FEATURED APP
Astro (Free) Of all the free third-party email apps we've tested, Astro's the one we couldn't get out of our heads. Now that artificial intelligence has made its way into email, people are reconsidering their email workflows. Astro's AI works behind the scenes to understand my inbox and the app's chatbot offers a personal touch. Anyone who has used Slackbot will find the conversational exchange familiar. Astro's intelligence is woven deep into the app, and it still handles the basics with grace. Its many features include the ability to prioritize emails, snooze messages, schedule send times, and even receive reminders about important emails. We could all use a little help when it comes to managing our inbox, and Astro's friendly chatbot has proven to be up for the job. Keep in mind, however, that this app only works with Gmail and Office 365 though.
Spark (Free) Spark lives up to its reputation as one of the best email apps available. Although the app's Smart Inbox—which sorts emails into separate panes by people you know, mass mailing lists, and services— was a little confusing at first, once we tweaked it a bit, it gave us powerful control over what we could see from the main screen. The Quick Replies feature is a dream come true for those ping-pong email threads, and search is noticeably smarter than other email apps we've tried. Plus, no other app allows for the ability to hot-swap email signatures. Overall, Spark manages to maintain a clean look while offering features that place it in a class of its own.
BlueMail (Free) For those who enjoy being able to manage tasks within their email app, BlueMail has done an incredible job of integrating key productivity features. Swiping any email reveals a menu where you can add it to the Later checklist. Access to this list, along with the usual Inbox and Compose options, is available in the bar along the bottom of the screen. You'll also find the People Inbox here, which shows you who has contacted you most recently. Beyond its productivity-centric functionality, BlueMail's visual customizations definitely grab your attention. Switching to Dark Mode worked really well, highlighting the contact photo next to each email.
Inky (Free) Inky provides proof-of-sender email that guarantees confidentiality. Inky is also the only email app that integrates these security measures into existing accounts. Mail apps such as the very popular ProtonMail require users to create a new email address with them. Inky does require that users sign up for a secure account with them to manage security, but they don't require an entirely new address. Beyond security, Inky is fast and intuitive to use, with customizable inbox filters that are comfortable to create. Sending emails with a verified signature isn't a need for everyone, but for users seeking high security on existing accounts, Inky is the king of cryptography.
Chuck (Free) The Chuck approach is rather aggressive when it comes to clearing out the junk in your email and focusing on what's important. In our experience, Inbox Zero fans appreciate such aggression. Chuck allows sorting by sender, subject, or time period, and can also filter emails to allow for only messages from contacts to appear. One-handed functionality is a strength for Chuck, as you can even change the traditional view from lines to rows of boxes. Bulk-action deleting, snoozing, and sorting happen so easily that it's almost alarming. However, this kind of firepower will be absolutely rewarding for anyone ready to wage war on their inbox.