Five of the Best Email Apps on iPhone

[now i see it]

The apple Mail app that's part of iOS allows setting easy to read large text (in settings) and inline photos can be inserted between text when composing an email.
Some of these other email apps can't do that (Spark). Spark defaults to microscopic font size that can't be increased, and any attachments are dumped at the bottom of the msg.

But Spark allows you to attach a whole slew of images in one go. Just select them all and click attach. Huge improvement over the slow cludgey Apple Mail method.

Also Spark will alert you immediately when a new email arrives, whereas the Mail app takes its sweet time. Plenty of times I get an email arrive in Spark and the Apple Mail app shows nothing even when refreshing the inbox over and over again. Slow.

At first iPhone boot up, Apple Mail will alert to new emails, where Spark takes its sweet time.

Spark has a horrible search function. It can only search subject lines. Pretty much worthless. iOS Mail app can search content of emails. Huge plus.

I use both apps with the same email accounts because each has its strengths (and weaknesses).

 

[ATC]

Tried all of them: Been using postbox because that is what I use on my mac but EDISON on the Iphone is lightening fast... I mean really, really, fast. I add an email account and by the time I get to the main screen, my email is there.

+1
Also tried all the ones mentioned including Outlook and I have to agree, Edison was the one that pushed me over to replace the stock mail app.

 

[dogslobber]

Tried every app listed above, I have an obsession with mail apps.

Glad I'm not alone!

 

[zosokm]

I have tried all these email apps and I think outlook is by far the best email app. Spark is great but the font is too small.Apple mail would be great if they could just add a snooze function . Outlook has a clean interface and dynamic font sizing enabled . Spark has a few good features like inline editing of pdfs (using the pdf expert app).Apple mail also has this now with markup , enabling signing pdfs on the fly without opening in another app and then saving it.
I don't know why apple is taking so long to bring the snooze feature to its stock mail app

 

[TheAppleFairy]

I switched to outlook a while back and I love it. Side note the first thing I notice every time Dan does a video is his eyes. I love the color...FYI straight male here....just an observation, a platonic one.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Dan, I am surprised you like and recommend Edison.

From their privacy policy: "Any data we do collect is used for only three purposes: 1) to provide you with the best service possible, 2) to perform research on new features for our users, and 3) to create aggregate ecommerce trends.

Edison talks a good security game earlier in their statement and then in less than straight-forward language, they let you know what they are really about. Sound familiar? Think Google and Facebook.

Edited to add: If MR is going to suggest apps like these, the least they should do is alert the readers to the difference in security policies and use when using iOS or Mac, so that people will be better informed. No mention of the difference between PUSH or FETCH and how the email clients handle each.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

Dan, I am surprised you like and recommend Edison.

From their privacy policy: "Any data we do collect is used for only three purposes: 1) to provide you with the best service possible, 2) to perform research on new features for our users, and 3) to create aggregate ecommerce trends.

Edison talks a good security game earlier in their statement and then in less than straight-forward language, they let you know what they are really about. Sound familiar? Think Google and Facebook.

That's interesting, I wonder what data they actually collect though. I am downloading it now and will give it a try but I'd like to know what they collect. Dan says the UI is similar to Mail.app, which I like but I require Apple Watch support and gmail push.

 

[and 1989 others]

Never ever realised receiving and sending emails was so difficult. Most of them are crap anyway. The iPhone inbox is fine for me.

 

[Apple_Robert]

That's interesting, I wonder what data they actually collect though. I am downloading it now and will give it a try but I'd like to know what they collect. Dan says the UI is similar to Mail.app, which I like but I require Apple Watch support and gmail push.

From Edison: To keep our services free for you to use, we collect and store information from commercial messages such as promotions and receipts. We remove any information that identifies you personally (emails, names, addresses), and aggregate it into research about ecommerce trends for businesses that purchase our Trends product. We prohibit businesses from tracking or advertising to any users individually, and from using the information for any purpose other than understanding ecommerce trends. You can see and access examples of the aggregated research we develop at Edison Trends.

 

[Raist3001]

One of the best things of Edison Mail is that you can create new mailboxes to move your email to. Spark cannot do that.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

From Edison: To keep our services free for you to use, we collect and store information from commercial messages such as promotions and receipts. We remove any information that identifies you personally (emails, names, addresses), and aggregate it into research about ecommerce trends for businesses that purchase our Trends product. We prohibit businesses from tracking or advertising to any users individually, and from using the information for any purpose other than understanding ecommerce trends. You can see and access examples of the aggregated research we develop at Edison Trends.

Interesting i am not feeling confident that their systems filter out personal stuff that thoroughly.
[doublepost=1548980808][/doublepost]

Never ever realised receiving and sending emails was so difficult. Most of them are crap anyway. The iPhone inbox is fine for me.

Not sure anyone said it was difficult but there are features that some applications profile not to mention completely different UI’s that is a personal preference.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Interesting i am not feeling confident that their systems filter out personal stuff that thoroughly.

When you install and sign into Edison, they store your credentials on their server. They also store some of your email. Like Google, you have to opt out of data collection with them etc.

People need to do a little research first, before blindly installing apps, even if they are mentioned and or recommended on here.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

When you install and sign into Edison, they store your credentials on their server. They also store some of your email. Like Google, you have to opt out of data collection with them etc.

People need to do a little research first, before blindly installing apps, even if they are mentioned and or recommended on here.

Thanks, you are absolutely right.

At least if people know they can then make an informed decision.

 

[tbayrgs]

Spark is my favorite, followed by Outlook. I spend time on iOS and Android and since Spark still hasn’t been release for Android, I use Outlook there.

 

[logicstudiouser]

Wait, aren't most of these third party email apps plagued with privacy issues?

 

[dcpmark]

I will only use a mail app with read receipts…..I have no idea how people are willing to give up such a key feature. Not sure if it’s still available, but the Spark Beta has all the features of regular features and also does read receipts. If that feature ever disappears, I’m going straight to Polymail.

 

[e_stack]

I would refrain from recommending Airmail. In November 2018, the app suffered a "send" bug. (Emails would show up in the send folder, but they never actually sent.) The company never notified their users, except through an app update. They could have emailed their entire base notifying people of the problem. Instead, people like me, we're left to embarrassingly explain to colleagues why they weren't getting my emails. One week ago (January 2018), I snoozed about 20 emails to "next week" to have a zero inbox for the weekend. When I came to work on Monday, only 1/2 of them snoozed. The other 1/2 went missing entirely. The customer service agent has currently gone silent, offering no explanation to the problem. Again, I had to explain, embarrassingly, to my colleagues that something happened with my email client, asking them to resend. Airmail is not a client meant for professional users. Bugs like this raise serious concerns for the platform.

 

[Mi1lion]

I will only use a mail app with read receipts…..I have no idea how people are willing to give up such a key feature. Not sure if it’s still available, but the Spark Beta has all the features of regular features and also does read receipts. If that feature ever disappears, I’m going straight to Polymail.

Which Spark Beta? It looks like it was removed years ago.

 

[Zimmy68]

They should rename the article to 5 best email apps I’ll never use.

For me it’s the iOS mail, outlook and gmail.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I think Apple did a good job interfacing their built-in Email with Microsoft Exchange. For some reason, Apple and Microsoft seemed to have cooperated nicely on that integration.

I prefer to use Apple's built in mail versus a third party email application.

And yet like Apple all of these email apps STILL do not allow collapsible folders and sub folders!! Arrg.

Only Inbox, Sent and Deleted items seem to have any user priority fully removing the users wishes from them.

Oh and removal of an email header is NEVER a good idea!
[doublepost=1548983117][/doublepost]

They should rename the article to 5 best email apps I’ll never use.

For me it’s the iOS mail, outlook and gmail.

Agree on the first 2 not using gmail

 

[sergekills]

I used to love edison mail before they admitted they let their employees read peoples emails.

Wait, what???

 

[Defthand]

Dan, I am surprised you like and recommend Edison.

From their privacy policy: "Any data we do collect is used for only three purposes: 1) to provide you with the best service possible, 2) to perform research on new features for our users, and 3) to create aggregate ecommerce trends.

Edison talks a good security game earlier in their statement and then in less than straight-forward language, they let you know what they are really about. Sound familiar? Think Google and Facebook.

Edited to add: If MR is going to suggest apps like these, the least they should do is alert the readers to the difference in security policies and use when using iOS or Mac, so that people will be better informed. No mention of the difference between PUSH or FETCH and how the email clients handle each.

Surprised as well, considering the expectations and assumptions many readers have of Apple’s privacy claims (Reality check: It doesn’t exist beyond a handful of Apple apps). I don’t shy from data mining of my activities and browsing habits. However, I draw the line with email and messaging, as I sometimes use those for confidential and sensitive matters.

 

[Cashmonee]

Pretty sure any app that is getting you push email on Gmail accounts is actually storing your username and password and passing your email through their servers. This includes Outlook, which I use but trust far more than any of the ones listed. It is irresponsible for this article to not mention that all of the apps here do this.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Which Spark Beta? It looks like it was removed years ago.

2.1.6.b290

You can sign up for the beta online and download it.

 

[dcpmark]

Which Spark Beta? It looks like it was removed years ago.

I got it in August of 2018 after Newton shut down.....it’s called Early Access now:

https://helpspot.readdle.com/insight/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=22