The basic version is free and supports gmail, iCloud, and outlook email accounts. With the pro version, you get access to Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, Google Apps, and other IMAP accounts. Also, you get to enjoy Calendar support for Office 365/Exchange and customer support.

If you use more than one email account, as most of us do, the right free email client will really take the hassle out of managing your messages. This is particularly true if those accounts are with different providers, which would otherwise require you to have several browser tabs open at once. That's not all – as well as aggregating all your messages in one convenient place, a good email client can add features like encryption and integration with calendars, RSS feeds and video chat services. Desktop clients can store your mail locally too, giving you access to archived messages and attachments when you're offline and providing a valuable backup. That's a feature that webmail services are gradually catching up with (you can now, at last), but a dedicated email client offers far more flexibility and better search tools. If that sounds good – and we think it does – read on for our pick of the very best free email clients.

Only supports two email accounts has been around for nearly 10 years now, and throughout that long development it's evolved into the best free email client for Windows. EM Client makes it easy to migrate your messages from Gmail, Exchange, iCloud and Outlook.com – just enter your email address and the client will adjust the appropriate settings for you.

EM Client can also import your contacts and calendar, and it's easy to deselect these options if you'd prefer to manage them separately. There's an integrated chat app too, with support for common platforms including Jabber and Google Chat, and the search function is far superior to those you'll find in webmail interfaces. Unlike most free email clients, eM Client is also packed with advanced options like automatic translation, delayed send and encryption. It's a remarkable set of tools, and for managing two email accounts, it's ideal. If you have more accounts, it's well worth considering upgrading to for a one-off fee. This lets you connect an unlimited number of accounts, access VIP support (in the unlikely event that you need it), and use the email client commercially. Only supports one email account isn't just an email app – it's a whole communication platform to which you can add apps for scheduling, chatting, file syncing and teamworking.

Free users miss out on features such as speed reading, email snoozing and quick previews of attachments, but Mailbird Lite is still an excellent choice. The Lite version only lets you connect one email account but, it's optimized for speed, and looks great to boot. Setup is simple; enter your email details and Mailbird Lite will find the necessary POP or IMAP settings automatically, then get to work importing your messages. It offers to connect with your Facebook account, so it can liven up your inbox with your contacts' profile photos, and can also link with Whatsapp, Google Calendar, free task manager Moo.do, and teamworking app Asana. Doesn't support Gmail yet is usually a paid-for premium email client, but it's free for TechRadar readers.

It's designed primarily with business users in mind (it currently only supports Microsoft email services including Hotmail, Outlook and Exchange), but home users will also appreciate its productivity-boosting features. If you find yourself spending too long managing, reading and replying to emails, Hiri is the email client for you. It includes a smart dashboard that lets you see how many unread messages you have at a glance and how long you should wait before checking them (after all, how many really need an instant reply?) The Compose window is designed to save you time too, offering only the essential options (no fancy formatting) and including the subject line at the bottom so you don't have to write it until you know how to summarise the message. These little touches make Hiri a truly exceptional client. If Microsoft is your email provider of choice, it should be well up your list. Interface still a little cluttered Thunderbird, from Firefox developer Mozilla, has just undergone a total overhaul that brings it right up to date.