Canary Mail vs eM Client
Both replace Mimestream, Spark Premium and Superhuman.
| Fact |  Canary MailAi mail client that still sells a one-time lifetime bundle |  eM ClientMail, calendar and contacts client whose one-time licence covers future versions |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | €39.95 |
| Licence | Lifetime tierA one-time plan of a subscription app | PerpetualUpdates included, forever |
| The catch | Apple's store sells a $99.99 lifetime bundle; the website's Pro+ lifetime is $300 for the same name | VIP Support is free for the first year only, then needs a paid extension |
| Against a subscription | 3 monthsAgainst Shortwave at $360 a year | Replaces Mimestream$50 a year. No payback figure, because we don't convert currencies. |
| Seats | 5 Macs5 devices per licence, and on an All Platforms licence those 5 are shared with iOS, Windows and Android. | 3 MacsOne user, up to 3 devices; Business licences are counted per device instead. |
| Developer account | Required | None needed |
| Works offline | Partly | Partly |
| Apple Silicon | Native | Intel only |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| On Setapp | No | No |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 12 | not established |
| Buy direct | Buy direct |
Both prices read 22 Sep 2026, on the pages these buttons open. App Store rating is not established for either app, so that row is left out.
In their own right
Canary Mail
A cross-platform mail client with end-to-end encryption and an AI assistant, sold as either a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase covering all four platforms.
eM Client
A desktop mail client that also does calendar, contacts, tasks and chat, with PGP and S/MIME built in. The one-time Personal licence includes Lifetime Upgrades, so it stays valid for future major versions rather than only the one you installed.