Glassmail vs Spark: Mac email apps compared
Spark has a free plan, team features and apps on every platform. Glassmail is Mac-only, pay once, with AI and mail that stay on your Mac.
Short answer: pick Spark if you want a capable free plan, use email on iPhone, Android or Windows too, or share an inbox with a team. Pick Glassmail if you live on a Mac, want AI help that runs on your Mac rather than in the cloud, want nothing between you and your mail provider, and would rather pay once than yearly.
Both put every account in one smart inbox that sorts people from newsletters and notifications. The differences are in platforms, privacy and how you pay.
At a glance
| Glassmail | Spark | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 once (lower launch prices for early buyers) | Free; paid plans $60–199 a year |
| Accounts | Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, Microsoft 365, Yahoo, Fastmail, any IMAP | Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, Exchange, IMAP |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 14+) | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows |
| Smart inbox | People first, updates and newsletters bundled by sender | Smart Inbox, Gatekeeper for new senders |
| AI | On your Mac, included | Spark +AI in the cloud, on paid plans |
| Mail server | None: your Mac talks directly to your provider | Readdle’s servers for push, send later and sync features |
| Teams | No | Shared threads, comments, team plans |
Spark prices are from its App Store listing in November 2026. Disclosure: Glassmail is our app. Tell us at hi@glassmail.app if anything here is wrong.
Platforms
This is the biggest practical difference. Spark runs everywhere and keeps settings in sync between devices. Glassmail is a Mac app only, built in Swift for macOS; on your phone you’d keep using your provider’s app or Apple Mail.
Privacy
To offer push notifications and scheduled sending, Spark’s service connects to your mailbox on your behalf. Glassmail has no server of its own: everything, including send later and follow-up reminders, runs on your Mac. Passwords stay in the macOS Keychain, and tracking pixels are stripped before mail is shown.
AI
Spark +AI writes, summarises and answers questions using cloud models, on paid plans. Glassmail’s assistant, summaries and writer run on your Mac with Apple Intelligence (macOS 26) or a downloaded Gemma or Qwen model on any Mac. Nothing is sent to an AI company, it works offline, and it costs nothing extra. Cloud models can take on bigger tasks; on-device models keep your mail to yourself. More on private AI for email.
Getting through email
Both have snooze, send later, reminders and one-click unsubscribe. Glassmail adds Triage mode (one conversation at a time, single keys to decide), plain-language search (“pdf from maya last week”), sign-in codes with a copy button in the list, and a Today view that shows who is waiting on you.
Price
Spark’s free plan is generous, and for many people it’s all they need. Its AI and premium features cost $60–199 a year. Glassmail has no free tier after the 14-day trial, but it’s a single payment of $49 at most, with every 1.x update and the AI included.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Spark if you want free, need mobile or Windows apps, or share email with a team.
- Choose Glassmail if you’re on a Mac, care where your mail and AI requests go, and want to pay once.
Try Glassmail free for 14 days. Compare more apps in the best Apple Mail alternatives.
Quick answers
Is Glassmail better than Spark?
It depends on what you need. Spark is better if you want a free plan, apps on iPhone, Android and Windows, or shared team inboxes. Glassmail is better if you use a Mac, want AI that runs on your Mac instead of the cloud, want no company server between you and your mail, and prefer to pay once.
How much does Spark cost in 2026?
Spark has a free plan. Its App Store listing shows Premium at $59.99 a year, Plus at $99 a year and Pro at $199 a year, with monthly options. AI features are on paid plans. Check Readdle's site for current prices.
Does Spark send my email through its servers?
Spark uses Readdle's servers for features like push notifications and send later, which means its service holds access to your account. Readdle's privacy policy explains what it stores. Glassmail has no mail server; your Mac connects directly to your provider.