MailspringLinux
vs
Windows Live MailWindows
Mailspring as a Linux alternative to Windows Live Mail
Updated
Our verdict
Mailspring can replace Windows Live Mail for users who need a modern, fast desktop client with unified inbox, snooze, and send‑later features. It supports IMAP/POP3, multiple accounts, and a local address book, but it lacks native RSS, Usenet, and calendar integration. It is best suited for people who mainly read and send email and are willing to use an external calendar or RSS reader.
Feature parity
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.26.2 (October 22, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports IMAP and POP3 email protocols
- Allows multiple account management
- Provides an address book/contact list
- Has a unified inbox view
- Includes email rules and templates
What is different
- No built‑in RSS feed reader
- No Usenet newsreader support
- No calendar or event management
- Does not import Windows Live Mail data directly
- Requires separate tools for calendar and RSS
Opening your Windows Live Mail files
Mailspring does not provide a built‑in importer for Windows Live Mail’s proprietary PST or MBOX files. Users must export emails from Windows Live Mail to a standard format such as MBOX or EML and then import them into Mailspring via the client’s import function or by placing the files in the appropriate mail directory.
Switching from Windows Live Mail to Mailspring, step by step
- Export all Windows Live Mail accounts to MBOX or EML files using the built‑in export feature.
- Install Mailspring from Flathub or the official repository.
- Open Mailspring and add each email account using IMAP/POP3 credentials.
- Use the import function to load the exported MBOX/EML files into the corresponding account folders.
- Verify that contacts are present; if not, export the address book from Windows Live Mail and import it into Mailspring’s contacts.
- Configure any desired rules, templates, or snooze settings in Mailspring.
- faq
Key features of Mailspring
- C++ sync engine based on Mailcore2
- Unified Inbox for multiple accounts
- Snooze and Send Later functionality
- Mail Rules and Templates
- Local-first architecture (no cloud credentials)
- Low RAM and CPU usage
- Mailspring Pro adds link tracking and analytics
How to install Mailspring on Linux
Flatpak (Flathub)
flatpak install flathub com.getmailspring.Mailspring5 other alternatives to Windows Live Mail
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