Email client: Free alternatives to Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a good, free email client. Nevertheless, there are alternatives that can do just as much or even more. We present three of them to you.

Windows Live Mail 2012: Free alternative to Thunderbird

Since Windows 7 and Windows 8 no longer have mail clients like Windows Mail or Outlook Express preinstalled, Microsoft has created an alternative. It is also free:

• The functionality of Windows Live Mail and Thunderbird is roughly the same. You will not miss any functions after the change, but you will have access to other Microsoft services.
• The calendar function can not only be used offline and with any mail account, but can also be synchronized with a Microsoft account. So you always have your calendar at hand on the web.
• In addition to the "E-Mail" and "Calendar" functions, the "Contacts" and "Feeds" are clearly and above all clearly separated from each other.
• The following practical tip provides instructions for setting up Windows Live Mail 2012.

EssentialPIM: Versatile, free mail client

• EssentialPIM is a very clear and feature-rich mail program. It not only runs on almost all versions of Windows, but also has many useful features.
• Compared to Outlook, the program looks much tidier and is reduced to the most important functions. These include mail, calendar, notes, contacts and tasks.
• With the appropriate smartphone app, you can even synchronize your data between your mobile phone and computer.
• Conclusion: Essential PIM is a good, free alternative to Thunderbird, which is easy to understand, especially for beginners.

Claws Mail: Open source alternative to Thunderbird

• Claws Mail is an email client for Windows and Linux. Above all, the software should be slim, simple and as functional as possible. So Claws Mail is also used on small computers like the Raspberry Pi.
• Claws Mail can do pretty much everything a normal user needs. Compared to Thunderbird, however, the range of functions is a little less. For example, you cannot compose HTML emails, so the program is not always suitable for professional use of Claws Mail.
• Claws Mail is no safer than Thunderbird. With the extension Gpg4win, Claws Mail becomes a safe for your mails. Your mails can be encrypted extremely securely, so that only the right recipient with the right key can read your mail. The recipient does not necessarily need Claws Mail for this, but also the Gpg4win tool.

Pimero 2014: alternative to Thunderbird

• With the "Pimero 2014 Free Edition" you get a program that primarily serves as an organizer.
• The main purpose of the service is to help you organize your appointments and tasks. As a further function, however, a fully functional mail client is also installed.

Opera Mail: Everything your heart desires

• In addition to the popular browser, Opera has also developed a mail client. With Opera Mail you can manage your mails in a similar way to Thunderbird. Above all, the clarity is convincing.
• As in the browser, you can open multiple tabs in Opera Mail. This allows you to process different mails or calendars in parallel and, above all, in an orderly manner.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to properly encrypt your emails.