LucaMail

A custom email client is never a bad idea to consider: this works especially well if you find yourself managing multiple addresses, where an all-encompassing client would shine. In short, the tool handles one's correspondence through more than just one avenue: users can add different addresses from a variety of providers, and manage them all under one interface.

Not a bad idea, right? That's why Thunderbird is so well-received: it handles just about anything email-related. If you're looking for a more pared-down, but still usable — and a bit more flashy in design — alternative, LucaMail is here to deliver.

Perhaps Thunderbird may confuse some users with its elaborate settings menus, and that's understandable. While more experienced users may appreciate the in-depth options offered in Thunderbird, more novice ones may find them an object of frustration.

LucaMail cuts to the chase by requiring the user to insert their email credentials, as well as its IMAP and SMTP addresses. After doing that, the program will automatically connect and show you your inbox, email folders, and other such things.

The main interface is quite pleasing to the eye: the app shows you the number of fetched and unread messages, as well as the starred correspondence, so that you can have an overview of the address you're currently managing.

As adding a new inbox requires its SMTP and IMAP addresses, the tool accepts virtually any email provider. If you're not sure of the respective addresses of popular providers, feel free to look them up. It worked as such in my case: imap.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com worked without a problem, and I was able to access my Gmail inbox in no time. However, it's worth noting that I had to enable the Allow Less Secure Apps setting in my Google account for the authentication to go through.

Users can interact with their emails, manage any attachments they receive, as well as reply to any new correspondence that comes their way. Switching between addresses is seamless. If you wish to save your emails, you can export them through the program as a .csv file.

Insofar as functionality is concerned, LucaMail delivers sufficiently to satisfy the more casual user. While an advanced user may find the program to be lacking in certain aspects, it's always a good thing to have something for everyone.