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Turn email into people-first conversations with private, on-device AI

From $2.50/mo, billed yearly (free plan available)
Freemium Email Clients
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Tracked since 2026

The Bottom Line

Price
From $2.50/mo, billed yearly (free plan available). Compare plans

Key facts

  • Organizes email by person, turning each contact into one continuous conversation while newsletters and receipts are automatically filed into separate Feeds.
  • On-device AI handles writing, translation, summarization, and search without sending data to external servers.
  • Connects directly to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and any IMAP account, with tracking pixels removed before emails are displayed.

Pros

  • Strong privacy protection with direct connection to email providers and on-device AI processing.
  • Innovative people-first organization that reduces inbox clutter by separating personal conversations from bulk mail.
  • Cross-platform support across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a single purchase.

Cons

  • On-device AI features require Apple Intelligence, limiting functionality on older devices.
  • Free tier is limited to one email account, with advanced features requiring a subscription.

What is ChatInbox?

ChatInbox is a private, AI-powered email app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that reimagines email organization by putting people first. It automatically separates conversations with people from newsletters, receipts, and notifications, turning each contact into a single, continuous conversation. The app offers a chat-like reading experience alongside traditional thread view, and includes on-device AI for writing, translation, summarization, and search across emails and attachments. Privacy is a core design principle: ChatInbox connects directly to your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, or any IMAP account) without routing mail through its own servers. Tracking pixels are removed before emails are displayed, and all AI processing happens on your device. The app features a Triage tool that turns today's mail into an actionable plan, and supports voice-based email composition.

Key Features

  • People-first organization with automatic separation of personal conversations from newsletters and receipts.
  • On-device AI for writing emails by voice or text, answering questions, catching up on conversations, and translating emails.
  • Triage tool that sorts today's mail into a plan with one-tap apply and undo.
  • Snooze and follow-up features to manage email timing.
  • Search across emails and attachments, including words inside PDFs.
  • Privacy-focused design with no mail routing through ChatInbox servers and automatic removal of tracking pixels.

Pricing Plans

Free Trial
ChatInbox plans and prices
Plan Price Details
Basic

Free

  • Chat-style email organization
  • Kanban board with tags
  • Email data modeling
+4 more
  • Contact groups
  • Calendar filtering
  • Markdown email editor
  • Cross-device sync
Monthly

$4.99 / mo

  • Everything in Basic
  • Unlimited accounts
  • Unlimited groups and tags
+4 more
  • Advanced search
  • Bidirectional linking
  • Unlock macOS and iOS
  • Priority support
Yearly

$29.99 / year

  • Everything in Basic
  • 7-day free trial
  • Unlimited accounts
+6 more
  • Unlimited groups and tags
  • Advanced search
  • Bidirectional linking
  • Unlock macOS and iOS
  • All future features included
  • 10+ premium features
Lifetime

$59.99 one-time

  • Everything in Basic
  • Pay once, own forever
  • All future features included
+6 more
  • Unlimited accounts
  • Unlimited groups and tags
  • Advanced search
  • Bidirectional linking
  • Unlock macOS and iOS
  • 10+ premium features

Is ChatInbox worth the price?

Good value

The pricing is generous for what it offers, with a robust free tier and a Yearly plan at $2.50/month that undercuts most premium email tools.

The Lifetime option at $59.99 one-time is an exceptional value for long-term users. This is best for individuals or small teams who want AI-powered email organization without recurring high costs.

Full ChatInbox pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How ChatInbox's pricing compares

ChatInbox starts at $2.50/mo, billed yearly. Its direct competitors are priced on a different basis (per user, or in another currency), so each entry price below is shown with its own unit and currency and is not ranked against the others.

ChatInbox
$2.50/mo, billed yearly
$30/mo, billed monthly
$4/member/mo, billed monthly
$4.99/mo, billed monthly
$7/mo, billed monthly
$3/mo, billed monthly

Entry paid plan, monthly price (billing term shown per row), in each tool's own currency.

ChatInbox by the numbers

ChatInbox compared with 31 Email Clients tools on Toolradar, as of Oct 2026
Metric ChatInbox Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 17 of 31 have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 2 tools 2 #16 of 31 (joint)

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Email Clients data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.

Cite this: Toolradar, “ChatInbox by the numbers”, Oct 2026.

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ChatInbox FAQ

How does ChatInbox automatically separate people from newsletters?

ChatInbox automatically identifies and files newsletters, receipts, and notifications into a separate Feeds section, keeping personal conversations with people at the forefront. No manual rules are needed, and you can move a sender between sections at any time.

Can I read emails in a chat-like format?

Yes. You can open any conversation in Messages mode, which displays it as a continuous chat thread with the reply box directly underneath. You can switch to Threads view whenever you want to see full email cards.

Which email providers are supported?

ChatInbox works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and any standard IMAP account. You sign in with your existing email address, and your mail remains with your provider.

How does the on-device AI work for writing emails?

You can compose an email by speaking naturally or typing a few words, and the on-device AI writes the full email in your own style. It can also answer every question someone asked in an email, help you catch up on a long conversation, and translate emails in place.

What is the Triage feature and how does it work?

Triage analyzes today's mail and creates a plan that groups emails into categories: who needs a reply, what can be archived, and old codes you no longer need. You can untick any item, apply the plan with one tap, and undo if you change your mind.

Does ChatInbox store my email or passwords?

No. ChatInbox connects directly to your mail provider without routing mail through its own servers. Passwords and sign-ins are stored in your device's Keychain, not in a database. Tracking pixels are removed before you read an email, and the Privacy Report shows every tracker that was removed.

What is included in the free tier versus the paid plans?

The free tier includes one email account with all core features: People and Feeds organization, Threads or Messages view, Triage, Snooze and follow-ups, search inside attachments, and on-device AI. Premium adds unlimited accounts and Profiles, full mail history, advanced filters, custom notifications, and email templates. A Lifetime option is also available.

Does ChatInbox work on both iPhone and Mac with a single purchase?

Yes. A single purchase works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The free tier is available on all three platforms, and any paid plan (Premium or Lifetime) unlocks features across all your Apple devices.