Thunderbird, the long-running open-source email client, is preparing to take on Gmail and other big email providers.
The developers are working on a paid “Pro” service offering @thundermail.com email addresses, features like an appointment scheduler, file-sharing tools, and AI-powered “Thunderbird Assist.” If you’re interested, you can sign up for the beta waitlist at thundermail.com. There’s also an option for @tb.pro email addresses.
Ryan Sipes, Thunderbird’s managing director, shared the news last Friday in the Thunderbird Planning discussion group. While the details are still in the early stages, he confirmed there will be both free and paid options. “Our goal is to create a fully open-source and privacy-friendly alternative for those who want it,” Sipes said.
Thunderbird has been around since 2003, originally developed alongside Mozilla’s Firefox browser. However, with the rise of Gmail and other web-based email services, it lost popularity but still kept a loyal following. In 2012, Mozilla stopped developing Thunderbird and handed it over to a community group. Then, in 2020, it was moved under MZLA Technology Corporation, a Mozilla Foundation subsidiary, which has been modernizing it and even working on mobile versions.
Launching its email service is a big step for Thunderbird. Unlike Gmail and Outlook, Thunderbird has always been just an email client, not an actual email provider. “I believe this should have happened a decade ago,” Sipes admitted, “but better late than never.” While it will have to compete with privacy-focused options like ProtonMail and FastMail, Thunderbird’s strong commitment to open-source software and privacy might just give it an edge in today’s world of growing distrust in Big Tech
