Thunderbird for iOS: Mozilla starts with the development

Apple Mail for iOS will get an alternative in the near future: Mozilla is preparing a completely new Thunderbird app for iPhones.

The development of the open source email app Thunderbird for iOS has started. That goes out of the Github instance of the developer.

As the developers write on Github, the Thunderbird version for iPhones is to be completely newly developed “to create a high-quality e-mail client tailored to iOS”. The Android variant of the mail app, published in October 2024, is a further development of the K9 app, which was taken over by Mozilla in 2022.

Thunderbird for iOS: First alpha is to be released at the end of 2025

Mozilla has a first for the development of the iOS version coarse schedule. This stipulates that by the end of 2025, a first alpha version with rudimentary functions should be provided via test flight.

Before working on the basic functions, the focus of the development is currently on building the architecture of the app and backend integration.

With regard to the basic functions of the Alpha version, the team first focuses on the display of email messages, and then to be transferred to triage campaigns. Sending simple emails is also on the list.

Mozilla prepares paid pro services

Thunderbird for iOS is not the only construction site at Mozilla. At the end of March 2025, the company announced that it would introduce paid services, which include a mail provider service called Thundermail.

In addition, Thunderbird is to be supplemented by pro services such as an appointment planning tool “Thunderbird Appointment” and with Thunderbird Send-a remake of Send “Firefox Send”. AI functions based on Flower AI are also to become part of the Pro offer with which Mozilla wants to make money.