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Fastmail is the only product in this list that directly replaces Mailspring as an email service. The other options handle documents or faxing, so they may help with work around your inbox but won’t replace an email client. Mailspring starts at $7.08 and has a free plan, according to the pricing page; serious use may mean paying. Reddit threads point to different needs, including lighter desktop software and mobile FOSS apps, not one universal reason to switch.
01Why people leave Mailspring
The free limits may not be enough
The pricing page says serious use makes Mailspring a paid proposition. Check the current plan details before deciding whether its $7.08 starting price fits.
You want a lighter desktop client
In one Reddit thread, a commenter said they preferred to avoid Electron and described Aerion as lighter. That’s an individual preference, not a broad consensus.
You need a mobile FOSS app
A Reddit poster moving to Android asked for FOSS email apps and scheduled sending. Commenters suggested FairEmail, but the published alternatives list has no mobile mail client.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Paid email service
FastmailFastmailFastmail is the one direct email alternative in this list. It’s aimed at people moving from Gmail, users who want custom-domain email, and people needing offline mail and calendar access. The pricing page puts its starting price at $3, so compare its plan limits and cost with Mailspring before switching.
Trade-off: It’s paid, and plan limits need checking; the published material doesn’t list them.
8.1/10from
€3/mo - Browser documents
Word for the webWord for the webWord for the web is not an email replacement, but it may suit someone whose reason for leaving is wanting basic browser-based documents and collaboration alongside email. The pricing page describes it as free to start and says upgrades may be needed for more storage or premium features. Keep your email service separate.
Trade-off: It does not replace an inbox or email client.
6.5/10from
$1.67/mofree plan - PDF workflows
SmallpdfSmallpdfSmallpdf won’t take over Mailspring’s email job. It is relevant only if the work you’re trying to move is PDF handling: the pricing page names editing, e-signatures, and shared document workflows. It has a free plan, but free-use limits and paid-plan costs may narrow its value.
Trade-off: It handles PDFs, not email; free-use limits and paid costs matter.
6.6/10from
$7/mofree plan - PDF toolbox
iLovePDFiLovePDFiLovePDF is not a mail client, but it may cover a separate task if email is mainly where you receive PDFs to process. The pricing page describes varied PDF tools, a free plan, and a $5 starting price. It also flags unclear free limits and privacy concerns, so check those before moving document work.
Trade-off: No inbox replacement; free limits are unclear and privacy concerns are flagged.
7.8/10from
€5/mofree plan - Fax workflows
FAX.PLUSFAX.PLUSFAX.PLUS is not a Mailspring substitute for ordinary email. It makes sense only if faxing is part of the workflow you’re trying to separate from your inbox: the pricing page cites occasional faxing, shared numbers, and API access. It starts at $6.99 and has a free plan, but page caps and billing complaints warrant a close read.
Trade-off: It’s for fax, with page caps and billing complaints to investigate.
6.8/10from
$6.99/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailspring Mailspring (current) | 7.0 | $7.08/mo | Yes | People managing multiple email accounts |
| Fastmail Fastmail | 8.1 | €3/mo | No | People moving from Gmail to a paid service |
| Word for the web Word for the web | 6.5 | $1.67/mo | Yes | Free browser-based document editing |
| Smallpdf Smallpdf | 6.6 | $7/mo | Yes | People handling PDFs regularly |
| iLovePDF iLovePDF | 7.8 | €5/mo | Yes | People handling varied PDF tasks |
| FAX.PLUS FAX.PLUS | 6.8 | $6.99/mo | Yes | Individuals sending occasional faxes |
Questions people ask
Which listed product is a direct Mailspring alternative?
Fastmail is the only direct email option in the published list. Its listing names custom-domain email, offline mail, and calendar access, with a starting price of $3. The other products listed here focus on documents or faxing, so they won’t replace Mailspring’s inbox.
Why do people say they’re leaving Mailspring?
The Reddit threads we read don’t establish a single common reason for leaving. They show some interest in lighter desktop software and Android FOSS apps, while another listing note says Mailspring’s free limits can make serious use a paid proposition. Treat these as individual concerns, not churn statistics.
Is there a free Mailspring alternative in this list?
Several listed products have free plans, including Word for the web, Smallpdf, iLovePDF, and FAX.PLUS. But they are document or fax tools, not email replacements. Fastmail is the direct email alternative listed, and its published entry gives a starting price of $3.