Using Gmail in your web browser isn’t a pleasant experience. There’s no simple way to view email messages from multiple accounts, nor is it easy to manage them. Also, as you start working with Google documents, the browser window quickly gets cluttered.

Luckily, there are some third-party email-client apps that mimic the Gmail experience on your Mac desktop instead. Each solution offers a personalized set of features. We’ll explore these Gmail desktop apps for Mac and help you choose the best one for your needs.

1. Kiwi for Gmail

kiwi for gmail mac

Kiwi for Gmail brings the entire Google experience to your Mac. The left sidebar offers quick shortcuts to Drive, Docs, Contacts, and Calendar. Or, you can create new entries with a single click. Each app will open in a separate window. The right panel is your main account window.

To add a Gmail account, go to Preferences > Accounts, then click Add Account and proceed with the authentication. Kiwi assigns a unique color for each account.

You can change the order, set your preferences for receiving notifications, and enable various plug-ins. The menu bar allows you to quickly compose an email from any account with a single click.

Unique Features of Kiwi for Gmail

  • The Focused Filter Inbox allows you to quickly filter your inbox. You can choose to filter by unread, date range, attachments, and more. For example, you can click on unread to show unread messages from all your accounts.
  • Cloud Search for Business enables you to search files in Google Drive, contacts, and emails quickly. It even suggests contacts or files for upcoming meetings.
  • Attach files to emails directly from Finder. Head to System Preferences > Extensions and enable the Share Menu checkbox to do this.
  • Integration with Boomerang, Right Inbox, Grammarly, Zoom, and more. Read our guide on how you can schedule an email in Gmail to learn more about these integrations.

Download: Kiwi for Gmail (Free, subscription available)

2. Mimestream

mimestream native gmail app

Mimestream is a Gmail app for Mac written in Swift and macOS components. It offers all the conventional Gmail features like a categorized inbox, labels management, email threads, and familiar keyboard shortcuts.

The app utililizes the Gmail API instead of IMAP protocol to give you superior experience and performance improvements. The API lets you access Calendar and Drive data (which is not possible with IMAP), use in-place searches with robust operators, use raw MIME and thread ID server metadata to fetch email threads, and make simple HTTPS request to fetch messages in one go.

To get started, go to Mimestream > Add Account and proceed with the Gmail authentication. Once your data syncs, you’ll see a familar interface that resembles Apple Mail in many areas. The toolbar lets you compose, archive, move, set label, and replay to messages with one click.

At the time of writing, Mimestream can’t log into accounts that have “Advanced Protections” enabled. It only allows IMAP-based clients to connect to Gmail.

Unique Features of Mimestream

  • Customize the swipe gestures and keyboard shortcuts according to Gmail. In addition, you can connect Calendar to accept or decline invitations and contacts.
  • Prevent remote images and tracking pixels to block common trackers that companies use to gauge engagement with advertising and marketing campaigns.
  • Export mail as PDF using the native macOS feature. It even allows you to reset cache or manually sync accounts in case you’re not getting new mails.
  • Support for markdown while composing email and code formatting options, both inline and block style.

Download: Mimestream (Free)

3. Boxy Suite 2

boxy for gmail

Your emails, notes, and calendars deserve a dedicated, focused environment on your desktop. Boxy Suite 2 is an intuitive Gmail app for Mac that brings Gmail, Calendar, Keep, and Contacts in a single interface. You can choose to install the entire suite or any app of your choice.

Apps in this suite use native macOS technology (known as WKWebview) that is lightweight and doesn’t consume much RAM. It enables custom styling to make them look better and more responsive, and other features to enhance the desktop experience. To get started, go to Accounts and click Add Account.

Unique Features of Boxy for Gmail

  • Press Cmd + K to quickly change account, navigate between sections (Inbox, Starred, Unread, and so on), and launch the task manager.
  • Create a task with backlinks to another email message. Boxy Suite supports Things, Omnifocus, 2Do, and Todoist. Here’s a useful guide for finding the perfect to-do app for your needs.
  • It can detect “tracking pixels” inside the email body and tell you the details of how your email is getting tracked.
  • Toggle the reader or minimal mode to read email messages without any distraction. Also, these modes support macOS Dark Mode.

Download: Boxy Suite 2 (Subscription required, free trial available)

4. Unite

unite app gmail user interface

Unite for macOS can turn any website into a Mac app. It uses a WebKit-powered backend browser to create site-specific apps. This means you can fully replace bloated electron apps like Slack or Discord with lightweight, native-like Mac apps.

Type in the Gmail URL followed by a name. Unite will then try to grab its favicon. Then click Create Unite application. On launch, you’ll see a familiar Gmail sign-in window. When you first sign in, Unite will ask you to save the password.

The built-in integration with iCloud Keychain ensures that you don’t have to worry about site passwords in the future. The title bar of the windows automatically adjusts to match the primary color. A small control center button allows you to temporarily access browser functions like tabs, URL bars, and downloads.

Unique Features of Unite

  • Enable floating windows to always keep your content window at the top. Head to Appearance > Window Level and choose Floating from the dropdown menu.
  • Complete support for HTML notifications, just like Google Chrome or Safari. They’re easily identifiable since you can customize the name and icon of your apps.
  • Support of userscript and styles to tweak the browser’s function and look. It’s also possible to set a custom user agent for an app to imitate other web environments.
  • Get quick, glanceable information with Dock slices. This lets you replace the Dock icon with a live feed. Head to File > Start Dock Monitor to get started.

Download: Unite 4 (Free, premium version available)

Become a Pro Gmail User

As a heavy Gmail user, I’ve gone back and forth between using the browser and these third-party apps. If you’re just getting started and use only one or two Gmail accounts, Mimestream is sufficient to cover your needs. After that, my next recommendation in Unite.

However, if you need an email client with a built-in task manager and third-party extension support, try Kiwi for Gmail or Boxy Suite. Both are equally powerful.