Transforming Email Management: My Top Mac App for 2022
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Chapter 1: A New Era for Email Clients
I admit it—I tend to get a bit too enthusiastic about email applications. However, the enduring relevance of email as a digital communication tool captivates me. Despite various attempts to replace it with platforms like Slack, most people still rely heavily on their inboxes.
My appreciation for email runs deep; I’ve never comprehended those who say, “Oh, you emailed me? I rarely check my inbox.” Many crucial business opportunities have come my way through email, and neglecting my inbox this year would have cost me significantly.
Thus, it’s no surprise that my Mac app of the year for 2022 is an email client. While that might not sound particularly daring, Spark 3 has utterly transformed my email experience—eliminating inbox anxiety, making inbox zero achievable, and turning email management into a pleasurable task.
Although it has its flaws (which I'll discuss later), there are numerous reasons it captured my attention in 2022.
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How Spark 3 Revolutionized Email Management
The concept of a ‘to-do list’ for email might seem simplistic, but sometimes the smallest changes can yield the greatest impact.
For example, archiving emails has been a common practice for years. While effective when done correctly, Spark 3 has rebranded the 'archive' action as 'done' and introduced a checkbox feature for managing single or multiple emails. The mechanics remain the same—the emails still end up archived—but the new terminology and interface make the process feel much more rewarding and, importantly, addictive.
And let me not forget the sheer satisfaction of hitting the ‘Block’ button on unsolicited emails from marketers peddling questionable services.
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Section 1.1: Reduced Email Anxiety
For far too long, I recognized my shortcomings as an email user. I often marked messages as ‘unread’ to remind myself to address them later—a risky strategy that frequently backfired. My tendency to neglect archiving left my inbox in chaos, creating a constant sense of email-related stress.
Questions like, “Did I respond to that email from so-and-so?” or “Where did that message disappear to?” plagued me. The sheer volume of unread emails in my inbox was daunting, and I frequently wondered how long some had been lurking.
With Spark 3, those worries have dissipated. The engaging ‘done’ checkbox system keeps my inbox organized, and emails can be sorted by sender, priority, or type, making it easy to identify messages that require my attention.
Most importantly, I no longer mark emails as ‘unread’ since I know any message left in my inbox will eventually need my focus. It may sound trivial, but this shift has been monumental for someone who struggled with email for so long.
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Section 1.2: Keeping Track of Important Emails
In the past, one of my largest concerns was losing track of essential email threads, whether they involved sponsor negotiations, potential partnerships, or important financial discussions. It's alarmingly easy to overlook crucial conversations amid a busy inbox.
I shudder to think of how many important discussions I failed to follow up on, but thanks to my newly organized inbox, that’s unlikely to happen again. I now only keep active email threads or those I anticipate needing to revisit soon.
Spark 3’s ‘set aside’ feature allows me to temporarily hold emails for future reference. While it’s a useful idea, I have noticed it can quickly become a way to forget about emails entirely, leading to semi-archiving.
However, Spark 3 isn't without its faults.
Chapter 2: The Shortcomings of Spark 3
No software is perfect, and Spark has its share of minor issues—largely due to its fresh design.
I’ve encountered frustrating crashes, usually when I’m in the middle of composing an email, leading the app to vanish unexpectedly. Although I haven’t lost any drafts, it’s still an annoyance.
Additionally, two notable features from macOS text formatting seem to be missing. The system-wide spelling and grammar autocorrect feature is not integrated, and the Paste and Match Style shortcut is absent despite being available in the Edit menu. These were present in Spark 2, and their omission can be a source of frustration.
If you were a fan of the calendar feature in Spark 2, it’s understandably disappointing that it’s not included in version 3. While I never used it, I know it was popular, and I’ve heard it’s being developed.
Lastly, the new senders feature, although satisfying, does have some bugs. The Accept and Block buttons occasionally fail to function properly, leaving some emails lingering in the holding area.
Despite these minor missteps, the frequent updates since Spark 3’s launch indicate that the developers are committed to improvement.
Runners-Up for My Mac App of the Year
It would be remiss not to mention other notable contenders for my unofficial Mac App of the Year Award. While none are as new and flashy as Spark 3, they have significantly contributed to my business's success this year.
Ulysses continues to impress me as a daily writing and publishing tool. Having previously used Scrivener, iA Writer, Obsidian, and Bear, I find Ulysses unmatched in its combination of distraction-free writing and WordPress integration.
TickTick also deserves a mention. I transitioned to this MKBHD-endorsed task manager from Things 3 earlier this year, and its cross-platform functionality and extensive features have completely won me over.
Finally, Day One remains my go-to journaling app. I’ve been journaling for years, and Day One stays true to its original design ethos, encouraging usage—exactly what I need as a casual journal keeper.
What’s your favorite Mac app of 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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