Claws Mail als Linux-Alternative zu Thunderbird

Aktualisiert am 22. Oktober 2026

Unser Fazit

Claws Mail is a strong replacement for users who prioritize speed, keyboard control, and lightweight resource usage over graphical polish. It handles core IMAP/POP3 email, RSS, and Usenet well. However, it is not ideal for heavy calendar users or those needing built-in chat, as these require plugins or separate apps. If you want a fast, stable, text-centric workflow and do not mind configuring plugins, it is a solid choice. If you rely on Thunderbird’s integrated chat and rich calendar UI, you will feel a gap.

Funktionsabdeckung75%

Lizenz: GPL-3.0-only
Preis: Kostenlos
Aktuelle Version: 4.4.0 (9. März 2026)
Bewertung: —

Claws Mail installieren Website ↗

Screenshot von Claws Mail — The main window

Was gleich funktioniert

Free, open-source (GPL-3.0-only) email client
Supports IMAP, POP3, and Usenet protocols
Extensible via plugins for RSS and calendar
Supports multiple accounts and folder structures
Includes built-in spam filtering capabilities

Was anders ist

No built-in chat support (IRC/XMPP/Matrix) unlike Thunderbird
Calendar functionality is plugin-based and less integrated
Cannot compose HTML emails, only plain text
Uses MH mailbox format instead of Thunderbird’s internal storage
Interface is more keyboard-centric and less visually modern

Ihre Thunderbird-Dateien öffnen

Claws Mail supports importing emails from most other mail clients, including Thunderbird. You can typically import Thunderbird’s mbox files directly. For exporting, Claws Mail allows exporting messages to standard formats, making it easy to move data back to Thunderbird or other clients if needed.

Von Thunderbird zu Claws Mail wechseln – Schritt für Schritt

Install Claws Mail via your package manager or Flathub
Export your Thunderbird mailboxes as mbox files
In Claws Mail, use the import tool to select the mbox files
Configure your IMAP/POP3 accounts with existing credentials
Install required plugins for RSS or calendar if needed
Test sending and receiving to ensure settings are correct

Wichtige Funktionen von Claws Mail

MH-Mailbox-Speicherung für schnellen Zugriff
Tastaturzentrierte Bedienung mit voller Unterstützung für Shortcuts
Plugin-System für RSS, Kalender und zusätzliche Protokolle
Mehrere Konten und Ordnerbäume
Integrierte Spam-Filterung (SpamAssassin-Integration)
Nachrichten-Thread-Ansicht und leistungsstarke Suche
Unterstützung externer Editoren für die Erstellung von Klartext-E-Mails
Import/Export aus den meisten anderen Mail-Clients

Claws Mail unter Linux installieren

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub org.claws_mail.Claws-Mail

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install claws-mail

Debiansudo apt install claws-mail

Fedorasudo dnf install claws-mail

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S claws-mail

openSUSEsudo zypper install claws-mail

Häufige Fragen

Can I use Claws Mail for calendar events?

Yes, but you must install the calendar plugin. It is not as integrated or feature-rich as Thunderbird’s built-in calendar, so power users may prefer a dedicated calendar app.

Does Claws Mail support HTML email composition?

No. Claws Mail can read HTML emails via plugins, but it only composes plain-text messages. This is a design choice to keep the client lightweight and fast.

Is Claws Mail good for beginners?

It has a familiar interface, but its keyboard-centric design and plugin-based extras may have a steeper learning curve than Thunderbird for users who prefer click-heavy workflows.