Get the most out of your Inc. online experience by registering and joining the Inc. community today. Get access to all Inc.com content and priority invites to free Inc. networking events in your area.

Login using:


Or login directly through Inc.com

Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0

Totally free and open-source, but lacking some key functions.

By John Fried | 
 

What It Is

The upstart from the Firefox browser folks. Their applications are open source, meaning anyone can modify them. As a result, there's a big community of developers eager to create add-on applications.

Cost

Free. It doesn't get any better than that.

Features

Customizable tool bar and integrated news reader. Can create "saved search folders" that list messages according to criteria you set up. Lots of add-ons, including SunBird, for calendaring, and Enigmail, for encrypting and decrypting e-mails.

Security

Thunderbird's junk mail filter requires you to first train it. Then it puts spam in a separate folder or deletes it. Doesn't allow scripts to run automatically, which can keep viruses and worms from spreading. No phishing filter, but expect one in version 1.1.

Pros

Can't beat the price. Plus, Thunderbird runs on any operating system. And all those add-ons designed by developers allow you to piece together the specific functions you need for your business. Finally, Thunderbird is so new it's relatively immune to the kinds of attacks that have plagued Outlook.

Cons

Still new, still growing. Doesn't have all the functions of the more mature e-mail clients. Plus, its open-source nature leaves its future somewhat unclear.

Read more:

  • 9 Most Common Start-up Mistakes
  • Accelerator vs. Incubator: What's the Difference?
  • How Pinterest Really Makes Money

    • Sign-up for our Technology Newsletter