Thunderbird for iOS

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Thunderbird is building a native iOS email app from scratch for iPhones.

The Thunderbird team is developing a native iOS email app, built from scratch with Swift and SwiftUI, rather than porting existing code. Key features include hassle-free setup with single-click login, reliable background sync that respects battery life, a clutter-free inbox, and a clean editor. The app is designed for growth with clean code and an experimental feature flag system for community contributions. A first version is expected for community testing within a few months, focusing on a seamless cross-device experience with Thunderbird Desktop and Android.

What commenters are saying

Many commenters are skeptical, citing Thunderbird's poor UX on existing platforms, especially its broken search (a 14-year-old bug where "wedding" matches "Wed" for Wednesday) and non-configurable thread handling. Some suggest alternatives like FairEmail, AquaMail, or K-9 Mail. Others question the app's unique selling point, noting Thunderbird's paid email service as a possible driver. A few commenters express excitement and request features like tag syncing and Proton support.