues in that it has close integration with leading social networks. It is thanks to this feature that Post Box is called a socially oriented email client. There is a deep possibility of customization. Thus, any user familiar with JavaScript can independently create additions and new functions.

A large set of ready-made plugins is available. The email client has its own RSS reader. Unfortunately, change appearance It won't work because the email client doesn't support themes.

Post Box is the ideal email client for those who like to customize applications to suit their needs using various plugins.

Inky

This is a client that is intended for cloud service Inky, which allows you to combine all mailboxes. Users only need to go through a simple registration and link all email clients to their account in order to access them from any device. This feature of the service and client is the main advantage of Inky. But there is a flip side to the coin: you will have to pay a monthly fee of $5 to use the service.

The Inky service and client are suitable for users who want to access mail from many devices.

The creators of the Unibox email client tried to create a high-quality and understandable user interface, which they undoubtedly succeeded in. The left side displays a list of contacts, and the right side displays correspondence with a specific contact.

There are three modes for organizing mail, but there is no option to enable a standard mail view.

This is why Unibox is more suitable for people who use email for personal correspondence.

Cloud Magic

This email client is simple, beautiful and has no unnecessary elements. Thanks to this, Cloud Magic has recently begun to gain popularity among users.

Users have access to add-ons that allow them to integrate third party services. It is possible to organize team work.

If you want to try one of the most convenient and advanced email clients yourself, then Cloud Magic will be the ideal choice for you.

Which client should I choose?

Of course, many people prefer to work with a standard email client or Gmail, but we advise you to take a closer look at the clients listed above. If for some reason the email clients listed above are not to your liking, then we advise you to take a closer look at applications such as Outlook, Nylas N1, Mail Mate or Sparrow. They also boast a set useful functions and chips and will make working with mail more efficient.

What email clients do you use? Share in the comments.

Standard Apple applications are enough for most. This applies not only to the email client, but also to notes, reminders, calendar and music player. However, standard Mail is only as good as it is when you don't compare it to third-party apps. The site's editors took a look at several major alternatives to the macOS email client.

Airmail

The developers position Airmail as “the fastest email client for Mac” and at least they don’t disappoint. The app is fast, smooth and looks good - just like other alternatives. But Airmail is also a feature client, which has features not found in the standard client.

In Airmail you can write letters in Markdown and HTML, there is support third party applications(OmniFocus, Things, Wunderlist and others) and support for AppleScript scripts. Incoming emails can be sorted into the To Do (current tasks), Done (completed) and Memo (notes) folders.

The application was recently released in an iOS version. One of the client's disadvantages is the price. The version for macOS costs $9.99, for iOS - $4.99.

Pros:

1. Support for third party applications.
2. Speed ​​of work.
3. Supports standard Gmail hotkeys.

Cons:

1. Price.
2. Problems with IMAP folders.
3. Lack of some features available in other email clients.

Postbox

Postbox has been around almost since the launch of the Mac App Store. Externally, the client is similar to standard Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird. However, in a recent update, the appearance of Postbox has noticeably changed.

The advantage of Postbox is its functionality. The client supports working with multiple email accounts simultaneously, searching by attachments, and reply templates. The user can respond to letters by clicking on the button with templates and selecting one of the appropriate options.

Postbox costs $15 and can only be purchased from the developer’s website. You can also download there trial version and use it for free for 30 days. In addition, there is a two-month money-back guarantee - in fact, the client can be used for free for three months.

Pros:

1. Functionality.
2. Ability to respond with pre-created templates.
3. Trial period.

Cons:

1. No client for iOS.
2. Overloaded interface.
3. Lack of Exchange support.

Polymail

Polymail only left the testing stage a month ago, but has managed to establish itself as one of the best email clients. The developers managed to combine a simple interface and an abundance of interesting functions. For example, Polymail shows read notifications for sent messages and can schedule sending at the right time.

The advantages of Polymail include regular updates - developers are constantly fixing bugs and introducing new functions. Unlike alternatives, Polymail is free in both macOS and iOS versions. There is no paid functionality.

Pros:

1. Ability to receive notifications when messages are read.
2. You can postpone sending letters “for later”.
3. The application is free.

Cons:

1. There are still minor bugs.
2. Sometimes the application does not send notifications about new messages.

Mail Pilot

According to the developers, Mail Pilot is a client aimed at maximum productivity. It has a simple interface, despite this, the application combines an email client and a task manager. The client is available in versions for macOS, iOS, and watchOS.

In Mail Pilot, you can combine letters into lists, making it easier to work with large tasks. The price for productivity is high - the macOS version costs $19.99, the mobile version costs $9.99.

Pros:

1. Supports the entire Apple ecosystem.
2. Email client and task manager in one application.
3. Nice interface.

Cons:

1. The non-standard approach to the email client may not suit some users.
2. High price.

Mail

Complaints about Gmail's mediocre experience and the need to periodically clear the attachment cache aside, Mail is one of the best email clients for macOS. For many - the best, because it is standard.

All the benefits of Mail are tied to the Apple ecosystem. You can search for emails in Spotlight, send replies from the notification center, and sign documents directly from the app.

Pros:

1. Standard Apple application.
2. For free.
3. There is support for macOS, iOS, watchOS.

Cons:

1. Mediocre experience with Gmail, especially on iOS.
2. Less functionality compared to third-party clients.

IN operating system macOS High Sierra has a proprietary email client, but not everyone likes the program and it is a little outdated. Wandering around the App Store, you can see a huge number of alternatives standard program, but one product stands out above all, the Spark client is rightfully the best and here's why.

Simple and stylish design

The creators of Spark developed the application with an eye to simplicity and quality of execution. And they succeeded - the program is not replete with unnecessary elements and complex design solutions.

There are 3 areas in the window: a menu for selecting the desired mailbox, a list of messages and a place for the letter itself. The white and gray design theme looks great, doesn’t hurt the eyes and harmonizes well with the macOS style. When you open Spark, only a few elements are visible: update status, search, and a button to compose an email. Side menu allows you to open the desired category, for example, “Inbox” or “Sent Items”.

At the very bottom, two more actions are available: reply and forward.

Smart box

A key feature of Spark is the Smart Inbox. This is a section that passes all incoming letters through its filter. As a result, the user receives not just a jumbled stream of messages, but a structured list, in which the messages that are important, in the program’s opinion, are at the top and in plain sight, while spam and other junk are sent to the very bottom.

Moreover, unnecessary letters do not even notify themselves in any way. This approach is easy to use and has become a competitive advantage over both the standard client and other third-party clients. But it is not at all necessary to trust the algorithms; everything is also configured in the parameters.

Full customization for yourself

Spark, in addition, is notable for the huge number of settings for all processes email. The main feature is the synchronization of settings between all devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone). This is very important when the user has many boxes and each has its own settings. To transfer settings, you need to enter your iCloud information.

For more fast work Spark provides swipes. With their help, you can quickly perform an action on it without going into the letter itself. And yes, they are customizable to everyone's needs.

In addition, for greater user productivity, the developers have added “hot keys” or “Shortcuts”. They allow you to quickly work with letters without the need for unnecessary actions. To perform any operation you just need to press a certain key combination.

Adding to the convenience of everything else was the option to transfer letters. You can postpone it until later or even next week. A huge number of settings that allow you to select the exact notification time when the user is ready to respond to the letter.

Conclusions

What's the result? So, we have an excellent email client with many features, as well as a beautiful and clear interface. Compared to the Spark, the standard Mail looks like a plow among mechanized combines.

But it was not without its shortcomings. The application does not have Russian language support and it is unknown whether it will receive it in the future. However, it is worth noting that even a high school graduate can easily understand most of the inscriptions.