The best email services to use with Claws Mail on Linux

Claws Mail is a lightweight, fast and highly configurable email client. Unlike more modern applications such as Mailspring or Geary, Claws Mail focuses on a classic experience: multiple accounts, filters, rules, folders, plugins, tags, support for IMAP, POP3 and SMTP, and an interface designed for users who prefer control over flashy design.

It is an especially interesting option for lightweight desktops such as Xfce, LXQt, MATE or even KDE Plasma, and works very well on distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, openSUSE, Linux Mint or MX Linux.

In this comparison we are going to look at some of the best email services to use with Claws Mail: StartMail, Mailfence, Fastmail, Infomaniak Mail, Gmail, Outlook, Zoho Mail and Proton Mail.

Comparison table

Email	Compatibility with Claws Mail	Ease of setup	Privacy	Price	Best for
StartMail	Very good	Medium	High	Paid	Privacy with IMAP
Mailfence	Very good	Medium	High	Limited free / paid	Privacy and productivity
Fastmail	Excellent	High	Medium-high	Paid	Daily and professional use
Infomaniak Mail	Very good	Medium-high	High	Free / paid depending on service	European users and domains
Zoho Mail	Very good	Medium	Medium-high	Limited free / paid	Businesses and custom domains
Gmail	Good, but less convenient	Medium-low	Medium	Free / paid	Google users
Outlook	Good, but less convenient	Medium-low	Medium	Free / paid	Microsoft users
Proton Mail	Possible, with Bridge	Low	Very high	Limited free / paid	Advanced privacy

1. StartMail: privacy with classic IMAP

StartMail is one of the most interesting options to use with Claws Mail because it offers privacy without breaking compatibility with traditional clients. Claws Mail works especially well when the provider allows IMAP and SMTP servers to be configured clearly, and StartMail fits that profile very well.

For users of Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora or Linux Mint who want a lightweight client and a more private provider than Gmail or Outlook, StartMail is a highly recommended combination.

Advantages of StartMail in Claws Mail

• Good privacy approach.
• Compatible with external clients through IMAP.
• Good alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Fits well with lightweight and classic clients.
• Suitable for users who want privacy without depending on large platforms.

Disadvantages

• It is a paid service.
• It may require manual setup.
• It is not as well known as Gmail, Outlook or Proton Mail.
• It is not the cheapest option for basic users.

Opinion

StartMail is one of the best options for Claws Mail if you are looking for privacy and real compatibility. It does not try to lock you into a specific application, but allows you to use email with traditional clients, something perfect for Claws.

2. Mailfence: privacy and complete features

Mailfence is also a highly recommended option for Claws Mail. It offers email, calendar, contacts, documents and collaborative tools, but the most important thing in this case is that it can work with standard protocols on compatible plans.

Claws Mail will not take advantage of the entire Mailfence ecosystem the way a more integrated suite would, but it can work very well as the main client for managing email.

Advantages of Mailfence in Claws Mail

• Good privacy approach.
• Compatible with IMAP, POP and SMTP on compatible plans.
• Includes calendar, contacts and documents.
• European alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Good option for users who want more control over their email.

Disadvantages

• Access from external clients may depend on the subscribed plan.
• It may require manual setup.
• Claws Mail does not take advantage of all Mailfence’s productivity features.
• It is not as simple as Gmail for beginners.

Opinion

Mailfence makes a lot of sense with Claws Mail if you are looking for privacy and compatibility with classic standards. It is an especially interesting option for those who want to leave Google and Microsoft without giving up IMAP and SMTP.

3. Fastmail: the best balance for Claws Mail

Fastmail is probably one of the best options for Claws Mail. It is fast, stable, compatible with external clients and very reliable for those who want to use email from a desktop application.

The combination is very natural: Fastmail offers a solid base as a provider and Claws Mail offers a lightweight, fast and customizable client. On desktops such as Xfce, MATE, LXQt or KDE Plasma, it can be an excellent solution for working with email without weighing down the system.

Advantages of Fastmail in Claws Mail

• Excellent compatibility with IMAP and SMTP.
• Very good stability in desktop clients.
• Ideal for custom domains.
• Fast service focused on email.
• Very good option for advanced and professional users.

Disadvantages

• It does not have a full free plan.
• It is not as focused on end-to-end encryption as Proton Mail.
• It may not be the best option if you are only looking for a free account.
• Less attractive for users who are already comfortable with Gmail or Outlook.

Opinion

Fastmail is the most balanced email service for Claws Mail. If you are looking for a stable, fast experience without strange authentication complications, it is one of the best choices.

4. Infomaniak Mail: European alternative for professional email

Infomaniak Mail is a very interesting option if you want to use Claws Mail with a European provider, especially for professional email, custom domains or services hosted in Europe.

It can fit very well on distributions such as Debian, openSUSE, Fedora, Arch Linux or Ubuntu, especially if you want to use Claws Mail as your main client on a lightweight desktop.

Advantages of Infomaniak Mail in Claws Mail

• Good option for European users.
• Interesting for custom domains and professional email.
• Compatible with external clients through standard configuration.
• Alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
• Good balance between privacy, productivity and price.

Disadvantages

• It may require manual setup.
• It is not as popular as Gmail or Outlook.
• Some features are better used within the Infomaniak ecosystem.
• It is more oriented toward professional users than basic personal accounts.

Opinion

Infomaniak Mail deserves to be among the best options for Claws Mail if you are looking for European, professional email compatible with traditional clients. It is especially interesting for freelancers, small businesses and users with a custom domain.

5. Zoho Mail: good option for businesses and custom domains

Zoho Mail is a very useful alternative to use with Claws Mail if you need professional email, a custom domain or a solution for a small business. It is a competitive option against Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, especially if you already use other Zoho tools.

With Claws Mail, Zoho makes sense when you are looking for a professional account that works through IMAP and SMTP, without always depending on the browser.

Advantages of Zoho Mail in Claws Mail

• Good compatibility with IMAP and SMTP.
• Very useful for custom domains.
• Interesting for freelancers and small businesses.
• Alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
• Good balance between price and features.

Disadvantages

• It may require manually enabling IMAP.
• Some features depend on the chosen plan.
• It is not as simple as Gmail for home users.
• The Zoho ecosystem may be excessive if you only want email.

Opinion

Zoho Mail fits well with Claws Mail if you are looking for professional email. It is not the simplest option for a casual user, but it is a very competitive alternative for businesses, freelancers and projects with a custom domain.

6. Gmail: popular, but not always the most convenient in Claws Mail

Gmail can be used with Claws Mail, but it is not necessarily the most convenient option. The reason is that Gmail depends heavily on OAuth2 and modern authentication, while Claws Mail is a more classic and technical client. Although Claws Mail has added support for OAuth2 in modern versions, its configuration can be less simple than in Thunderbird, Geary or Mailspring.

For users who already have a Google account, Gmail remains a valid option. But if you are choosing a provider from scratch for Claws Mail, there are cleaner alternatives.

Advantages of Gmail in Claws Mail

• Very popular and easy to get.
• Good support for IMAP and SMTP.
• Lots of storage.
• Ideal if you already use Android or Google services.
• Good option if you already have the account configured.

Disadvantages

• It is not the most convenient option in Claws Mail.
• It may require OAuth2 or app passwords.
• It is not the best option for privacy.
• Some features are better used from the Gmail website.
• It depends heavily on the Google ecosystem.

Opinion

Gmail works, but it would not be my first choice for Claws Mail. If you already use it, it may be fine. If you are looking for the best provider for this client, I would choose Fastmail, StartMail, Mailfence or Infomaniak first.

7. Outlook / Hotmail: useful, but with possible complications

Outlook and old Hotmail accounts can also be used with Claws Mail, but something similar to Gmail happens: modern authentication can make setup less direct than in more popular clients or those more oriented toward OAuth2.

It makes sense if you already use Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Windows or a Microsoft account for work or studies. But it is not the most convenient option if you want a simple and classic setup.

Advantages of Outlook in Claws Mail

• Good option for Microsoft users.
• Free accounts and paid plans.
• Suitable for personal, academic and professional use.
• Clear alternative to Gmail.
• Useful if Microsoft 365 is used.

Disadvantages

• It may require more authentication adjustments.
• The full experience is more oriented toward Outlook web or Microsoft Outlook.
• It does not stand out for privacy.
• Some advanced features may not integrate the same way.
• Less convenient than more direct IMAP providers.

Opinion

Outlook is a valid option for Claws Mail, but not the most recommended if you are starting from scratch. It makes more sense if you already depend on Microsoft and want to centralize email in Claws.

8. Proton Mail: very private, but not very convenient for Claws Mail

Proton Mail is one of the strongest services for privacy, but it is not the most convenient for Claws Mail. To use Proton Mail with external clients, Proton Mail Bridge is required, which allows the account to connect through local IMAP and SMTP.

The problem is that this setup makes more sense in widely supported clients such as Thunderbird, Outlook or Apple Mail. In Claws Mail it may be possible, but it is not the simplest combination.

Advantages of Proton Mail in Claws Mail

• Very high privacy.
• Strong encryption within the Proton ecosystem.
• Possible use through Bridge.
• Good alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Complete ecosystem with email, VPN, storage, calendar and password manager.

Disadvantages

• Requires Proton Mail Bridge.
• Setup is less direct.
• To use Bridge, a paid plan is normally required.
• It is not the most convenient combination.
• It may be excessive if you only want simple email in Claws Mail.

Opinion

Proton Mail is excellent as a private service, but I would not place it among the best practical options for Claws Mail. If you want privacy with better classic compatibility, StartMail or Mailfence fit better.

Final ranking

Rank	Email	Rating
1	Fastmail	The best balance for Claws Mail
2	StartMail	Best private option with IMAP
3	Mailfence	Privacy and classic compatibility
4	Infomaniak Mail	Very good for European users and domains
5	Zoho Mail	Very good for businesses
6	Gmail	Popular, but less convenient
7	Outlook	Useful for Microsoft users
8	Proton Mail	Very private, but not very convenient in Claws Mail

Which one should you choose?

For the best overall experience in Claws Mail, I would choose Fastmail. It is fast, stable, compatible and works very well with classic clients based on IMAP and SMTP.

If privacy is the priority, StartMail is one of the best options because it allows you to work more directly with external clients. Mailfence also fits very well if you want privacy, full email and a European alternative to Gmail or Outlook.

Infomaniak Mail deserves to be among the main options for European users, professionals or those with a custom domain. It is a very solid alternative if you are looking for serious email and do not want to depend on Google or Microsoft.

For businesses and freelancers, Zoho Mail is also a good choice. On the other hand, Gmail and Outlook are valid options, but less ideal for Claws Mail because of modern authentication and possible extra steps. Proton Mail stands out for privacy, but its dependence on Bridge makes it less convenient in this client.

Conclusion

The best email service for Claws Mail depends on the type of user:

• Best overall: Fastmail
• Best private option with IMAP: StartMail
• Best private option with a complete suite: Mailfence
• Best professional European provider: Infomaniak Mail
• Best for businesses: Zoho Mail
• Most popular: Gmail
• Best for Microsoft users: Outlook
• Best advanced privacy: Proton Mail

If you use Claws Mail on Linux, especially on desktops such as Xfce, MATE, LXQt or KDE Plasma, and on distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, openSUSE, Linux Mint or MX Linux, Fastmail is the most balanced option. For privacy, StartMail and Mailfence fit especially well. For European and professional users, Infomaniak Mail is a very strong alternative. And for businesses or custom domains, Zoho Mail also deserves to be among the first options.