Switching from Mimestream to Kanmail
Mimestream is a polished, Mac-native Gmail client. People tend to leave it for three reasons: it’s subscription-only (no one-time purchase), it’s Mac-only, and it’s Gmail-only. If any of those is a dealbreaker, here’s how to move to Kanmail.
What changes when you switch
| Mimestream | Kanmail | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Subscription only (~$4.99/mo or ~$49.99/yr), no lifetime licence | One-time purchase, no subscription |
| Platforms | macOS only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Providers | Gmail / Google Workspace only | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Fastmail, any IMAP |
| Layout | Native Gmail-style list | Kanban board — columns you drag email through |
The trade-off to be honest about: Mimestream is deeply tuned to Gmail’s native feel via Google’s API. Kanmail uses well-implemented IMAP with smart label handling and Gmail-style search (why that matters). A different approach, and the board layout is a genuine change in how you work. Try the free version before you buy.
Your email is safe → there’s nothing to export
This is the reassuring part: your mail lives on Gmail’s servers, not inside Mimestream. Switching clients doesn’t move or risk any email. You’re just pointing a new window at the same mailbox. No export, no import, no backup needed.
Steps
- Download Kanmail from kanmail.io and install it (free to try, no time limit).
- Add your Gmail account with Sign in with Google using same OAuth flow you’re used to. (Gmail setup →)
- Your Gmail labels and mail appear in Kanmail automatically.
- Build your board: choose which labels become columns. (Boards & Columns →)
- Add your other accounts too — the Outlook or iCloud address Mimestream couldn’t handle can now sit on the same board.
- When you’re happy, cancel your Mimestream subscription. (Do this last, once Kanmail is set up the way you want.)
After you switch
- Enable copy mode if you want Gmail’s multi-label behaviour when dragging cards.
- Set up colour accents per account and per key sender.
- Learn three keyboard shortcuts to get back to Mimestream-level speed.
Questions about moving over? Email hello@oxygem.com.