eM Client acquires Postbox and ends its development

The Postbox e mail app for Home windows and macOS has been acquired by eM Consumer. Sadly, this additionally spells the top of Postbox.

It’s a unhealthy week for apps, first Syncthing for Android was discontinued, and now Postbox is useless. Postbox was launched in 2008, and was primarily based on Mozilla’s Thunderbird. You may learn Martin’s assessment of the app right here.

(Picture courtesy: eM Consumer)

Postbox acquired by eM Consumer

eM Consumer is predicated within the Czech Republic. The main points in regards to the acquisition haven’t been disclosed, however the firm has introduced that Postbox will not be offered or developed, and help for the app will probably be obtainable till December 22, 2024. The Assist Heart will probably be round for yet one more yr, till December 22, 2025. Customers can proceed utilizing Postbox so long as it’s appropriate along with your working system. Effectively, not less than they don’t seem to be killing the app instantly.

Refund requests for latest purchases should be submitted by November 22, 2024. eM Consumer is providing some reductions for Postbox customers who’re switching to its e mail app. The same announcement on Postbox’s web site goes into extra particulars in regards to the presents. Customers who had bought Postbox on or after September twenty second, 2024, are eligible for a 100% off low cost, on a one-time buy or first yr of subscription to eM Consumer. All different Postbox clients can declare a 50% off low cost for his or her buy.

I like to recommend studying the eM Consumer Acquisition FAQ to be taught extra about your choices for a refund. The Migration FAQ will probably be useful in case you’re switching to eM Consumer.

An FAQ web page says that Postbox was offered to eM Consumer to supply extra superior options for customers, and since the corporate has a bigger growth staff, and so forth. That is PR speak. See, that is usually an issue with software program that provide lifetime licenses, comparable to how Postbox did. The corporate used to promote annual subscriptions, however determined to discontinue the choices in 2020, to solely deal with lifetime licenses. I do not suppose this was a wise factor to do, from a enterprise’ perspective.

I bear in mind when Malwarebytes switched to a subscription mannequin and there was an uproar, however given its giant user-base, I believe the corporate couldn’t have sustained with a lifetime licensing mannequin. That mentioned, eM Consumer does have an possibility for a lifetime license, if that pursuits you, and you’ve got $50 to spare. The e-mail software program is accessible for Home windows, macOS, iOS and Android. It doesn’t have a Linux model, and the app will not be open supply. eM Consumer’s free model for desktops solely helps two e mail accounts for private use. The premium model has many further options, however I will go away it to you to determine whether it is price utilizing.

What are some options to eM Consumer?

There are some good free options to eM Consumer. How in regards to the Mail app on Home windows? No, I am simply kidding. Do not use Microsoft’s Mail app, it is only a rubbish web-wrapper model of the Outlook web site, and you may’t block the advertisements.

Mozilla’s Thunderbird is nice for desktop customers on PC, Linux or Mac, because it presents good privateness, helps add-ons, and plenty of protocols together with Microsoft Change. Mailspring (a fork of Nylas Mail) can also be open supply, and the e-mail app is accessible for Home windows, Linux and macOS. You may skip making a Mailspring ID to make use of the app with out premium options comparable to learn receipts, snoozing, translation, and so forth.

Linux customers have much more e mail shoppers to select from there’s Geary, Claws Mail (additionally obtainable for Home windows), Evolution and KMail (Kontact by KDE).

Android customers might want to try FairEmail (Google Play, F-Droid) and K9 Mail (Google Play, F-Droid), the latter is present process some modifications that may flip it into Thunderbird for Android. iOS customers do not actually have a lot of a alternative in the case of privacy-friendly e mail shoppers, however, fortuitously, Apple Mail is a wonderful app that gives nice safety. Apple’s inventory Mail app can also be obtainable for macOS, and iPadOS customers. Proton Mail can also be an excellent possibility that you may contemplate, and it’s obtainable throughout all main platforms.

Which e mail app do you utilize?

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