Outlook is an information management software offered by Microsoft. You can use it in two ways – either as a standalone application or with the entire MS Office package. It provides you with many useful features like email scheduler, task manager, contact manager and more.
Thunderbird, a Mozilla Firefox project, aims to provide you with a cross-platform email management tool. This simplifies the job of managing multiple email accounts. It provides valuable features such as virtual folder, message search and quick search.
Why switch from Thunderbird to Outlook?
Even though Thunderbird offers many useful features, many people still prefer Outlook. There are many typical reasons for switching from Thunderbird to Outlook. We have collected some of them below.
- Spam filtering
The lack of a spam filter option in Mozilla Thunderbird annoys users who rely on it to protect their mailbox from spam. On the other hand, Microsoft Outlook comes preloaded with a robust spam filter that protects you from phishing attacks.
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List of upcoming tasks and meetings
Mozilla Thunderbird cannot organize your daily activities and schedule meetings with colleagues or clients. But these features are available in Outlook, making it easier for users to keep track of tasks.
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Slow product development
Not many developers support Thunderbird, which slows down development and cuts down on updates. In addition, most customers require an application that is always up to date and has quick access to new versions.
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Workflow optimization
Automation of the email message management process is not possible in Thunderbird. MS Outlook allows you to set up automated process rules.
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Scalability and Security
It is important for any business to have an email system that is integrated with a high level of security and is able to scale as the business grows. Mozilla Thunderbird does not have built-in security features. As a result, MS Outlook is a great option.
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Requires an add-on to configure the mail client
POP3, IMAP, and SMTP email protocols are supported by Thunderbird, but none of them can be configured without an add-on. But all these email accounts can be set up in MS Outlook without any add-ons.
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Using multiple email accounts at the same time
Thunderbird can handle multiple email accounts, although there are limitations. However, MS Outlook can use multiple email accounts at the same time, including IMAP and POP.
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Communications integration
Thunderbird does not have any communication tools associated with it. But a communication tool like MS Teams is already integrated with Outlook.
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Easy to use interface
With regular updates and new features, Mozilla Thunderbird does have a solid user interface, but Outlook’s user experience is much better.
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Frequent updates
MS Outlook receives regular improvements to maintain its reliability and trust. On the other hand, Thunderbird is not receiving any updates due to a lack of developers.
Some features of Outlook that will make your life easier
Reminder to attach a file
Whenever you write an email and include words like attachments or attachments but forget to attach them, Outlook won’t allow it. It will remind you to attach the file you discussed in the email. In the receipt reminder, you can stop the sending process and see what you forgot.
Mentions
You have probably sent out an email to several colleagues, but you only need one or two of them to reply? In this case, most people are likely to use text effects such as bold or underline to make their names stand out. But now you have another better option.
- Type @ followed by your colleague’s name. You will see how many things are happening.
- The name will be added to the line of your email message.
- You will notice the name highlighted in the body of the message.
- When your colleagues receive the message, the @ symbol will show them that their name is being mentioned.
Ignore unwanted conversation
If you are an employee of a large company, then this has probably happened to you at least once. There is an email thread that distracts you from your real work. Perhaps someone just added you to a mailing list without your permission.
Now there is no need to delete every message that enters the thread. You can ignore the entire conversation. All messages from this conversation will be transferred to the Deleted Items folder without even disturbing you.
How to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook 2016 and 2019?
For people who want to export Thunderbird to Outlook, manual approaches and professional third-party programs are available. The manual method requires a high level of technical skill, while the professional software method is more user friendly.
To manually import Thunderbird emails to Outlook, follow these steps:
- Using Gmail IMAP, export Thunderbird emails to Outlook.
- Use the drag and drop method to transfer Thunderbird to Outlook.
Use a professional tool
To convert an MBOX file to PST, you can use Stellar to MBOX Converter, which can be purchased online. By using this tool, you can save a lot of time. It’s easier to use than other programs on the market. It is a state-of-the-art software developed with an advanced algorithm that smoothly converts Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook PST. It focuses on data integrity and preserves it during conversion. With a user-friendly GUI, you can access many filter features.
Conclusion
Businesses are migrating to MS Outlook from Mozilla Thunderbird to take advantage of its unique features. This blog discusses the reasons that call for migrating Thunderbird data to MS Outlook. Besides, it also talks about different ways to export Thunderbird mailboxes to MS Outlook.