The main difference between Thunderbird and Gmail is that Gmail offers a free trial for 14 days but Thunderbird does not offer this.
In this versus, we compare Thunderbird vs Gmail in-depth to help you choose one of them. If you want to know more details, we recommend you to read our Thunderbird review and Gmail review.
However, you can also directly find the Best Email Client Software, we list them by ranking (based on our review rating), you can find all the comparisons we made and we explain how you should choose the proper one.
Here is what we will talk about in the rest of this article:
Quick overview
Thunderbird vs Gmail at a Glance
To make your choice quick and efficient, here is a short summary about our comparison of Gmail vs Thunderbird. Find out their ratings, features, prices and then discover the winner of the versus.
Pros and Cons comparison
Thunderbird Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons
Gmail Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons
Specifications comparison
Details | Thunderbird | Gmail |
---|---|---|
Features | +100 Languages / 1-click Address Book / Add-Ons / Advanced Search Filters / Attachment reminders / Customizable interface / Free Version and Setup / Large files management / Message archive / Open-Source Transparency / Protect Privacy / Quick filter toolbar / Real-time anti-phishing / Regular Updates / Security and Privacy Controls / Smart Search / Smart folders / Tabbed Inbox | Auto-Advance / Bookmarking URLs / Custom Domains / Customizable interface / Email Notifications and Updates / Google calendar sync / In-Built Google Translate / Multi-Platform Support / Multilingual Support / Multiple Email Account Management / Prioritize Important Emails with Inbox Management / Save Attachments to Google Drive / Scheduled Emails / Smart Search / Sub-Labels / Support Multiple Devices / Support Multiple Languages / Tabbed Inbox |
Best suited for | Individuals, Freelancers, Small businesses, Mid size businesses, Large enterprises | Individuals, Freelancers, Small businesses, Mid size businesses, Large enterprises |
Website languages | Arabic / Azerbaijani / Brasil / Chinese / Danish / Deutsch / Dutch / English / Finnish / French / German / Greek / Hindi / Indian / Indonesian / Italian / Japanese / Kazakh / Korean / Latvian / Malay / Multilingual / Nederlands / Norsk / Nynorsk / Persian / Polish / Polsky / Portuguese / Română / Russian / Spanish / Suomi / Svenska / Swedish / Tagalog / Thai / Turkish / Ukrainian / Urdu / Vietnamese | Brasil / Chinese / Deutsch / English / French / Indonesian / Italian / Japanese / Korean / Nederlands / Norsk / Polsky / Portuguese / Russian / Spanish / Suomi / Svenska / Thai / Turkish / Vietnamese |
Website URL | Visit official website | Visit official website |
Support link | Support page | Support page |
Support email | support@thunderbird.net | support@google.com |
Live chat | Yes | No |
Company address | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, California |
Year founded | 2003 | 2009 |
Pricing comparison
Compare the price between Thunderbird vs Gmail
Find out which software has the best valuable pricing, which one offers a free trial and money back guarantee.
Pricing comparison | Thunderbird | Gmail |
---|---|---|
Pricing range | Free | From $6 to $12 per month |
Pricing types | Donation / Free | Free / Monthly subscription |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | No | Yes, 14 days |
Money back guarantee | No | No |
Pricing page link | See plans | See plans |
Thunderbird Pricing details
Thunderbird is completely free to use. It’s an open-source project, funded by user donations rather than ads or data collection.

Thunderbird is funded by user donations and is free to use. There are no specific pricing plans or subscription models.
The software operates on a donation-based funding model, where users can voluntarily contribute to support the development and maintenance of the software.
While contributions are not tax-deductible, they play a crucial role in keeping the software secure, private, and free for users around the world.
Donations can be made in various ways, including checks via postal service. Organizations can also get involved in supporting Thunderbird.
Gmail Pricing details
Gmail offers a versatile range of pricing options to fit your specific needs. While the basic version is free and packed with essential features, the premium plans kick it up a notch.
Starting at $12 USD per user per month, these plans offer advanced functionalities. Whether you’re an individual user or a large enterprise, Gmail has a pricing plan that’s just right for you !

Additional Features in Gmail Paid Plans :
- Custom email (@yourcompany.com)
- Unlimited group email addresses
- 99.9% guaranteed uptime
- Twice the storage of personal Gmail
- Zero ads
- 24/7 support
- Google Workspace Sync for Microsoft Outlook, and more.
Business Starter
- Cost: $6 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email
- 100 participant video meetings
- 30 GB pooled storage per user*
- Security and management controls
- Standard Support
Business Standard
- Cost: $12 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email
- 150 participant video meetings + recording
- 2 TB pooled storage per user*
- Security and management controls
- Standard Support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Business Plus
- Cost: $18 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email + eDiscovery, retention
- 500 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking
- 5 TB pooled storage per user*
- Enhanced security and management controls, including Vault and advanced endpoint management
- Standard Support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Enterprise
- Cost: Contact sales
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email + eDiscovery, retention, S/MIME encryption
- 1000 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking, noise cancellation, in-domain live streaming
- 5 TB pooled storage per user, with ability to request more*
- Advanced security, management, and compliance controls, including Vault, DLP, data regions, and enterprise endpoint management
- Enhanced Support (paid upgrade to Premium Support)
Note: All plans come with a 14-day free trial. The Business Starter, Business Standard, and Business Plus plans can be purchased for a maximum of 300 users. There is no user limit for Enterprise plans. Storage is flexible and pooled per user, shared across the organization.