Email App Review: Mimestream Gmail App for Mac

Using Gmail on a Mac has always been a bit hit-and-miss.

Because of the way both Apple and Google operate (I.e. making sure you only use their products), it’s often been challenging to pair your Gmail account with a MacOS desktop.

That was until Mimestream came along and decided to just use Gmail’s own API, pair it with an interface that looks like Apple Mail, and come up with a hybrid that does pretty much everything you want it to do.

The best part? It doesn’t take up a whole lot of memory!

In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the Mimestream Gmail app for Mac OS and evaluate its plentiful features, pricing, advantages, disadvantages, and more!

What is Mimestream Gmail App for Mac?

Mimestream is a desktop Gmail app built specifically (and only) for MacOS.

The creator behind the app, Neil Jhaveri, worked for seven years at Apple on their mail app, so he does have some credentials that suggest he knows what he’s doing.

The app launched in 2020, and is still currently in the beta test version.

Its big difference over other email clients is that it has been written using Gmail’s API, rather than IMAP.

This allows Mimestream to map directly onto your Gmail inbox, so it can immediately apply your labels, categories (like Primary, Social, Promotions), and your signatures.

This makes it feel a lot more like Gmail, while it still looks a lot like something you’d find installed on your Mac!

In fact, the Mimestream site shows the kind of attention to detail and information that will appeal to any technophile.

The release notes are long and detailed, explaining every single update and bug fix that Mimestream has ever made.

Most beta-version software developers would content themselves with sharing a roadmap that details the path they will take to be able to launch their product.

Mimestream has opted to take a different approach, and instead has a “roadmap” which shows the various features that have been rolled out, and the ones which are coming soon.

This roadmap even invites users to submit suggestions for other features, and to rate the importance of the updates Mimestream is considering!

Mimestream Gmail App for Mac Features

1. Minimal Memory Usage

Mimestream has been designed to use as little memory as possible.

The app itself is less than 12 megabytes, and even though it can sync with huge numbers of emails, it doesn’t take up massive amounts of working memory.

2. It’s Really Fast to Use

Searching is quick, syncing is quick, and switching between emails is very quick.

If you spend a lot of time cycling through different emails and categories, Mimestream has you covered.

3. Gmail Shortcuts, Categories, and Syncing

Coding the app with Google’s API means that when you connect Mimestream with your Gmail account, it can offer you the same things as you’re used to— rather than having to re-sort labels and categories.

4. Multiple Account Management

If you’re one of the many people who run more than one Gmail account, Mimestream will happily integrate all your accounts in one place.

Additionally, it offers you the ability to reply from a different account than an email arrived at!

5. Tracker Blocking

If you’re not all that enthused about having your internet activity and emails tracked — especially by big companies — then Mimestream offers tracker blocking.

This is a significant benefit, whether or not the tracking is benign.

6. Enhanced Privacy

There is no Mimestream web app— and that’s actually a bonus!

Because the program talks straight to Gmail, your emails aren’t stored on a server somewhere. This means that there is less chance for them to be hacked.

Mimestream looks to be making privacy a priority, as there’s a stated promise to never sell your data.

7. In-App Calendar Responses

At the moment, Mimestream doesn’t sync with Google Calendar.

However, if you get an invite using Google calendar, you can RSVP straight from the app.

8. Multiple Signatures

Again, because Mimestream talks straight to your Gmail, it pulls all your signatures and applies them everywhere you use them. This includes reply-only signatures.

9. Undo Send

Accidentally sent an email before it was ready, or regretting the one you did?

Hey, we’ve all been there. Simply cancel it — easy!

10. Offline Functionality

Since Mimestream caches directly into your computer rather than into an online server, you can access your recent emails when you’re offline, as well as search through them.

11. Mac-Focused Design

Mimestream looks like a Mac product.
It has the sleek user interface of Apple Mail (which is unsurprising, given Mimestream was founded by an Apple employee), uses MacOS swipe gestures, and supports both Apple Silicon and Intel processor Macs.

Mimestream Pricing

Although Mimestream was launched more than two years ago, it’s actually still in beta as a program. So, if you sign up for it, you’re technically not getting the final product.

On the plus side, the test product is still pretty impressive!

There’s even better news — while it’s in beta, Mimestream is free. You can download it, set it up, and use it to your heart’s content… at least until the developers launch it for real.

At the moment, they haven’t decided whether Mimestream will be a single purchase or SAAS subscription model.

This could be a bit of a turn off for some people, given there’s no definitive answer on how much Mimestream will cost (or when users will have to start paying for it).

Mimestream Reviews: What Do People Think of It?

Overall, people seem to really love Mimestream — or at least, the kind of people who review tech stuff do.

The problem with using this as the baseline is that Mimestream kind of feels like it was designed to appeal to these people — plenty of reviewers mention the transparent development process as a plus.

However, the missing functionality of some Gmail features seems to frustrate users who are more interested in having access to a finished product than the ability to suggest new features.

In particular, the lack of a scheduled send function comes up as a roadblock to using it.

Additionally, the fact that it doesn’t work with anything other than Gmail does often come up as a reason users have chosen to forgo it.

The fact it’s not finished might be a pro or a con, depending on what you prioritize.

In terms of free apps, it’s great. However, there are some paid apps out which give you a better experience!

Mimestream Gmail App for Mac Pros and Cons

Pros

👍 It’s Free – At least, for the moment!

👍 Privacy – Tracker blocking, no third-party server storage, and keeping your email private is built into Mimestream’s ethos.

👍 Fast and Light on Memory Usage – This makes it ideal if you’re someone who spends a lot of time cycling through emails and managing different accounts. Searching through Mimestream is often faster than searching on the Gmail website.

Cons

👎 No iOS Support – If you’re looking for something that will put your email on your phone, you’re out of luck here.

👎 Only Works with Gmail – The roadmap promises they’re looking to add support to sync up Outlook and other email providers, but it’s a way off in the future.

👎 Missing Some Features – Scheduled send. Calendar and tasks integration. Vacation replies. Mimestream isn’t just missing some features that other desktop apps have— it’s missing some important features that Gmail itself has!

👎 Unknown Future Pricing Structure – Mimestream’s website doesn’t say when the app will move out of beta to a full launch, and doesn’t have any information about how much it will cost — only that the final software won’t be free.

The Bottom Line: Should You Use Mimestream?

If you use Gmail and a Mac, and you’re looking for an app that is designed specifically for both, you should check out Mimestream.

It might not be the answer you’ve been looking for, but as a free email client it certainly offers a lot.

It’s particularly suited to people with multiple Gmail accounts, and who want to be able to quickly and easily switch between them.

Mimestream also has some great security and privacy features. Additionally, if you’re a technophile, you might particularly enjoy the transparent way Mimestream has been developed, as well as appreciate the opportunity to shape development in the future.

However, Mimestream isn’t going to be for everyone.

Currently, Mimestream still lacks some functionality which other apps offer, and you can only use one type of email and one type of laptop.

Support for use with iOS, Windows, and other email providers are all on the roadmap, but Mimestream certainly isn’t there yet!

Email App Review: Mimestream Gmail App for MacOS