Outlook
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy it if your organization already runs Microsoft 365 . Outlook is the default, deeply integrated client there.
New check
Comparison
Outlook vs Mailbird
Outlook and Mailbird both land on Depends.
Mailbird
Depends
Confidence: Low
Buy it only if you juggle several Gmail/IMAP accounts on Windows or Mac and want one paid desktop app.
| Compare | Outlook | Mailbird |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Microsoft 365 organizations | Multi-account Gmail/IMAP jugglers |
| Who it's not for | Privacy-sensitive users wanting minimal attack surface | Single-account users . free webmail already works |
| Privacy | Actively targeted: multiple critical RCE CVEs patched 2024-2026; fast patching and 2FA are mandatory.⁹ | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. |
| Support quality | Microsoft Q&A threads show unresolved complaints | No support evidence found. |
| Public sentiment | Long-time users praise its depth but many are furious about the forced New Outlook migration and recurring security incidents. | No independent Mailbird user quotes surfaced; forum threads on Outlook alternatives mostly recommend eM Client or Thunderbird instead. |
| Biggest gotcha | Classic Outlook is being retired; New Outlook drops features some workflows rely on.⁶ | Discount whiplash: Black Friday runs 80%+ off . rarely pay list price. |
Pick Outlook when
- Microsoft 365 organizations
- Exchange-server email shops
- Teams that need mail+calendar+contacts unified
- Add-in and signature ecosystems
When Outlook is not a fit
- Privacy-sensitive users wanting minimal attack surface
- Non-Microsoft shops facing forced New Outlook migration
- Buyers wanting one simple standalone email price
- Anyone unwilling to patch within days of CVEs
Pick Mailbird when
- Multi-account Gmail/IMAP jugglers
- Outlook and Thunderbird alternatives seekers
- Users displaced by Windows Mail app retirement
When Mailbird is not a fit
- Single-account users . free webmail already works
- Anyone happy with free Thunderbird or eM Client's home tier
- Mobile-first users . desktop only
- Teams needing shared inboxes or admin controls
Sources
review
- Outlook Mail Reviews - Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
review
- Microsoft Outlook Review - Flozicflozic.aireview
review
- Alternatives to the inferior New Outlook - Microsoft Learnlearn.microsoft.comofficial
- Compare Microsoft 365 Plans & Pricingmicrosoft.comofficial
- Outlook for Windows - Microsoft 365microsoft.comofficial
- CVE-2024-21413 RCE - Armisarmis.comsecurity
security
- CVE-2026-42893 - SentinelOnesentinelone.comsecurity
news
- Johns Hopkins Copilot for M365 in Outlook case studyit.johnshopkins.eduofficial
- Mailbird homepagegetmailbird.comofficial
- Best Email Client for Windows (2026)getmailbird.comofficial
- Best Email Client for Mac in 2026getmailbird.comofficial