Spike

Spike is an email client and collaboration hub that reshapes email threads into chat-like conversations and brings AI tools, calls, notes and tasks together. It is best for people consolidating existing email accounts or teams that want shared inboxes and workspace tools alongside email. Its broad feature set is balanced by meaningful storage, upload and account limits on the lower plans.

Overview

Spike works with existing accounts from Gmail, Office 365 or Outlook, Exchange, iCloud, Yahoo and other IMAP providers. A unified inbox and scheduled sending make it more than a single-provider client, while calendar tools connect to Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar. Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive are supported for cloud attachments.

Spike AI can draft messages and replies, summarize conversations and act as an assistant. That can help reduce routine inbox work, though the free tiers cap queries for several AI features. Spike also says messages are encrypted with AES-256 using a private key for each message, and that it undergoes periodic external security audits; it identifies Bishop Fox as the firm behind an independent audit. The service is ad-free and says it does not rent, sell, distribute or monetize user data, though it may use non-personal data to improve the service.

Key features

Email and AI

Chat-like email threads give Spike a distinct approach to reading and responding, and support for multiple providers suits people managing accounts in one place. The free Email App plan is restrictive for heavier use: one address, 60 days of search history, 1 GB of storage and 30 MB uploads. Pro raises the address allowance to three, removes the search-history limit and permits 100 MB uploads, but includes 5 GB of storage.

Teamspace

Teamspace adds channels, shared inboxes, groups, collaborative documents and tasks, plus audio and video meetings. It is aimed at teams creating a new address and working together, rather than individuals simply improving an existing inbox. The free Starter tier allows three members and one teamspace; paid tiers increase storage and upload limits and add team features.

Pricing

Spike has separate Email App and Teamspace plan tracks, with a free option in each and no free trial. Paid prices below are billed annually.

• Email App Free — free: One email address, 60 days of search history, 1 GB storage, 30 MB file uploads and 1:1 video calls. It is suitable for light use, but the storage and single-address caps can quickly constrain people with several accounts or larger attachments.
• Email App Pro — $6 a month: Per user, up to three email addresses, unlimited search history, 5 GB storage, 100 MB uploads and priority support. This is the sensible step up for multi-account users who need better search and attachment capacity, though the address and storage caps remain.
• Email App Ultimate — $12 a month: Per user, unlimited email addresses, unlimited search history, 20 GB storage, 1 GB uploads and VIP support. It fits people with many accounts or frequent large attachments; video call recording and SAML-SSO are marked “SOON.”
• Teamspace Starter — free: Up to three members, one teamspace, 60 days of search history, 15 GB storage per member and 15 MB uploads. It offers a no-cost way for a small group to try the shared workspace, with a small upload cap.
• Teamspace Team — $4 a month: Per member, unlimited search history, 100 GB storage per member, 100 MB uploads, a shared inbox and a free custom email domain for one year. It is the strongest fit for teams that need shared email and room to collaborate without moving to the higher storage tier.
• Teamspace Business — $8 a month: Per member, 1 TB storage per member, 500 MB uploads and VIP support. Video call recording and SAML-SSO are marked “SOON.” Choose it for substantially larger per-member storage and uploads, not for features marked as forthcoming.

Starter and Free are the zero-cost options; the paid Teamspace price is per member, so team costs scale with seats. The Email App plans are priced per user. Standard support is included with Starter, priority support with Team and Pro, and VIP support with Business and Ultimate.

Platforms

Spike supports Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Linux is not among its supported platforms, so users who need a Linux client should consider another option.

Who it's for

Choose the Email App if you want to upgrade an existing email setup or manage multiple accounts in a unified inbox. Choose Teamspace if your group wants shared inboxes, channels and collaborative work tools around a new address. Spike is less compelling for users who need generous free email storage, large free uploads or Linux support.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad provider support and a unified inbox help consolidate existing accounts.
• Pros: Teamspace combines shared inboxes with channels, collaborative documents, tasks and meetings.
• Pros: The free Teamspace tier supports up to three members, while paid tiers raise storage and upload limits.
• Cons: Email App Free is limited to one address, 1 GB storage and 30 MB uploads, making it a narrow fit for demanding inboxes.
• Cons: Pro still caps users at three addresses and 5 GB storage; unlimited addresses require Ultimate.
• Cons: Linux is unsupported, and some Business and Ultimate features are marked “SOON.”

Alternatives

For a free email client with no-cost support for email, calendar, contacts and multiple accounts, consider Mozilla Thunderbird, an open-source option available on Linux as well as desktop platforms and Android. If you want a free plan for up to five users, one domain and 5 GB of mail storage per user, Zoho Mail is a better fit. Spark Mail offers a free plan with unlimited email accounts, Smart Inbox and calendar; choose it if that free account capacity matters more than Spike’s Teamspace features. Newton Mail has a free plan capped at two email accounts, 15 read receipts monthly and 20 AI actions daily, which may suit someone whose needs fit those limits.

Epistles Mail has a free plan for two connected accounts and supports Linux; its Pro plan is $35 per y. eM Client offers a free plan for two email accounts on one device and a Personal plan at $39.95 a year. Canary Mail has a free core-inbox plan and a seven-day trial of paid features. Saymail offers a free email client with no time limit and support for IMAP, Gmail and Outlook accounts.

Browse more options in Email clients or AI Personal Assistants.

Verdict

Spike is a strong choice for people who want one workspace for existing email accounts and for teams that value shared inboxes and collaboration tools. Its differentiator is the combination of chat-like email, AI assistance and Teamspace. Look elsewhere if you need Linux support, a generous free email allowance or more than three addresses without paying for Ultimate.