Is Mailbird Safe?

If you use or plan to use Mailbird, you need to know: Is Mailbird safe? 

Below, we explain whether Mailbird is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this desktop email client. 

What Is Mailbird?

Mailbird is a desktop email client developed by Mailbird, Inc. that lets you manage multiple email accounts from different providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.) in one place.

It can integrate with third-party apps like WhatsApp, Slack, Google Calendar, Evernote, and Dropbox. 

Some of its other features include email tracking (to see when an email is opened), email snooze (remove emails from the inbox temporarily), and advanced search. 

It was released in 2013 and is currently available via a freemium model with both paid and free versions. 

The software supports Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS Ventura or higher and offers multi-account support, including compatibility with IMAP, POP3, and Microsoft Exchange accounts.

Is Mailbird Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe.”

In its privacy policy, Mailbird says it uses “reasonable organizational, technical and administrative measures to protect personal data,” but does not describe these measures in detail. 

On its page about security, Mailbird says it takes the following security precautions:

• All data transmitted between Mailbird and its license server is encrypted using HTTPS. 
• Mailbird does not store any emails or personal data on its servers, nor can it access or read user emails. Emails and sensitive information remain only on the user’s local computer. 

Mailbird relies on the security measures provided by the email services you connect with (e.g., Gmail, Outlook). This means that your account’s security is also linked to the strength of your password, the use of two-factor authentication (2FA), and the security practices of the email provider itself.

No data breaches have been associated with Mailbird at the time of writing.

Is Mailbird Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.”

Mailbird doesn’t store your emails or personal data on its own servers. Instead, it syncs emails directly from your email providers (like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo), meaning that your emails are stored on those providers’ servers rather than Mailbird’s. This reduces the risk of a central point of failure.

In addition, Mailbird operates as a locally installed program, which further limits its access to your data.

In its privacy policy, Mailbird outlines the kind of data it collects (e.g., name, email address, phone number, address, etc.), for what purposes (e.g., to operate and improve its services, manage your account, etc.), and its sharing practices (e.g., it may share your personal data with third parties with your consent, third-party service providers, affiliates, etc.). 

Mailbird also collects limited and non-personally identifiable data for software improvements, specifically:

• User name & email address (for license validation).
• Feature usage data (to improve Mailbird functionality).

This data is sent to Mixpanel (for analytics) and a License Management System (to validate license status).

Users can opt out of data collection at any time. No collected data is used for commercial purposes outside of Mailbird software improvements.

Mailbird’s privacy policy has not been evaluated by an external review site such as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read at the time of writing.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Mailbird

Follow the steps below for a safer and more private experience while using Mailbird. 

• Use strong, unique passwords for each account. Ensure that each email account connected to Mailbird has a strong, unique password. Avoid reusing passwords across different platforms. You can use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Activate 2FA on all your email accounts connected to Mailbird. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring both your password and a verification code, helping protect your accounts even if your password is compromised.
• Limit data sharing in Mailbird settings. Go to the settings menu and turn off options that allow Mailbird to collect usage statistics or diagnostic data. This minimizes the amount of information shared with Mailbird.
• Keep Mailbird updated. Regularly update the Mailbird app to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes. 
• Use secure email providers. Choose email providers that prioritize privacy, e.g., have end-to-end encryption and strong privacy policies. 
• Be cautious with third-party app integrations. Limit the number of third-party apps, like Dropbox or Slack, connected to Mailbird. 
• Turn off remote images and read receipts. Prevent email tracking by turning off the automatic loading of remote images and read receipts in Mailbird’s settings. This stops senders from seeing when you’ve opened an email.
• Encrypt sensitive emails using external tools. Use external encryption tools if you need to send sensitive information.