Mozilla Thunderbird

If you’ve ever set up email manually, you’ve probably heard of Mozilla Thunderbird. Maybe just in passing. Or maybe you even used it about ten years ago – and then forgot about it like you forget an old notebook. But here’s the thing: Thunderbird didn’t disappear. It stayed, improved and became much more convenient.

What is it?

In simple words, Thunderbird is a free and open source email program. It works on Windows, macOS and Linux. It doesn’t require subscriptions, doesn’t show ads, and doesn’t try to force anything on you.

It was made by the same guys who made the Firefox browser. The program does exactly what it should: receives and sends e-mails, configures via POP3 or IMAP, gives access to the archive of messages. Everything is simple and clear.

On the plus side, there is support for multiple crates. Without any configuration dances or hidden traps.

What’s good about it?

This is where it gets interesting. Thunderbird is not just “mail”. It’s a flexible tool that can be customized. Almost every element can be tweaked:

• Email filtering works great, including spam (catches it as well as Gmail);
• There’s PGP encryption support if privacy is important to you;
• Calendar and tasks via Lightning – built in, no need to look for anything;
• Want dark mode? Please. And your own theme? You can do that too.

Add-ons: not just mail, but a whole suite of tools

The most interesting thing about Thunderbird is the add-ons. Need integration with Google Calendar? You got it. Want automatic encryption? You’re welcome. Ever dreamed of browser-like tabs in your emails? It’s already built in, but you can experiment here too.

Popular add-ons:

• Enigmail – for encrypting emails;
• Quicktext – templates for emails (very handy);
• Thunderbird Conversations – allows you to make correspondence more visual, like in Gmail.

Are there any minuses?

Sometimes Thunderbird:

• Doesn’t start right away (especially with lots of boxes);
• May require a bit more manual customization than Outlook or Mail on Mac;
• Some extensions aren’t updated as quickly.

But in general: the program doesn’t crash for nothing. It doesn’t block you without explanation. And it doesn’t spy on you to sell your data. That’s not bad, right?

Who’s it good for?

Thunderbird is good for those who:

• Tired of web mail and wants a normal desktop application;
• Corresponds a lot (including for work);
• Appreciates privacy and order in emails;
• Likes to customize himself how it will be convenient;

It’s a good option for freelancers, journalists, teachers, lawyers and just those who often sit in the mail but don’t want the program to get in the way.

Bottom line

Mozilla Thunderbird is not a fancy product. Not an advertisement at every turn. But it is a working tool that does its job. Quietly, steadily and without nerves. And sometimes that’s the most important thing.