Apple Mail vs Microsoft Outlook:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Outlook had more branded searches than Apple Mail among email clients worldwide. Microsoft Outlook had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Apple Mail had 135,000. Microsoft Outlook made up 83.1% of all email client searches we track, and Apple Mail accounted for 9.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email clients, both Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook appeared in all five answers. Microsoft Outlook was mentioned before Apple Mail in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Outlook, about 9 searches for every 1 for Apple Mail
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Outlook, named ahead of Apple Mail in every answer
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Top email clients in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook showed up in all five answers. Microsoft Outlook was listed before Apple Mail in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Microsoft Outlook1st
Apple Mail2nd
Thunderbird3rd
Spark4th
Proton Mail5th
Superhuman6th
Airmail–
Newton–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Microsoft Outlook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple Mail5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Spark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Thunderbird4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Superhuman3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Proton Mail3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Airmail0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Newton0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about email clients
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which email client should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best email clients?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best email client for daily email management?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“email client”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best email app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Apple Mail or Microsoft Outlook more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight email clients we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Microsoft Outlook | Apple Mail | Spark | Thunderbird | Superhuman | Airmail | Newton | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 86.7% | 7.8% | 1.3% | 2% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 84.8% | 9.3% | 1.3% | 2% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 81.6% | 11% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0.11% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 84.1% | 9.2% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 86.4% | 7.8% | 0.85% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.7% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 85.7% | 7.7% | 1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 0.85% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 84.4% | 7.6% | 1.3% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 1% | 0.11% | 0.01% |
| May 2026 | 84.9% | 7.7% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 0.85% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 85.1% | 7.7% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.25% | 0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 83.5% | 9.2% | 1.5% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 83.8% | 9.3% | 1.5% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 83.1% | 9.2% | 2.8% | 2% | 1.8% | 1% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
How has the Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Outlook was ahead of Apple Mail in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Mail’s share of searches among email clients worldwide moved from 7.8% to 9.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Outlook’s share of searches among email clients worldwide moved from 86.7% to 83.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.8M to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for email clients worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Microsoft Outlook lost share of searches among email clients worldwide, from 83.8% to 83.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Mail worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Mail’s and Microsoft Outlook’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple Mail
1 branded search term
- apple mail
Microsoft Outlook
1 branded search term
- microsoft outlook
Other head-to-heads among email clients
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