Kestrel compared with other email apps

Kestrel is a keyboard-first email client for the Mac, for Gmail and any IMAP account. These pages put it next to the email apps it gets compared with, fact by fact, and every fact about another app links to where it came from.

• Kestrel vs Apple Mail

  Apple Mail is free on every Mac, iPhone and iPad. Kestrel costs $20 a year, puts every action on a key and splits the inbox for you.

• Kestrel vs Mimestream

  Both are Mac apps that sync straight with your provider. Mimestream is for Gmail only. Kestrel also takes IMAP and has AI features of its own.

• Kestrel vs Shortwave

  Shortwave runs its AI assistant on its own servers, on every plan. Kestrel runs AI on your Mac or your own Anthropic key.

• Kestrel vs Spark

  Spark runs on every platform, with a free plan and AI on paid plans. Kestrel is a Mac app that syncs straight with your provider.

• Kestrel vs Superhuman

  Many of the keys are the same. Superhuman is for teams on Gmail and Outlook, on every platform. Kestrel is a Mac app for Gmail and IMAP.

Every fact links to its source. Checked on October 29, 2026.