Thunderbird is a free, open source email client developed by the Mozilla Foundation. It has been around for over 15 years, since it was first released in 2003. During that time, Thunderbird has established itself as one of the most popular desktop email clients available, with millions of active users around the world.
But with the rise in popularity of web-based email services like Gmail, Outlook.com and Yahoo Mail over the past decade, many people now rely primarily on webmail for their email needs. So some may wonder if an old-school desktop client like Thunderbird is still relevant, and whether it remains free to use in 2023.
Brief history of Thunderbird
Thunderbird was created by the Mozilla Foundation as a standalone email client, separate from the Firefox web browser. Mozilla had previously offered email capabilities within Firefox but wanted to separate email functionality into its own dedicated application.
Some key milestones in Thunderbird’s history include:
- First version 1.0 released in December 2003
- Version 2.0 in March 2005 added integrated calendar and task list
- Version 3.0 in December 2007 brought improved search, tabbed email viewing and support for add-ons
- Version 31.0 in October 2014 was the first 64-bit version for Windows
Over its history, Thunderbird has gained strong popularity among Linux users and privacy-focused users due to its open source pedigree and focus on avoiding vendor lock-in. Today Thunderbird enjoys a substantial user base of tens of millions worldwide.
Thunderbird’s main features
Some of the key features that Thunderbird offers as a desktop email client include:
- Support for multiple email accounts and identities
- Intuitive email organization with conversations threads and search
- Customizable message filters for automated email management
- Address book for storing contacts from multiple accounts
- Calendar and tasks integrated with email
- Add-on support for extending functionality
- Available on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android operating systems
For those who like having extensive control over their email environment without relying on a web browser, Thunderbird provides a robust set of features for managing communications.
Thunderbird’s business model
As a free, open source software project under the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, Thunderbird is developed by a global community of contributors. The majority of funding comes from donations and paid partnerships, not through collecting user data or selling products.
Some ways Thunderbird generates revenue to support its ongoing development include:
- Grants and donations from individuals
- Sponsorships from corporations
- Paid partnerships with email providers, e.g. Mozilla partnered with MX Linux
- Paid support subscriptions for business users
- Merchandise sales through the Mozilla store
Thunderbird focuses on user privacy and avoiding lock-in, rather than monetizing user data. So revenue sources focus on voluntary community support, not usage tracking. This aligns with Mozilla’s overall nonprofit mission.
Is Thunderbird still free to download and use?
Yes, absolutely! Thunderbird remains entirely free to download and use for both individual users and organizations. The core email client software and basic features have always been free of charge, and this remains Mozilla’s commitment going forward.
Some key points about Thunderbird’s pricing:
- No cost to download and install Thunderbird client
- No limits on number of email accounts or how much email you can store
- Continued focus on protecting user privacy and avoiding lock-in
- Optional paid services like custom branding and dedicated support for large organizations
- But core software remains free for everyone
Thunderbird has survived this long as a thriving free email solution because Mozilla understands the importance of putting users, not profits, at the center of its strategy.
Limitations of the free version
There are a few minor limitations to keep in mind with the free version of Thunderbird:
- Limited technical support from community resources only
- Must upgrade manually when new major versions released
- No paid add-ons available; only free community extensions
- No access to enterprise features like centralized management
- No service-level agreement for guaranteed uptime/response
However, for most individual users and small organizations, the free version has everything needed for managing daily email communications. Paid options provide more enterprise-level features and dedicated technical support.
Recent updates to Thunderbird
The Thunderbird team continues actively developing new versions of the software with useful updates. Here are some key improvements over the past couple years:
- Version 78 in July 2020 – Added Office 365 account setup wizard
- Version 91 in August 2021 – Improved add-on signing and management
- Version 102 in February 2022 – Improved calendar invitation management
- Version 104 in June 2022 – Added support for Windows sandboxing
While the frequency of major new versions has slowed compared to the past, Thunderbird still sees refinements that help it integrate better with modern systems and workflows. The core functions remain reliable and there is an active community creating free add-ons to extend Thunderbird’s capabilities.
Future outlook
Thunderbird’s long-term direction focuses on sustaining a robust, privacy-respecting free email client, while expanding paid options for large enterprise customers.
Some anticipated areas of development that may come to Thunderbird include:
- Integration with common productivity software like Microsoft Office
- Tools for advanced users like plugin developers and systems administrators
- Modern user interface improvements for easier navigation
- Enhanced collaboration features for shared calendars and tasks
- Paid professional support and management options
While retaining its core free product, the Thunderbird team seeks to build out more premium enterprise capabilities over time, following a similar model to its sister application Firefox. This will provide another stream of revenue to sustain ongoing innovation.
Conclusion
Thunderbird remains an excellent free open source email client option in 2023 and shows no signs of going away. The software continues under active development by Mozilla and an open source community. There is a solid roadmap for modest, incremental improvements while keeping the core email functions stable and reliable.
For those seeking an ad-free, privacy-focused desktop email experience with extensive user control, Thunderbird delivers a robust solution. And users who are fine with mostly community-based support can utilize Thunderbird’s free version indefinitely, thanks to Mozilla’s commitment to keeping essential software open and accessible. So Thunderbird does not seem to be going anywhere soon, and continues providing outstanding free capabilities for managing personal and professional communications.
