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Jason Ginsberg / 2.15.2023Home / Email Security
How to choose an Android email client—honest reviews of six popular apps
Looking for an Android email client that will help you stay productive on the go? Learn how to find the best option and check out our reviews of popular apps.
If you often take your business outside of the office, you need a robust mobile email client to stay on top of your work and conversations. The right app should provide a pleasant user experience while ensuring complete safety and privacy.Finding the best Android email client involves extensive research and comparison, so this guide will give you a few helpful shortcuts. We will show you what to look for when browsing email apps and review some widely-used options to help you find the most comprehensive one.
There’s a high chance your Android phone comes with Gmail pre-installed, as the OS was developed by Google. Sticking to it might be the simplest solution, but the client suffers from a few issues damaging your privacy and user experience.
Source: Edison MailEdison Mail is a universal client offering numerous handy features that can boost your productivity and shorten the time you spend emailing. It offers a pleasant user experience supported by AI, but the privacy and security features could use some improvement.
Source: SpikeSpike takes an innovative approach to emails and offers a unique way to collaborate. Spike’s practices might take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, the platform can significantly boost your productivity and even add some fun to emailing.
Source: Aqua MailAqua Mail is a feature-rich email client with plenty of customization options. It also offers better security and privacy than most third-party solutions, though it prioritizes paid users in this regard.
Source: Proton MailProton Mail is a privacy-first email service that has amassed a wide user base thanks to its stringent security measures. It’s a good option if you send lots of private information via email, but its usability is somewhat limited unless you’re willing to invest in a paid version.
Source: Skiff MailSkiff Mail is a comprehensive E2EE email solution using advanced encryption protocols to give users full ownership and control of their data. It combines airtight security with a beautifully-designed interface to help users stay organized and safe online.
Secure your emails with Skiff MailSkiff Mail's Android app offers end-to-end encryption, providing the ultimate security standard
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Factors to consider when choosing an email client for Android
No email client is universally better than others—the best option for you will depend on:- Your needs and corresponding features
- Product’s user interface (UI)
- Privacy and security the email client provides
Know what you’re looking for
Your email client should seamlessly fit into your workflow, so think about the staple features you use daily. For instance, if you communicate with people from different time zones, email scheduling and snoozing can come in handy. If you must juggle several inboxes, you need rich organization and labeling features.It all comes down to your preferences, so make sure your email client can maximize your productivity. You should also consider add-on support and third-party integrations, as they can improve the overall experience and help you stay efficient.Seek a balance between form and function
A variety of features doesn’t matter much if they’re not intuitively structured to ensure ease of use. Each function should be laid out in a way that lets you perform it on autopilot without much thinking. Even if your email client has some advanced features, the interface should make them accessible to users of all skill levels.While the user interface isn’t only about the design, it doesn’t hurt to have an eye-pleasing platform. This is especially important if you spend considerable time emailing, in which case a well-designed interface can minimize eye fatigue and keep you productive.Make sure your email client can keep your correspondence safe
The only reason security is not the first factor on this list is that it depends more on your email service provider (ESP) than the client. Still, your app should be compatible with all the relevant security standards to keep your online conversations safe from prying eyes.This is especially important if you go with a third-party client instead of your ESP’s native option. Some platforms might log user data or even have access to your emails’ contents, so pay close attention to the app’s security measures and privacy policy.For maximum security, your provider and email client should offer end-to-end encryption (E2EE). It keeps your correspondence private by scrambling email contents so that nobody but the recipient with the decryption key can access them. Your emails are safe from third parties, attackers, and everyone but the person you intended them for—including the provider.Six leading email clients for Android reviewed
In the sea of Android email clients, a few options stand out:The popularity of these solutions doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone, so we’ll take a closer look at their benefits and shortcomings to help you make an informed choice.Gmail
Pros and cons
The main advantage of Gmail is that it’s well-optimized for Android devices, which makes sense as the same company owns both platforms. You shouldn’t experience any bugs or usability issues on an average Android phone, so you can get through your work smoothly.The app’s interface adds to the convenience by being clean and free of bloatware. It’s minimalistic and unobtrusive, and you can organize your mail using folders and labels to keep your inbox neat.Gmail’s search function is fast and thorough, so you can find threads, specific information, or attachments effortlessly. You can use various filters to narrow down your search and get the information you need quickly.You can use Gmail’s app with any email service, but using Google as your provider offers the most cohesive experience. The only problem is that the company is notorious for lenient privacy practices, so a Gmail account isn’t the best option for sending private emails and files.It also doesn’t offer E2EE but only client-side encryption with the highest-paid Enterprise and Education tiers. Individual users don’t have many options besides using S/MIME, an E2EE standard for which you must buy a certificate separately and configure it in Gmail. Google will store the encryption key on its servers, so you still don’t get full confidentiality.Another drawback is that the free version displays ads in your inbox, cluttering your workspace. The only way around it is to upgrade to a paid plan, which might not be an option for users on a budget.| Pros | Cons |
| Well-optimized for Android | No E2EE |
| Clean user interface | Major privacy concerns |
| Comprehensive search | Ads in inbox |
Edison Mail
Pros and cons
Edison Mail lets you aggregate all your email accounts and manage them more easily. It offers a focused inbox similar to Outlook’s, which singles out your most important mail, so it doesn’t go unnoticed.The app sports some useful organization features, including:- One-tap unsubscribing from newsletters
- Personalized snoozing that lets you set scheduling rules
- Customizable swipes with various actions
| Pros | Cons |
| Focused inbox | Phishing protection unavailable on Android |
| Various organization features | The platform stores user data |
| AI-powered assistance | . |
Spike
Pros and cons
At first glance, Spike looks similar to common third-party email clients. You can sign up with most email accounts, and you’ll enjoy an intuitive interface with basic email organization features. The feature setting the app apart from virtually all competitors is the so-called People Mode.When you enable it, your inbox will transform into a chat-like interface. It turns Spike into a messaging app with various collaboration tools, so it’s an amazing option if you regularly use email to work on projects.You can create and share to-do lists and notes that other members can edit. If you need to gather your team in one place, you can set up a group chat for streamlined communication.This conversational interface isn’t for everyone, so you can switch back to the traditional inbox if you don’t find it useful or natural.Spike offers a free plan, but it’s quite limited. You only get 1 GB of storage and can use one email address. This might not be enough even for an average user, so you’d have to subscribe to a paid plan starting at $5 per month.The platform uses AES-256 encryption for emails/messages, which is a solid standard offering excellent protection. It also supports OAuth for login, which means you don’t have to leave your password if you’re signing up with a supported provider.Like many third-party clients, Spike collects user data but doesn’t monetize it. The data is mainly used to enable full functionality, but this practice might still bother privacy-conscious users.| Pros | Cons |
| Optional chat-like interface | Limited free plan |
| Collaboration tools | Data collection |
| Intuitive user interface | . |
Aqua Mail
Pros and cons
The best thing about Aqua Mail is customization—the platform has over 300 settings you can use to adapt it to your needs and preferences. You can change everything, from details like fonts to the entire interface theme.Aqua Mail offers a rich text editor, so you can change the font, size, color, and various other components of your email content. There’s also a custom file picker that lets you change the attachment size to conserve storage.Another standout feature is Android Wear compatibility. The app will send email notifications to your watch, helping you stay updated while you’re away from your phone.Aqua Mail protects users’ privacy by not storing their email contents, passwords, and other sensitive data. OAuth2 login is available with four email services:- Gmail
- Yahoo
- Hotmail
- Yandex
| Pros | Cons |
| Plenty of customization options | E2EE is only available to paid users |
| Rich text editor | The free app has ads |
| Focus on user privacy | . |
Choose the provider that checks all the boxesSkiff Mail delivers a highly-rated email experience on Android, combining privacy and ease of use for a seamless workflow
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Proton Mail
Pros and cons
Proton is based in Switzerland, a country known for strict data protection laws. After the success of its VPN platform, Proton launched an email service offering strong E2EE and various additional safety measures.You can’t use it with another provider, which makes sense since the platform’s goal is to ensure complete protection of emails sent through it. It keeps your data safe using the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) standard, which is a double-edged sword. While it means you get more security than with any Big Tech option, it’s an outdated protocol suffering from considerable vulnerabilities.Proton Mail has a no-logs policy, so you don’t need to entrust them with any personal information. The only breach of this rule happened in 2021, when the company was ordered to obtain information on an activist involved in a criminal case. Proton complied, which put a dent in its otherwise stellar reputation.The mobile app is well-designed and stripped to the core features. You don’t get plenty of customization options, but this isn’t the platform’s focus anyway. What might bother some users is storage, as you only get 1 GB with a free account.Paid plans expand your storage and give you more email addresses, folders and labels, and other handy features. All tiers (free and paid) provide access to Proton’s other platforms (Drive, Calendar, and VPN), which you can use to create a cohesive workflow.| Pros | Cons |
| End-to-end encryption | The PGP encryption standard is outdated and flawed |
| No-logs policy | History of collaboration with the authorities |
| Clean user interface | Low free storage |
Skiff Mail
Pros and cons
Skiff relies on two types of keys to ensure nobody but the recipient can access your emails. The public key is used to encrypt your message and shared among users, while the private decryption key is safely stored on the user’s device. The platform doesn’t log user data or create/store keys, so your information and email contents are invisible to everyone—including Skiff.Besides E2EE, Skiff Mail offers numerous useful features available within the free plan. You get 10 GB of storage, which is more than most email services provide. You can also use the lightning-fast search function to find any information you need quickly.Skiff integrates with major crypto wallets to let users communicate anonymously on the internet:
The platform is open source, so the cryptography and UI libraries are available for review. Check out the whitepaper to learn more about how Skiff works and get a deeper insight into its security measures.By signing up for Skiff, you’ll get access to the entire end-to-end encrypted productivity suite that includes three platforms besides email:
- Skiff Pages for E2EE collaboration and file management
- Skiff Drive for secure storage of any file type
- Skiff Calendar for better organization and confidential event scheduling
| Pros | Cons |
| Advanced E2EE ensuring complete privacy | Can’t guarantee protection if a device is compromised |
| Robust free plan | . |
| Crypto integrations | . |
Use Skiff Mail for free and enjoy next-level security
Signing up for Skiff is easy and confidential—you don’t need to leave any personal information. You can get started in three steps:- Go to the signup page
- Choose your account name and password
- Explore Skiff Mail and other products
