Most iPhone users rely on the default Mail app, assuming it’s their only choice (or their best one).
Yet many find themselves frustrated with delayed Gmail notifications, limited customization, and basic features that feel stuck in 2015.
As a result, important messages get buried, productivity suffers, and email becomes a source of daily frustration rather than an efficient means of communication.
The good news is that you have options — like many options. We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to help you find the best application for iPhone, covering:
- Native & third-party alternatives
- Security and privacy considerations
- Productivity and collaboration features
- Pricing models and the real value they offer
- Authentic user experiences and reviews
Whether you’re a security-conscious professional, a collaboration-focused team member, or someone who simply wants their email to work better, there’s an app designed specifically for your needs.
Let’s dive in and explore.
Quick skim — Best email application for iPhone
Here is a quick overview section for you to review your options and select the best email application for iPhone in 2025, in case you are short on time:
| App | Best for | Price | Key strength |
| Apple Mail | Apple ecosystem users | Free | Native integration |
| Spark Mail | Teams and collaboration | Free/$4.99/month | Smart inbox and teamwork |
| Microsoft Outlook | Business professionals | Free | Calendar integration |
| Canary Mail | Security-focused users | Free/$35.99/year | End-to-end encryption |
| Airmail | Power users | $29.99/year | Deep customization |
| Superhuman | High-volume emailers | $25/month | Speed and efficiency |
| Edison Mail | Smart organization seekers | Free/$14.99/month | AI-powered sorting |
| Proton Mail | Privacy advocates | Free/$4.99/month | Swiss privacy protection |
| Hey Email | Email reimagination fans | $99/year | Complete workflow overhaul |
| Notion Mail | Gmail + Notion users | Free | AI-first organization |
1. Apple Mail
Apple’s native email client remains the go-to choice for millions of iPhone users, and recent updates have given it new life.
With iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence integration, the app now offers AI-powered email summaries, smart categorization, and writing tools that address many longstanding complaints.
The app excels where you’d expect it to (seamless integration with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac). Your email settings, signatures, and folders sync effortlessly across devices.
Plus, features like Mail Privacy Protection (which blocks tracking pixels) and S/MIME encryption support work without downloading additional apps.
For many, this remains the best email application for iPhone by far.
Key features
Apple Mail covers the basics while adding some surprisingly smart touches:
- Scheduled send and undo send
- Two-factor authentication support
- Mail Privacy Protection against tracking
- VIP Inbox for filtering important contacts
- Integration with Notes, Reminders, and Calendar
- AI-generated email summaries and priority detection
- Automatic categorization (Primary, Transactions, Updates, Promotions)
Pricing
Apple Mail comes free with every iPhone without subscriptions, premium tiers, or hidden costs. What you see is what you get, and that includes all the new AI features introduced with iOS 18.
Pros and cons of choosing Apple Mail
The native app brings both advantages and frustrations to the table:
| Pros | Cons |
| Completely free with no ads | Limited customization options |
| Perfect Apple ecosystem integration | Gmail push notification delays |
| Strong privacy and security features | Basic interface design |
| Regular updates with iOS releases | Attachment handling issues since iOS 18 |
| Works with all major email providers | Limited third-party integrations |
2. Spark Mail
Readdle’s Spark Mail positions itself as the collaboration-friendly alternative to Apple’s basic offering.
With Smart Inbox 2.0 and team-focused features, it’s designed for users who want their email to work smarter, not just harder.
The app’s standout feature remains its Smart Inbox, which automatically sorts your email into configurable categories like People, Notifications, and Newsletters.
However, some users find this organizational system more confusing than helpful in practice (the reality often doesn’t match the marketing promise).
Key features
Spark Mail packs productivity tools that go beyond basic email management:
- Snooze and send later functionality
- Custom swipe actions for rapid email triage
- AI writing assistant and email summarization
- Team collaboration tools and shared inboxes
- Smart Inbox with automatic email categorization
- Integration with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Trello
- Cross-platform sync (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch)
Pricing
Spark operates on a freemium model that offers substantial functionality without payment. The free version includes Smart Inbox, basic integrations, and core email features.
Premium plans start at $4.99 monthly (billed annually) for individuals, with team collaboration features requiring $7.99 monthly.
Pros and cons of choosing Spark Mail
Spark Mail delivers on productivity promises while raising some concerns:
| Pros | Cons |
| Robust free version available | Privacy concerns over server storage |
| Excellent collaboration features | Smart Inbox can feel impractical |
| Fast performance and modern design | Many features are locked behind a paywall |
| Strong third-party app integrations | No web version availability |
| Apple Editors’ Choice winner | Some Exchange compatibility issues |
3. Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft’s mobile Outlook app surprises many users with its sleek design and powerful features.
Far from the clunky desktop version many remember, the iPhone app balances simplicity with enterprise-grade functionality.
Outlook shines brightest for professionals already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
The app’s Focused Inbox intelligently separates important emails from promotional clutter, while integrated calendar features make it a compelling all-in-one solution for busy professionals.
Key features
Outlook brings enterprise functionality to your pocket:
- Customizable swipe gestures
- Microsoft Copilot Pro integration
- Microsoft 365 and OneDrive integration
- Focused Inbox for smart email prioritization
- Integrated calendar with meeting scheduling
- AI-powered search and email summarization
- Support for multiple account types (except POP3)
Pricing
The basic Outlook app is free to download.
Storage capacity depends on your email provider (Outlook.com users get 15GB of mailbox storage).
Microsoft Copilot Pro features (AI writing and summarization) require a separate subscription starting at $20 monthly, though most users find the free version sufficient for daily needs.
Pros and cons of choosing Microsoft Outlook
Outlook delivers professional features with some trade-offs:
| Pros | Cons |
| Free with substantial features | Search functionality needs improvement |
| Excellent Microsoft ecosystem integration | Can feel cluttered with many features |
| Focused Inbox reduces email noise | Limited native iOS app integration |
| Strong calendar integration | Occasional reliability issues |
| Works well for business accounts | No POP3 account support |
4. Canary Mail
Canary Mail targets security-conscious professionals who refuse to compromise on privacy.
With end-to-end encryption and AI assistance, it attempts to bridge the gap between security and modern productivity features.
The app’s security credentials are impressive (PGP encryption, SecureSend for HIPAA compliance, and on-device credential storage when push notifications are disabled).
Yet it also incorporates modern conveniences like AI writing assistance and smart categorization that many encrypted email apps skip entirely.
Key features
Canary Mail combines security with productivity tools:
- Cross-platform availability
- Unified inbox for multiple accounts
- Natural language search capabilities
- Phishing and impersonation protection
- Smart categories for automatic email organization
- AI Copilot for writing assistance and email summaries
- End-to-end encryption (PGP) for secure communication
Pricing
Canary Mail offers a functional free tier with basic features.
The Pro version ($35.99 annually or $3 monthly) unlocks advanced AI features, encryption capabilities, and enhanced customization options. A lifetime purchase option is also available.
Pros and cons of choosing Canary Mail
Your security needs determine whether Canary’s trade-offs make sense:
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong end-to-end encryption | Encryption is only available in the paid plan |
| AI features without compromising privacy | Can be buggy with sync issues |
| Clean, modern interface design | Poor non-English translations |
| No ads or data mining | Keyboard navigation needs improvement |
| Wide email provider support | Share actions are poorly placed |
5. Airmail
Airmail positions itself as the power user’s dream, offering deep customization and workflow automation that makes Apple Mail look like a toy.
With its Apple Design Award credentials and custom actions system, it promises to transform email from a chore into an efficient productivity engine.
The app’s strength lies in its extensive integration capabilities. That’s one of the reasons why many users consider Airmail as the best email application for iPhone.
You can connect virtually any productivity app (from Todoist to Trello to OmniFocus) and create custom actions that automate repetitive tasks.
So if you need to forward receipts to your accountant while archiving the original and adding a task to follow up, Airmail can do that with a single tap (once you set it up correctly).
Key features
Airmail packs serious productivity tools for users who want complete control:
- Privacy mode with local data processing
- Customizable themes and interface options
- AppleScript support for advanced automation
- Deep integration with dozens of productivity apps
- Rules for automatic email handling across devices
- Custom actions that combine multiple email operations
- Cross-platform sync via iCloud (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch)
Pricing
Airmail follows a subscription model at $29.99 annually or $9.99 monthly.
The pricing covers all platforms, so your iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps are included in one subscription. They also offer occasional lifetime purchase options during promotional periods.
Pros and cons of choosing Airmail
Airmail delivers advanced features while struggling with execution:
| Pros | Cons |
| Unmatched customization and automation | Frequent bugs and sync issues |
| Extensive third-party app integrations | Poor customer support response |
| Apple Design Award-winning interface | Complex setup process |
| Cross-platform iCloud sync | Performance lag with large mailboxes |
| Lifetime purchase options available | Features can feel overwhelming |
6. Superhuman
Superhuman occupies the premium end of the email client spectrum, targeting high-volume users who treat email as a core business tool.
With its $30 monthly price tag, it promises the fastest, most efficient email experience available — if you can justify the cost.
The app’s philosophy centers on speed and keyboard-driven workflow.
Every interaction is optimized for rapid processing, from lightning-fast search to AI-powered email summaries that help you skim through hundreds of messages quickly.
The Split Inbox feature organizes emails by team or project, making it easier to maintain context switching (something crucial for executives juggling multiple priorities).
Key features
Superhuman focuses on speed and efficiency above all else:
- Keyboard shortcuts for every action
- Read receipts and follow-up reminders
- Custom email automation and templates
- Split Inbox for organizing by team or project
- Collaborative email sharing and commenting
- AI-powered email summarization and search
- Integration with Google and Microsoft accounts only
Pricing
Superhuman costs $25 per user monthly for individual accounts, with business plans starting at $33 monthly. There are no free tiers or annual discounts (the pricing reflects their positioning as a premium professional tool).
Pros and cons of choosing Superhuman
Superhuman delivers on speed promises while limiting flexibility:
| Pros | Cons |
| Exceptionally fast email processing | Expensive monthly subscription |
| AI features that actually improve workflow | Limited to Gmail and Outlook only |
| Keyboard-driven efficiency | No unified inbox for multiple accounts |
| Clean, distraction-free interface | Steep learning curve |
| Strong collaboration features | No free version available |
Edison Mail (formerly EasilyDo) markets itself as the smart email assistant that actually understands your needs.
With an AI-powered organization and consumer-focused features like price tracking, it targets users who want their inbox to work smarter without sacrificing simplicity.
The app’s intelligence shines in practical ways.
It automatically extracts travel itineraries from confirmation emails, tracks package deliveries, and even monitors price changes on recent purchases (offering to draft refund requests when prices drop).
For frequent travelers and online shoppers, these features eliminate the mental overhead of manually tracking multiple services.
Key features
Edison Mail combines smart organization with consumer-friendly automation:
- AI-powered email categorization and search
- Price alert system with refund request drafts
- Automatic travel itinerary and package tracking
- One-tap unsubscribe and bulk email management
- Focused Inbox for important vs. promotional emails
- Integration with Amazon and Walmart for order details
- Cross-platform availability (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows)
Pricing
Edison Mail offers a robust free version with most features included.
Edison Mail+ premium subscription costs $14.99 monthly or $100 annually, which is expensive compared to alternatives but includes advanced AI features and priority support.
Pros and cons of choosing Edison Mail
Edison Mail delivers practical intelligence with privacy concerns:
| Pros | Cons |
| Free version includes substantial features | Privacy policy allows data sharing |
| Smart consumer features (travel, shopping) | A premium subscription is expensive |
| Clean interface reminiscent of Apple Mail | Search functionality can be unreliable |
| Excellent email categorization | Company stores email on their servers |
| Cross-platform compatibility | Service discontinuation concerns |
8. Proton Mail
Proton Mail stands alone as the privacy-first email solution, developed by CERN scientists under Swiss privacy law.
Rather than competing on features, it prioritizes security and data protection above all else (making it perfect for users who value privacy over convenience).
The app’s security credentials are unmatched among mainstream clients. End-to-end encryption comes standard, even in the free tier.
Messages to other Proton users encrypt automatically, while emails to external recipients can be password-protected and set to expire after specific timeframes.
The trade-off is that you sacrifice many productivity features found in other clients.
Key features
Proton Mail focuses entirely on security and privacy:
- No tracking, ads, or data collection
- Message expiration and auto-deletion
- Open-source codebase for security auditing
- Encrypted contacts and calendar integration
- End-to-end encryption for all communications
- Password-protected messages to external recipients
- Zero-access encryption (Proton can’t read your emails)
Pricing
Proton Mail offers a generous free tier with 1GB storage and 150 messages daily. Paid plans start at $4.99 monthly for ProtonMail Plus, including 15GB storage, custom domains, and advanced security features.
Pros and cons of choosing Proton Mail
Proton Mail delivers uncompromising security with feature limitations:
| Pros | Cons |
| Strongest security and privacy protection | Limited productivity features |
| Free tier includes encryption | Basic interface and customization |
| Swiss privacy law protection | Requires Proton Bridge for third-party clients |
| No ads or data collection | Limited third-party integrations |
| Open-source transparency | Exclusive to the Proton email service |
9. Hey Email
Hey Email represents a radical reimagining of how email should work, developed by the Basecamp team.
Rather than improving existing email paradigms, Hey forces you to completely rethink your relationship with your inbox (starting with a custom @hey.com address and a mandatory annual subscription).
The app’s core philosophy revolves around giving you complete control over who reaches your inbox.
The Screener feature means every new sender must be explicitly approved before their messages appear. Your email gets sorted into three distinct areas:
- Imbox (important mail)
- The Feed (newsletters)
- Paper Trail (receipts and notifications)
It’s an email, but reinvented from scratch.
Key features
Hey Email rebuilds email from the ground up:
- Built-in calendar and scheduling features
- Custom @hey.com email address required
- Three-inbox system (Imbox, Feed, Paper Trail)
- A screener system that blocks unknown senders by default
- Set Aside collections for email organization
- Offline email composition and scheduling
- Complete privacy focus with no tracking
Pricing
Hey Email costs $99 annually with no monthly option or free tier. You must use their email service (forwarding from your existing address is supported, but Hey becomes your primary email provider).
Pros and cons of choosing Hey Email
Hey Email offers a complete email philosophy shift with significant commitments required:
| Pros | Cons |
| Complete inbox control and organization | An expensive annual subscription only |
| Privacy-first design with no tracking | Must adopt a new email address |
| Innovative three-inbox system | No third-party integrations available |
| Built-in calendar and scheduling | Requires learning a completely new workflow |
| Email forwarding continues after cancellation | Limited to Hey’s ecosystem only |
10. Notion Mail
Notion Mail represents the newest approach to email management, positioning itself as an AI-first client that integrates seamlessly with the popular Notion workspace platform.
Designed specifically for Gmail users, it attempts to bring the organizational power of Notion databases to email management.
The app’s standout feature is its ability to create custom email views that work like Notion database filters.
You can organize emails by sender, topic, label, or domain, creating focused workspaces for different projects or responsibilities.
The AI autopilot learns your preferences and automatically categorizes incoming messages (reducing manual sorting work).
Key features
Notion Mail brings database-style organization to email:
- Gmail-exclusive compatibility
- Seamless Notion workspace integration
- Integrated calendar for unified scheduling
- AI-powered email summarization and drafting
- AI autopilot for automatic email categorization
- Custom views similar to Notion database filters
- Custom email templates (Snippets) for quick responses
Pricing
Notion Mail offers a comprehensive free tier with most features included. Advanced AI features may require the Notion AI add-on, though core functionality remains free for most users.
Pros and cons of choosing Notion Mail
Notion Mail innovates email organization while limiting account compatibility:
| Pros | Cons |
| Free with comprehensive features | Gmail accounts only |
| Innovative AI-driven organization | No unified inbox for multiple accounts |
| Deep Notion workspace integration | Learning curve for non-Notion users |
| Custom filtering and view creation | Still relatively new with potential bugs |
| Strong security and privacy compliance | Limited third-party integrations |
Which email app should you choose?
Your biggest email frustration should guide your choice (not marketing promises or feature lists).
- Security concerns
Proton Mail offers maximum privacy protection, while Canary Mail combines encryption with modern features.
- Business needs
Microsoft Outlook excels for Microsoft ecosystem users. Superhuman works for high-volume email if cost isn’t an issue.
- Team collaboration
Spark Mail provides shared inboxes and commenting (despite privacy trade-offs).
- Power user requirements
Airmail delivers deep customization and automation (though setup can be complex).
- Smart organization
Edison Mail offers AI-powered sorting without subscriptions. Notion Mail works perfectly for Gmail + Notion users.
- Complete email reimagination
Hey Email transforms your entire workflow (but requires commitment and cost).
- Simple reliability
Apple Mail remains solid for most users, especially with iOS 18 improvements.
You can always switch. Email apps sync your existing accounts, so experimenting costs nothing but time. Download two options, use each for a week, and then commit to what actually improves your daily email experience.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some commonly asked questions on this topic:
Yes, you can install multiple email apps and even set a different one as your default. Go to Settings > Apps > [Email App] > Default Mail App to change your default choice.
Most third-party apps store some email data on their servers to provide features like push notifications and AI assistance. Apps like Proton Mail and Canary Mail offer on-device processing options for better privacy.
No. Email apps connect to your existing email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, etc.) and sync your messages. Your emails remain on the original servers regardless of which app you use.
Free apps like Apple Mail, Spark, and Outlook are generally safe. However, some free apps may use your data for advertising or market research (like Edison Mail). Check privacy policies before deciding.
Spark, Canary Mail, and Notion Mail work excellently with Gmail. Apple Mail works, but may have delayed notifications due to Gmail’s push notification limitations.
Yes. Apple Mail (iOS 16+), Spark, Outlook, Airmail, and most third-party apps support scheduled sending. Hey Email and Superhuman also offer advanced scheduling features.
Email apps with frequent sync and push notifications can impact battery life. You can reduce battery usage by adjusting sync frequency or disabling push notifications for less important accounts.
