Free Alternatives To Microsoft Outlook

A look at the best free alternatives to Microsoft Outlook, featuring two awesome free browser based email clients.

In my humble opinion there is not superior product to Microsoft Outlook, it's possibly the best piece of desktop software that Microsoft produce - perhaps with the exception of their operating systems. It simply makes email easy, anybody who still uses a browser based email service doesn't know what they are missing out on.

The problem is, that you need to buy the whole Microsoft Office package to own it - and that's a major bummer, because anybody with their head screwed on knows that OpenOffice offers a word processor and spreadsheet which is equally as good and requires no financial outlay.

I have Microsoft Outlook 2010 installed on my desktop, that's where I do most of my business work, I save the laptop for cold weather or travel. Laptop + Duvet = more comfortable than PC + Glass Desk when the temperature is less than 5 degrees. Two years ago I would simply have coped outlook over to my laptop, or even downloaded a cracked copy from a torrent, but piracy detection is becoming more advanced and ISP's have begun to play ball. I don't want a criminal conviction for illegally downloading something costing less than $100.

Best Outlook Alternatives

So I was left with three legal choices, I could:

Continue to use browser based email on my laptop
Pay for Microsoft Office 2010 again
Find a decent alternative to Microsoft Outlook

I set out to try number 3, if that didn't work I would have gone with number 1. You will never see me pay twice for the same piece of software, that's like paying a penalty for being honest - I'd sooner accept the court challenge and present my receipts. Surprisingly, or at least surprisingly to me, there are some pretty good options out there for those looking for open source or freeware email clients; below are my two favorites.

Mozilla Thunderbird

I honestly had no idea that Mozilla offered a free email application, did you? It has all the usual awesome features such as an attachment reminder, account setup wizard, and a migration wizard; it also offers desktop web search from within the application! Mozilla Thunderbird is easy to download, easy to install, and easy to use. Just like their browser! The junk filter is highly effective, as is the phishing protection, the only thing missing is a calender. If it had the calender it would rival Outlook. There is a calender 'add-on' of sorts, but it isn't great.

Firefox and Thunderbird: Beyond Browsing and Email

There's a new browser in town: Firefox is quickly becoming a leading alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you are new to Firefox and want to see what all the buzz is a...

~~$34.99~~ $20.66

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Zimbra

The other great open source email application that I trialed is Zimbra. I had heard of Zimbra before, apparently it's used by other 70 million individuals and businesses. It really does offer everything that you could need plus more and it can integrate information from all of your online accounts, e.g. facebook, hotmail, digg, twitter, and yahoo. You can sync your contacts and your calender. Yep, this one has a great calender! It also has dozens of great free extensions which add functionality, and you can use Zimbra in both online and offline mode (as you can with Outlook and Thunderbird).

Zimbra Logo

Android App

LVSync for Zimbra

Only $3.99

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Which One Did I Choose?

I actually tried two other email programs too but didn't get along with them, I am now using both Thunderbird and Zimbra. I have two email accounts attached to each, I can check my hotmail emails on Thunderbird and my Gmail emails on Zimbra. No more messing around logging in to websites, things are bliss again when using the laptop in bed. I really like the ease of use of Thunderbird and the calender of Zimbra, so using both just made sense.

ryank, on 07/03/2012

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