User Reviews
Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a full featured email program with built-in junk mail controls, message filters, address book, news groups and more. It offers a clean and easy to use (customizable) interface. Thunder ...
Average of 44 user ratings: 
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- May 25, 2009
- For version:
- 2.0.0.21
Excellent for home network 
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
On creating a home network I found my familiar Outlook Express cannot operate across a network satisfactorily. I tried 3 or 4 of the free E-mail Client downloads but all had some problem either with the interface or with importing my e-mails and address book correctly. Thunderbird handled these automatically and flawlessly, and with a little research in help and on the net was easy to configure exactly as I want, to back up configuration settings and e-mails, and even to run from a pen drive if needed. The one tip I would pass on to anyone else doing this is that on the PC where Thunderbird stores its "profiles" (containing settings and e-mails) I checked the file sharing box for the relevant folders but forgot to check the box allowing file changing from another PC. Thunderbird then failed to initialise over the network because it tries to write a lock file on the profile before opening. The error messages were misleading and this simple mistake took a while to find!
Review by: Richmond
First post
- Apr 17, 2008
- For version:
- 2.0.0.9
Probably the best, being that is free
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have used them all - or almost - and I confess the first time I tried Thunderbird I did not like it. However after close inspection of features and after using it, allways comparing with others, I have to admit this is a great email client for one - like myself - that do have several mail accounts on different servers. I only use it on an IMAP configuration and it works like a charm as I can not only keep the messages I want on the servers instead of having them on my machine, delete the ones I do not need and even receive a message on a server and forward it from a different one, transfer messages from one server to another, on the fly, etc. I use the portable edition and have it installed on a USB pen, is fast enough and very reliable. The management of messages is top notch, as is the management of the address book, either in groups or by individuals. As a free program, it must be considered the best of them all.
Review by: Greytata (4)
Read all 4 reviews by Greytata
- Sep 17, 2007
- For version:
- 2.0.0.6
Great mail client
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
1 great feature - 1 annoying feature Unlike OE, You can't split your address book into folders, that would help me as my address book has 330 entries. The one great feature is, more flexible email filtering rules that OE. Lets not forget the key feature, it's safer to use the preview pane that OE. I still haven't found an excellent email client. Combine OE and Thunderbird best features and you would have it.
Review by: HotShot (25)
Read all 25 reviews by HotShot
- Aug 12, 2007
- For version:
- 2.0.0.6
Unbeatable
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Without sounding critical, Snapfiles needs to post more recent reviews of this powerful free email client, the last being January 2007. A lot has happened since then. It is fully customizable, fast and accurate. The features and customizations are almost endless and should be more than enough to suit everyone's needs, both private and professional. The learning curve is not steep and easy to configure your own spam filter levels. I would recommend this email to anyone.
Review by: Eannes (6)
Read all 6 reviews by Eannes
- Jan 27, 2007
- For version:
- 1.5.0.2
Outlook users... get a clue!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
For the application-challenged... Get a clue! T'Bird is the current freebie champ in the e-mail category. If it's not working right on your computer it is most likely that YOU are the one who needs to clean up junk, config, and conflict problems on your system. A clean system will run this program Perfectly, and it will run rings around your beloved M.S. e-mail apps. Hundreds of experienced people in my user's group rank T'Bird as the premier mail app. If you're having a problem, go to the T'Bird forum and find out what it is that YOU are doing wrong which is causing such simple problems that even a novice should be able to figure out and correct. And T'Bird is FAR more secure than M.S. e-mail apps.
Review by: dirtnap (25)
Read all 25 reviews by dirtnap
- Jan 16, 2007
- For version:
- 1.5.0.2
Don't like it
- Interface: 2
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Thunderbird is slow and e-mails arrive at odd locations in the inbox. Most annoying is when composing, the cursor will occasionally grace me with its presence but usually not, or appear only for a while then vanish. Typed text will hang and then catch up. When replying to some e-mails, Paypal for example, the contents of the foregoing message will be immersed in ugly red dotted boxes making it difficult to cut and paste elements. I was told that to improve the speed I should routinely compact the folders - a great idea if it actually worked. Adding a hyperlink or an image to an e-mail is a cumbersome several click procedure. If you want a really annoying and frustrating e-mail client then Thunderbird is for you. Check it out.
Review by: Raverx (7)
Read all 7 reviews by Raverx
- Nov 22, 2006
- For version:
- 1.5.0.2
Best free mail program
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I am using thunderbird since the release of 1.0, and i am very happy with it. In the beginning there were some small problems, but at this moment everything works very well. I put some extension on there, like lightning (calender), and a address sidebar. For me there is at this moment no alternative.
Review by: Victor73
First post
- Feb 22, 2006
- For version:
- 1.06
Descent client for single account
- Interface: 3
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 3
- Overall:
Worked fine with one account but I have three. Constant time outs and other problems made me look elsewhere. Would recommend if you only have 1 e-mail account if you have more could be problematic.
Review by: pcdebol
First post
- Feb 21, 2006
- For version:
- 1.06
Going without
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Going without any isp ended spam blocker-Thunderbird is an excellent e-mail program to help one get rid of junk mail by teaching the program. Thunderbird also will block images from websites so images just won't instantly be shown unless you want them to. Thunderbird is also free and made by the same company that makes Firefox, so you know its good and gonna continue to be good.
Review by: Sawyer (3)
Read all 3 reviews by Sawyer
- Feb 02, 2006
- For version:
- 1.06
Second password needed
- Interface: 1
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Installs and uninstalls easy. Does receive e-mail. Does not send e-mail, because of second password needed for outcoming e-mail.
Review by: Mike98 (10)
Read all 10 reviews by Mike98
- Nov 19, 2005
- For version:
- 1.06
Thunderbird good, but...
- Interface: 3
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 5
- Overall:
It stinks if you want to brand your emails with a background JPEG and signature. It's too hard. You should be able to: - Create multiple templates/signatures - Pick a default template for each email account, or each domain name - Click Write and auto-use the default template - Have option to use a special forwarding template for fwded emails You shouldn't have to add the template folder by hand, nor double-click on the template to create a new email, nor copy forwards to new emails. My perfect email program: - Does the above - Tames the inbox, like Thunderbird - Can specify the folder to store the mail - Can attach other mail files, like Outlook - Can run from USB memory card, like PortableThunderbird - When running via USB, downloads a copy from the mail server (does not delete) - Saves the email file(s) in encrypted format
- Nov 05, 2005
- For version:
- 1.06
Pretty good but...
- Interface: 4
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Very good email program. Easy to use. Nice interface. Free - gotta love that. But, it's not the smallest program out there. Also, kind of slow at connecting to pop accounts. Mozilla needs to trim the size of this program down a bit. Overall though, I would most definitely recommend this.
Review by: jdg850 (2)
Read all 2 reviews by jdg850
- Sep 15, 2005
- For version:
- 1.06
Everything you need
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Thunderbird is a well designed program, and it feels great to use it. Smooth and easy---a great program and it's free to boot!
- Sep 01, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Underwhelmed
- Interface: 2
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 4
- Overall:
I've used Thunderbird on my office machine for a couple of months, and quite frankly I'm underwhelmed by it. As others have commented, it's bloated, has no 'killer' features, and is slow at retrieving mail from POP boxes. It just isn't in the same class as, for example, Pocomail, which I use on my home computer. I'm afraid Thunderbird just doesn't cut the mustard for me.
- Aug 31, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Need so much extensions just as firefox!
- Interface: 3
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 2
- Overall:
What kind of software is this? it uses 20mb of my harddisk space...and i still need extensions to add an email account for yahoo and hotmail... i straight away uninstall the program after install it not long...
Review by: Eason47 (2)
Read all 2 reviews by Eason47
- Aug 17, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Disappointing
- Interface: 4
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 2
- Overall:
I found Thunderbird mail client rather unstable. It confronts me with bug reports. Several times it let me down after composing new messages. And another thing: 13 MB is a lot of expensive mem and waiting 12 secs to show up is a lot of time. Calypso on the other hand asks no more than 2 MB and shows up in less than 4 secs. Sorry: Thumb down.
Review by: Nicholas (39)
Read all 39 reviews by Nicholas
- Aug 14, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Stick with outlook
- Interface: 1
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 2
- Overall:
Waiting 10 to 12 seconds for the Thunderbird program to load is a long wait just to check your inbox. Same problem when you click on an email link to send an email. I don't know where all the hype is comming from. Mozilla programs are slow and bloated.
Review by: thebuzz (2)
Read all 2 reviews by thebuzz
- Aug 12, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Basic mail/news - hardly worth the download.
- Interface: 2
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 2
- Overall:
This is a very basic mail/newsreader lacking a lot of features you will find on more developed programs. If you are looking for a good newsgroup program this is not it. If you want a basic email client this will work, but I would wait until Thunderbird can be upgraded to the latest version/build without downloading the whole program. The download is too big for a program that offers so little. Even more so if you have to redownload for any upgrades.
Review by: spreland (8)
Read all 8 reviews by spreland
- Aug 01, 2005
- For version:
- 1.0
Saving and backing
- Interface: 4
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
The one thing every email program MUST -is say MUST- have is decent backing up of mails automatically at a place that cannot be destroyed if PC gets down. It MUST be user friendly and read and get at with common textsoftware. This is what definitely LACKS in thunderbird. To much gimickking us alas needed to get at mails that in fact are basically texts!
