eM Client vs MailMate
These two desktop mail programs solve different problems. eM Client, from Czechia, runs on Windows and macOS and lets you either rent it yearly or buy a one-time licence, with a free tier of two accounts. MailMate, from Copenhagen, is a macOS-only IMAP client that costs $10 every 3 months and keeps working in a marked Free Mode when you stop paying. Pick eM Client for platform range and a purchase option, and MailMate for keyboard control, Markdown writing and deep search on a Mac.
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Choose eM Client ifyou run Windows alone or beside a Mac, or you want the option of paying once instead of renting. You also want inbox tools such as Snooze and an optional AI add-on in the same program.
Choose MailMate ifyou work only on a Mac, use IMAP accounts and prefer driving your mail from the keyboard. You like writing in Markdown and building smart mailboxes from search conditions.
eM Client and MailMate side by side
| eM Client | MailMate | |
|---|---|---|
| Our email client software rank | #1 of 15 | #2 of 15 |
| Established in | Czechia | Denmark |
| List price, 10 November 2026 | EUR 0 for 2 accounts at home; Personal EUR 49.95 a year (3 devices) or EUR 74.95 once; Business EUR 59.95 a year or EUR 89.95 once per device | $10 every 3 months for paid mode, local currency plus VAT where required; Free Mode afterwards |
| Free tier | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Individuals and small offices wanting one desktop program with a perpetual-licence option | Mac users who live on the keyboard and want Markdown mail and deep search |
| Not for | People on Linux, since only Windows and macOS builds are listed | Anyone needing Windows, a phone app or non-IMAP accounts |
Both are reviewed in full in our email client software ranking: eM Client and MailMate.
Where they differ
eM Client 3 · MailMate 2 · open 1- 01
Which operating systems get a download
eM Client is listed for Windows and macOS, with free Android and iOS apps on the pages we read. MailMate is a download for macOS 10.12 and later, and the vendor site lists no Windows or phone version. A buyer who has even one Windows machine, or wants a phone app from the same vendor, is served only by eM Client. A pure Mac shop loses nothing by choosing MailMate on this count.
Edge: eM Client
- 02
Rent it yearly or buy it once
eM Client Personal costs EUR 49.95 per year for up to 3 devices, or a one-time EUR 74.95, and the one-time licence covers only the current major version. MailMate sells one paid mode, $10 every 3 months, plus any VAT. The pricing page lists no purchase option, so the charge continues for as long as you want paid mode. eM Client gives the choice between renting and buying, which suits people who dislike subscriptions.
Edge: eM Client
- 03
What you keep when you stop paying
MailMate drops into Free Mode when a subscription ends, and the vendor says this mode keeps access to all features. The page also says businesses must use paid mode, while non-profit use does not require it. eM Client's free tier is narrower: one device for home use, 2 email accounts, calendar, contacts and tasks, community forum support only. MailMate leaves more intact for a private user who lets the subscription lapse, though outgoing mail then carries a header stating the mode.
Edge: MailMate
- 04
Snooze, AI helpers and Markdown
eM Client lists eight AI features, among them Reply with AI, AI Summarize and natural language search, and you can connect your own AI provider. It also offers Inbox Categories, Snooze, Pin and Watch for replies. The AI add-on comes with the yearly plans, not the one-time licence. MailMate's pitch is different: extensive keyboard control and Markdown-integrated composing. Choose by whether you want assistants and inbox sorting or a writing style built around the keyboard.
Depends on the buyer
- 05
Search conditions, smart mailboxes and signing
MailMate builds smart mailboxes from advanced search conditions and signs and encrypts with OpenPGP and S/MIME. The pages we read give no numeric limits for any of it. eM Client lists message encryption and translation as included, without naming the standards anywhere in the text. For people whose daily work is finding old threads and proving who sent a message, MailMate states more detail on exactly those two things, so it gets the round.
Edge: MailMate
- 06
Business use and sales contact
eM Client Business costs EUR 59.95 per year per device, or a one-time EUR 89.95 per device. It includes a commercial licence, volume discounts (percentages not stated), a licence manager and VIP support, and business buyers are pointed to sales@emclient.com. Personal and Business each include a 30-day free trial, backed by a refund window of the same length. MailMate also expects businesses to hold a paid key, but its page lists no licence manager or discount scheme. For a firm with several seats, eM Client describes the more complete route.
Edge: eM Client
When neither fits
If you need a free, open-source client that is not tied to one vendor's subscription, neither fits well, and Mozilla Thunderbird is the obvious alternative to look at. Mac users who want a native client built around Gmail may also look at Mimestream.
eM Client or MailMate: questions
3 answersDoes MailMate stop working if I do not renew?
No. MailMate then falls into Free Mode, which keeps all features. Outgoing mail then carries a header marking that mode, and businesses are told to stay on paid mode.
Is the eM Client one-time licence good forever?
It covers the current major version only. Later versions need a Lifetime Upgrades purchase. The yearly plans include the AI add-on, and the one-time licences leave it out.
Can I run eM Client with more than two accounts for free?
No. The free tier allows two email accounts on one device for home use. Unlimited accounts start with the Personal plan, which is for individual use, and business use needs the Business plan.
Sources
Checked 10 November 2026- eM Client pricing page: the EUR amounts for Personal and Business, the free tier limits, trial and money-back terms.
- eM Client home page: the eight AI features, Snooze and Pin, and the Windows, macOS and mobile apps.
- MailMate pricing page: the $10 every 3 months rate, Free Mode behaviour and the business paid-mode rule.
- MailMate home page: macOS 10.12 download, Markdown composing, OpenPGP and S/MIME, smart mailboxes.