The iOS 13 update has been a nightmare for Apple. It brought tons of problems for the user and broke essential services like Apple Mail for many. Majority is already looking for Apple Mail alternatives. In our search, we came across two excellent options for Apple Mail on iOS, Outlook and Spike mail.
Microsoft bought the famous email application Acompli and rebranded it as Outlook mail. After a while, the software giant bought another productivity tool called Sunrise Calendar and integrated its functions into the Outlook mail application. All in all, it is one of the best email apps on the iOS platform.
Spike Mail takes a different route to attract users. It eliminates unnecessary elements in the mail and only shows the relevant information to the user. Their unique approach has earned them many users in a short time.
In this post, we’ll compare Outlook and Spike over UI, features, calendar plugin, theme, price, and more. Lets start.
Cross-Platform Availability
Here’s a tie. I expected Outlook to sweep the floor with accessibility on every platform, including Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. But surprisingly Spike Mail is also available on all major platforms like Outlook.
user interface
Microsoft nailed it here. Outlook Mail is one of the best looking email apps out there. The attention to detail is excellent. Iconography, UX and gestures are wonderfully designed. It uses the Blue/White theme which also matches the desktop counterparts. The app also supports iOS 13 dark mode.
Spike follows the standard iOS design for the user interface. I like that the app throws a hamburger and sticks to submenus for navigation. The entire UI is designed to look like a chat app. This is the unique factor of Spike and the main reason why the app attracts many new users.
Email Organization
Currently, it is essential to invest in an email application that offers a capable email organization. Apple Mail loses on this front. As for Outlook, it offers ‘Focused Inbox’ functionality that filters junk emails and shows users only the relevant ones.
You can find the remaining emails in the Other Inbox or Spam folder. The entire system is AI-driven, and you can even manually set rules for email to get into the Focused Inbox. Microsoft provides this flexibility. Another good addition is the Unsubscribe button. You don’t have to scroll down to find this little unsubscribe option, the app already offers this option. Tap on it and you’re ready to go.
Speaking of Spike, it will remind you of Google Inbox. It shows the conversations of the most important people at home. The rest is stored in the Other inbox. Spike also allows you to unsubscribe or block email senders from the email menu.
You can touch the relevant mail and move it to the priority box to see it on the home screen. You can also access the most used conversations from the top user profiles.
Calendar Integration
As I mentioned earlier, Outlook provides a solid calendar experience in the app. It was recently featured in our top five calendar apps for iOS list. In addition to the basic event, event entries can be retrieved from Facebook, Evernote and Wunderlist.
The interesting calendar is the perfect addition. Users can add sporting events from Cricket, Tennis, Basketball and Football. They can also integrate TV series programming by region.
Spike’s calendar plugin is pretty simple. You can tap the top left corner and select calendars to make them available in the app. When adding an event, details such as event name, time, notes, attachment, URL and more can be added.
Features Plenty
Microsoft Outlook allows you to add a custom signature. It also supports iOS widget and long press menu to create a new mail, new event or view calendar. I like the addition of a filter menu and a powerful search. It delivers you to the e-mail you are looking for quickly.
Other features include support for Siri Shortcuts, Face ID protection for an extra layer of security, and the ability to open web links in any browser of your choice. As a Microsoft product, it syncs perfectly with the Microsoft To-Do app. An email can be flagged in Outlook and saved in the Flagged Email section in the task management application.
I always use it. I mark my Credit Card statement and set a reminder to pay the bill in the Microsoft To-Do app.
Spike’s biggest feature is how it handles email conversations with friends or family. He removes unnecessary elements and presents only in the form of chat / media.
You can also create groups and group chat via email; Spike will make this feel like a normal group chat of an IM app. The remaining functions include Face ID support, swipe gestures, and email snooze.
Price
Microsoft Outlook is completely free to use. However, the Mac desktop app requires an Office 365 subscription. Spike is mostly free for personal use. There is a Pro version that costs $6 per month. With this, you get automatic rules, video meetings, audio meetings, unlimited group chats and more.
Reach Inbox Zero
As you can see from the comparison above, both Outlook and Spike are excellent alternatives to Apple Mail. Outlook surpasses Spike with Focused Inbox, better Calendar integration, and a better user interface. Spike is better for conversation and group emails than direct. The overall organization is superior to Microsoft Outlook.
Next: Apple Calendar is another Apple app with below average user interface and features. Read the post below to find the best alternatives for it.
