These email platforms will make you forget Gmail even exists

We’ve all been there. You get a new cellular device or upgrade to a new version of Gmail, and honestly, things aren’t really working out. After all, sometimes people take a good thing and make it absolutely unbearable. While some mail clients are a lot more manageable via desktop — and users across the internet agree that the user experience Gmail provides isn’t always top-notch — Gmail can be particularly difficult to use if you’re a non-iPhone user. With such consistent updates, they’re bound to get it wrong a decent amount of the time.

Not only that, but you spend so much time in your inbox — especially during this remote work-driven time — that it’s important to get it right. Intuitive design, simple options, readability, key functions and amenities. Having the ability to easily adjust your email signoff, track and sort messages, and receive notifications in a way that allows for work/life balance are key features many people search for in an email client. Luckily enough, 5 pretty stellar options have been identified for Android users to replace Gmail if it doesn’t seem to be working out.

1. Microsoft Outlook

We are going to dive headfirst right into the deep end and name an email client with a more sturdy reputation as our first Gmail alternative. Yes, Microsoft is a brand as old as dinosaurs (1975) so you may not ultimately assume that it would be a superior alternative to one of the most popular web systems in the world. However, you might prove yourself wrong. The inbox and calendar design in Microsoft Outlook are clean and easy to use, and the interface scans emails to identify and add dates and events to your calendar.

But, honestly, the fact that a mobile version of Microsoft Outlook integrates so well with associated apps and products makes the remote work element seem less daunting. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and more are available online and offline so that you have everything you need, no matter where you are. And if you want to seamlessly integrate non-Microsoft apps like Zoom, there are easy (and free!) ways to do so.

2. Spark Email

While Spark Email is a relatively new option for Android users – appearing for the first time in the app store in spring 2019 – it is a prime option for connecting to Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo email accounts. Security measures in-app are astounding – passcode-protected emails and messages make you feel like a double agent – and the smart inbox has been proven to be a lifesaver.

There are also collaboration options we haven’t seen elsewhere on the market. Remember when you used to ask Tina to give your emails a once-over when your desks were next to each other? Maybe she misses doing that. Or maybe you have a team of lawyers that needs to collaborate on a draft for a client. With Spark Email, that is possible! (Perhaps this will even give you a reason to abandon Slack!)

3. Spike Email

For those of you who prefer a messenger app to any email inbox you’ve ever seen, Spike Email’s interface will knock your socks off. This app feels like organized chaos but is increasingly being approached for its helpful integration of notes, to-do lists, live chats, and more. (You can even unsend messages, which is a pretty nifty trick in the remote work age.) Plus, the mobile app syncs to a really gorgeous desktop display that is strangely fun to use.

4. VMWare Boxer

Boxer works similarly to Spike in that you can easily access contacts, calendars, to-do lists, notes, smart folders, and other key features for the organizational mind. Everything is accessible with a couple of quick swipes, which makes it a really simple app to navigate. In fact, it’s so easy and secure to use this app that it is suggested for high-volume inboxes and work email.

5. Bluemail

Some of us juggle many different inboxes. While we don’t necessarily want to overstep work/life boundaries, sometimes syncing everything to one place can really do wonders for productivity. For the option to sync multiple inboxes from a variety of clients — like AOL, Gmail, iCloud, Hotmail, Outlook, etc. — Bluemail is going to be your new best friend. This free app boasts a beautiful, ad-free design that provides peace of mind in the level of security it provides, as well as in the simplicity with which you can organize your inbox. Group emails, push notifications, and more make this unique, universal email app a pretty great option.

If you’re on the lookout for a new email client to better suit your mobile usage and needs, these 5 options take the cake in the Android market. Check this out for more apps that will help you in the interview process, and don’t forget to search our listings for your next dream job.