The Best Email App for Android: Top 5

The right email client — one that helps you stay organized without being too complex — can be hard to find. 

Modern email tools offer some seriously powerful functionality, like smart spam filters, automatic inbox organization and data synchronization tools. However, increased complexity can also make for email clients that are temperamental or less user-friendly than they could be.

Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of email apps for Android — meaning that no matter what you need, or how much you want to spend, there’s an app that will help.

These five are some of the best email apps for Android.

1. Microsoft Outlook

For a proprietary app, Outlook for Android is surprisingly flexible, and will support Outlook accounts, as well as Gmail, Yahoo Mail and iCloud.

Like other big tech companies, Microsoft has outfitted its email app with smart features that will help you avoid spam and keep your inbox organized. 

Unlike the rest of Microsoft’s Office products, Outlook is also entirely free to download and use. 

2. Email Blue Mail

Blue Mail is one of the most popular independent email apps for Android. Billed by its creators as a “free, secure [and] universal email app,” Blue Mail is probably one of the best options for those looking for a simple and free email client that’s not Gmail or Outlook. 

Like other email apps, Blue Mail offers an easy-to-use interface, a Do Not Disturb mode and compatibility with Exchange’s ActiveSync features.

3. Gmail

The Gmail app, available by default on most Android devices, is popular — and not just because it comes pre-installed.

Gmail offers smart features like automatic inbox sorting, a sophisticated spam filter and integration with Google Suite tools like Google Docs and Sheets. 

The app gives you a decent level of control over how your inbox is sorted, allowing you to create custom rules that determine when an email should be moved out of your main inbox.

The app also supports multiple accounts and a variety of email providers. Despite being the default, it’s a well-rounded app that you may not need or want to replace.

4. ProtonMail

ProtonMail is something like the Signal of email clients — a highly secure app that offers end-to-end encryption of everything you send or hold on to. For those who want a little extra privacy, or just want to know that their emails are secure, ProtonMail is probably the best available choice for Android.

However, if you’re not all that concerned about email privacy or encryption, ProtonMail may feel a little less user-friendly. You may also notice the lack of some advanced features offered by other, more mainstream clients.

ProtonMail offers both paid and free versions of its client. ProtonMail’s Plus plan costs $5 a month (or around $48 a year) and provides you with a higher email sending limit and a short-form custom domain.

5. Newton Mail

Newton Mail is an expensive email app — with subscription that costs $50 a year — aimed at pro users. It comes with a range of unique features, like automatic inbox sorting, email read receipts, email scheduling and a snooze tool that lets you revisit an email later.

Like other paid email apps, you can try it for free. Newton offers a pared-down version with fewer features and options that should give you an idea of what the fully-fledged app will feel like.

Committing to Newton Mail, however, may not be the best idea right now. The app has struggled to find its audience, likely due in part to its price tag and the availability of free email clients with similar features. Early in 2020, the app’s developer almost halted production on Newton Mail. While the app’s user base came to the rescue, the future of Newton Mail is likely still uncertain. 

Choosing the Right Email Client for You

There’s a wide variety of email clients, paid and free, available for Android. Proprietary options, like Outlook and Gmail, are some of the most popular and well-rounded out there. If you’d prefer to use an app from a smaller company, free options — like Blue Mail — are also fairly powerful.

If you’re willing to spring for advanced features, opting for a more specialized client like ProtonMail or Newton may be worth the investment.