You now have another major alternative to the built-in Mail app on your Mac. Microsoft has made Outlook for Mac free to use. You previously needed either a Microsoft 365 subscription or an Office purchase to use the email client. It's available now through the Mac App Store.
Source: Engadget
Outlook.com web version is free. Hopefully they make the desktop version free also!
nope
Windows Store has a free 365 app that includes and image of Outlook but it is likely to be heavy with advertising or a trial. I haven't been motivated enough to test it. Thunderbird does what I want, apart from losing the occasional draft.
Store also has a free Microsoft mail and calender app that is said to support "Office 365, Exchange, Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo! and other popular accounts." I haven't been tempted there either. Microsoft get enough personal data from me already!
The store app works like the iPad apps. "Free" to download, but to actually use it you need a current subscription to 365.
I have been using it since last 6 months, when it wasn't free?
Assuming it’s because you have a MS Office sub.
May be you have Office 365 subscription??
Maybe something something sub
Maybe you were lucky?
Could have been a glitch, bit-rot on Microsoft server flipped a one to a zero and accidentally provisioned you a license for Outlook.
Maybe it's Maybelline?
Out of all the other possibilities, this one is maybe most likely
Because you are worth a free product!
I was also using it. I most definitely did not have a subscription, too.
Outlook for MAC has some nice features that windows version lacks - like when moving mail to a folder you can search for the folder rather scrolling through the list of folders you have.
Surely you jest
I find Outlook for Mac lacks a lot of features that the Windows version has. Even some basic features, like being able to export a mail folder to an archive file. Plus, it archives to a format incompatible with the Windows version of Outlook (.olm).
Instead of improving the feature list, Microsoft gave it a facelift with a visual redesign.
I believe there is the ability to switch the macOS Outlook back to the older version which is more feature rich (but still not on par with Windows version).
Yep, that shortcut is literally one of the only ways in which Outlook for Mac is better than Windows.
Outlook for Mac is much worse than for Windows. Though it looks nicer…
- no email count at the bottom
- can't have multiple columns unless reading pane is off / at the bottom, even on a 1440p screen
- can't use PST files
- can't copy attachments to paste into other (even Microsoft) apps, have to download it first
- etc
The other thing i think works better on apples mail app is the move option, it suggests where to move items based on where you have moved similar items (same sender etc) previously. Outlook mac move cycles through recent folders - and only shows 10 most recent so you have to use choose folder and search more often than not.
Also although probably not best practice, the current outlook for mac you cant move mail between different exchange accounts (you can on apples mail app, and outlook pc).
Outlook Mac also displays Exchange Online Archive if you use exchange and have this enabled on a Microsoft 365 Business account, mac os mail does not.
Even though I am an apple user i use Outlook as my mail client on both Mac and iPhone. Although it is missing some features i liked in the Mail app i find it far more reliable, particularly with multiple large exchange accounts.
I use Outlook for work so knowing how many emails are in a folder is a way for me to know when I need to start pruning.
I have a Mac for work and for personal use. I've resorted to using Parallels to be able to use a more (in my view) functional version of Outlook on the Mac.
Could someone enlighten me on the difference between features in Office 2019 for Mac and Office 2021 for Mac? Both seem to run on the same versions in the end (currently 16.70)
The outlook for mac has a good and snappy feeling to it. But I suspect this will also be inline with being one of their last versions that's a native Outlook app as well.
For the Windows/Desktop one, I know they're trialing an electron version, still doesn't feel native enough sometimes, but I think that's where they are heading for some of their apps.
How does it perform compared to the native Mail app?
I think it also has calendar invites and contacts sync with office 365 if you are in the MS ecosystem.
Not sure about MacOS but on windows miles ahead
i am in interested in performance rather than functionality
I would have thought performance of a mail app would be measured by it's functionality.
What performance are you chasing?
@cheaplee: Performance is the non-functional part of an app relating to speed, responsiveness, resource usage etc
Much better
My work requires me to use outlook on iOS and and iPadOS devices.
We are told it is to simplify their IT systems, profile management and security.
Outlook combines mail and calendar in the one app. I find that requires additional steps and would prefer them to be separate, and I find the separate app icons with notifications more, well handy. Others prefer the combined approach.
With regard Apple Mail, I find it is better in iOS and iPadOS than on the Mac. The search function for example, works much better. I really don’t like the the Outlook search function on any Apple device. Outlook search is much better on windows.
Regardless of version though, outlook really sucks with management of annoying spam etc.
already came with my office
Microsoft outlook is the worst spam filtering software ever ! They get into my push notifications even when I block sender or report as spam.
Same here fkn does me
Yes! The dumbest system. It flagged a text only email from a family member with an address I sent hundreds of emails to over tbe years AND who was replying to an email I recently sent them! How dumb an algorithm can you get
Hate using this on my work computer, no way this thing touches my personal. Spark all the way.
Same, there's no way I'd use Outlook anywhere I don't have to / when I'm not being paid to.
Oh and if you use gmail, outlook integration is an abomination and can really (profanity) things up the way it transfers between folders and labels.
The only reason I don't use Outlook on my personal computer is because using it reminds me of work.
That’s more than enough reason
Legacy Mac version is bearable. The search finction in comparison to Mail is terrible! Mail is also declining IMHO.
How many people still use outlook? Most personal emails are on web.
Using an app lets you access all your mail accounts in one place (different people will have different reasons for multiple accounts -work, personal, business, web site sign ups, etc).
Contrary to other opinions, I liked Outlook (version 2010), which never had an issue but conversation grouping was not what it could be. Outlook 2010 is no longer supported and that means it is a risk for malware so I moved to Thunderbird.
Thunderbird was regularly losing drafts, refusing to save saying it was saving a draft in the background but I only ever respond to things one at a time. I hope that issue was remedied last night with the removal of an add-on that helps me organise my conversations but it leaves me wanting a better way to group conversations.
Mac mail is better than outlook, however, so why would you want to downgrade?
the search still sucks balls in outlook for mac. Can't find anything :(
![[macOS] Microsoft Outlook for Mac - Now Free to Use @ Mac App Store](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/47/761047.jpg?h=1246763f)
Is it free on windows too?