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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Better options than

Mail alternatives

Users often seek alternatives to the Mail app due to issues like not receiving emails, problems with spam blocking, and difficulty with organization. Many look for more reliable email delivery, better spam filters, and more intuitive interfaces for managing their inboxes.

Why users look for alternatives to Mail

The alternatives

Microsoft Outlook
4.8★ · 9,055,624 ratings · Free

Microsoft Outlook is generally seen as a fluid and reliable email application that rarely crashes, making it suitable for consistent communication and access to other apps R52R61. Users appreciate its ease of use and understanding compared to other email sites . It offers strong mail sorting and calendar options, which are considered fantastic by some users .

Better for: Microsoft Outlook is better for users who need a stable, fluid email experience, especially for work or school, and who value integrated calendar functionality R52R61. It suits those who prefer an app that is easy to use and understand .

Head-to-head: Mail vs Microsoft Outlook
Google
4.6★ · 4,800,339 ratings · Free

The Google app is praised for its outstanding service and ability to help protect user accounts across various platforms R68R70. Many users find it amazing and friendly to use R72. It offers accessibility features like 'read aloud' for articles, which is highly valued by users R74.

Better for: Google is better for users who prioritize account protection and a wide range of integrated services R68. It suits those who appreciate accessibility features like 'read aloud' for content R74 and generally find the app user-friendly .

Head-to-head: Mail vs Google
Yahoo Mail
4.7★ · 4,725,289 ratings · Free

Yahoo Mail is a long-standing email platform that many users have found accommodating and reliable for decades R80R86. It is described as a great and amazing app by some users R89R92.

Better for: Yahoo Mail is better for long-term users who are accustomed to its interface and find it accommodating R80R86. It suits those looking for a straightforward email platform, though recent issues with freezing and ads are noted .

Head-to-head: Mail vs Yahoo Mail
Gmail
4.7★ · 2,421,479 ratings · Free

Gmail is considered a first-class email service that keeps users in touch with the world, being always accessible and accurate R94. Many users find it wildly more user-friendly than Apple's native Mail app, appreciating its clean, quick interface that makes finding emails easy R103R106.

Better for: Gmail is better for users who prioritize a highly accessible, accurate, and user-friendly email experience R94R106. It suits those who need a clean, quick interface for managing emails and prefer an alternative to Apple's native Mail app R106.

Head-to-head: Mail vs Gmail
Google Arts & Culture
4.7★ · 133,537 ratings · Free

Google Arts & Culture is a valuable resource for art fans, offering great detail and the ability to engage with topics R109. Some users find it to be a fine app and a good alternative to mindless scrolling, comparing it positively to platforms like Instagram for adults .

Better for: Google Arts & Culture is better for art enthusiasts and those interested in educational content about art and culture R109. It suits users looking for an engaging platform to explore art, though some find the AI features a turn-off R108R109R113.

Head-to-head: Mail vs Google Arts & Culture
Stick with Mail if

You should stick with the Mail app if you are one of the users who find it super good and have never experienced any issues, considering it your go-to mailing app .

Evidence note: Google Arts & Culture has some reviews indicating app errors, broken games, and issues with landscape mode, which might affect its overall utility for some users .

Frequently asked

Why do users switch from Mail to other email apps?
Users switch from Mail due to problems like not receiving emails, ineffective spam blocking, difficulties with organization, and general bugs or performance issues R3R10R12R19.
Does Mail have issues with spam filtering?
Yes, Mail has issues with spam filtering, with users reporting that blocking spam emails does not work and can even lead to more spam R12R31.
Is Mail difficult to use for organizing emails?
Mail can be difficult for organizing emails, as users report unclear categories, a non-functional search feature, and a general lack of user-friendliness R15R19R24.
Are there any cost concerns with the Mail app?
Yes, some users report cost concerns with the Mail app, specifically that they cannot receive emails without paying for storage and experience unexpected charges from Apple R43.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Mail 3/5 · US Mail is so far the worst app: I suddenly stop getting any emails I don’t know what happened I just stoped getting emails bus it is go so it gets 3 stars
  2. [R7] Mail 2/5 · US It doesn’t work for me: For some reason I don’t get anything even when I’m trying to sign in to websites it doesn’t It only sends me the thing from Apple send it
  3. [R10] Mail 1/5 · US Updating: Says updating for weeks yet does not update and will not download attachments. Does not send or deliver all emails
  4. [R16] Mail 1/5 · US Apple 17: Loss access to emails since I bought new iPhone 17. I had to load Gmail app so I could get emails.
  5. [R4] Mail 1/5 · US Junk junk and more junk: Could delete all emails, pure junk
  6. [R12] Mail 3/5 · US Ongoing Headache: I’ve yet to get my app to chime for new email. Which I guess is good because of all the stupid spam emails I get. Which comes to my next headache…this app will NOT block spam emails when you block them. It seems like the more I block the worse it gets. Frustrating. I’m about to stop using it. And there’s no help in sight.
  7. [R31] Mail 1/5 · US e-trickery and too ill to act on it: Emails go to another name. Scam Spam text messages daily, even with Apple updates. Phone calls Read Only invasive. Untrustworthy Siri.
  8. [R13] Mail 1/5 · US Unexpected changes: Why does my mail box keep changing? Now I am only allowed to see unread emails, can’t even see my inbox
  9. [R15] Mail 3/5 · US Not user friendly: Instructions needed to use and organize the Mail Box
  10. [R19] Mail 1/5 · US Categories Unclear: The ways the categories are set up, it’s very confusing to find read email that I need to return to, my sent email and to attachments.
  11. [R24] Mail 3/5 · US SEARCH DOES NOT WORK: Edit: search is still not working. I search for ‘survey’ and it locates emails with ‘form’. Not any better than not working at all like before. After last update, the search no longer works. I put in the name or word I am looking for on all my emails and nothing comes up.
  12. [R22] Mail 1/5 · US Hate the new outlook: Won’t load one of my accounts and won’t let me see mail in my saved folders.. so frustrating
  13. [R25] Mail 1/5 · US Hideous new system.: Congrats Tim Cook! I have been using Apple products since 1992. You and your young techies, and the decreasing quality of support have ruined Macs and my phone for me. I now officially hate Macs and am not fond of the way the company has gone. What a shame. And that newest phone update? Do you really think I have nothing better to do with my life than relearn every aspect, and
  14. [R34] Mail 1/5 · US Elephant in the room: My iPhone has an amazing set of security and privacy features. The inability to view email headers and security verification in the app is inexcusable to the point of this not being implemented would be SEEMINGLY INTENTIONAL. All these smart engineers and “whoops we forgot this very basic thing with the single most used app”, lol, yeah right. Further, the masking of the from
  15. [R46] Mail 1/5 · US Not safe: Hard to use I can’t change passwords
  16. [R43] Mail 1/5 · US U can’t get mail: If u don’t pay for storage u don’t get emails I don’t get that and when u do pay for it apple just charges your card randomly with all kinda of amounts and when u do get ahold of apple and talk to someone they just don’t know what ur talking about or if u don’t put ur debit card on iCloud u can’t even download games free games at that I don’t understand why apple need your card n
  17. [R52] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US Great responsive email app: The app happens to operate fluidly and no crashes.
  18. [R58] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US Microsoft for years: Never had an issue
  19. [R59] Microsoft Outlook 3/5 · US Review: I find the calendar a bit cumbersome and confusing when i am in a rush and the way emails are grouped makes it unclear what is most recent, and causes confusion looking for an email (latest) at times - On apple ipad
  20. [R61] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US School email address: This email system has been easily accessible for communication and access to the apps, I will continue to use this in the future as well
  21. [R68] Google 5/5 · US Deon Davon Podcast: Outstanding google help protect all accounts they have great services in every platform
  22. [R70] Google 5/5 · US Great Service: Attention to detail, professional and diagnosed the problem.
  23. [R72] Google 5/5 · US Amazing: Amazing app
  24. [R74] Google 5/5 · US Read aloud or listen now function issue: I love this app. I use this a lot. I appreciate the accessibility feature especially ones that are allowing you to listen to the article. However, we didn’t last two days. The toolbar is not reflecting that read aloud feature, which is kind of frustrating. I hope this is a update issue and it will be fixed soon because otherwise Apple will suffer a lot beca
  25. [R80] Yahoo Mail 5/5 · US Necessary: Very Accommodating
  26. [R86] Yahoo Mail 5/5 · US Yahoo Mail is Fabulous: I have been using Yahoo Mail for nearly 30 years, and it’s my favorite email platform to use.
  27. [R89] Yahoo Mail 5/5 · US A+: 5 *****
  28. [R92] Yahoo Mail 5/5 · US Great app: Amazing!
  29. [R94] Gmail 5/5 · US A review by James Mitchell: Gmail and Google are first class! Keeps you in touch with the world. Always accessible and accurate. POSITIVE YES!!
  30. [R103] Gmail 5/5 · US I love this this: The app is so useful for me to use when I want to email my teachers
  31. [R106] Gmail 5/5 · US Way better than native app.: Gmail is wildly more user-friendly than Apple’s native Mail app, which somehow manages to make checking an email feel like rummaging through a drawer full of mystery cords. Gmail is clean, quick, and actually makes it easy to find what I need without forcing me to remember whether a message arrived yesterday, three months ago, or during the Paleolithic era. Search work
  32. [R108] Google Arts & Culture 4/5 · US Good potential, but ditch the AI: This app has a lot of potential and I was really looking forward to using it as an alternative to mindless scrolling. Unfortunately Google is leaning into AI way too much, including having soulless AI-generated podcasts that “discuss” art. What an insult to humanity! I had to immediately uninstall.
  33. [R109] Google Arts & Culture 3/5 · US AI features are a miss: I think this app is a great resource in general for art fans. But these AI features being pushed upon the user base are a huge turn off. Why would a fan of visual art, likely an artist themselves, want to listen to an AI character podcasting about Starry Night? I think the AI audio stuff is downright useful in Notebook LM, but here? Just feels like a devaluing of human expr
  34. [R111] Google Arts & Culture 5/5 · US Art: 🎨
  35. [R113] Google Arts & Culture 1/5 · US ai everywhere: the fact there is a large ai box on everything is so annoying it obstructs the view and is just so frustrating. why does ai have to be literally everywhere i turn even when im trying to learn about art. at least make an option to make it go away

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store