Email stands at the center of my online life and, like most of the world, this has meant Gmail. Of all the options, Gmail is one of the most convenient choices since it integrates with many other services I often use. But since I’ve been seeking ways to de-Google my life, I started searching for other options.
For the past several months, I’ve been using Vivaldi’s built-in email client; it makes Gmail feel very stuck. It’s redefined how I imagine email services, and I probably won’t be going back to using my regular Gmail account.
Gmail’s Cage
Familiarity that limits power-user flexibility
I used to be a fan of Gmail labels. They seemed flexible, but I soon realized they make my workflow feel cumbersome. If you receive hundreds of emails daily, your labels and nested labels begin to break down, and the entire setup starts to feel like a puzzle. Vivaldi’s approach is to use local folder hierarchies. Even though it behaves like a traditional client, it supports multiple tags that give me real control over the structure of my inbox.
Managing multiple accounts with Gmail is another limiting point. While the multiple browser tabs I have to open seem familiar and typical, they quickly become very disruptive and inefficient. Vivaldi’s unified inbox addresses this. All accounts stay visible side by side, and I can apply filters across them without pausing my workflow.
Also, you typically get threaded conversations, preset sort orders, and column layouts as the default Gmail interface. These subtly dictate my behavior and how I interact with messages. I didn’t even know a better alternative could exist until I experienced rearranging panels, columns, and sorting mechanisms based on my habits in Vivaldi. The interface adapts to me rather than demanding compliance with certain defaults.
Instant Flow
Handling hundreds of emails effortlessly
I find Gmail’s search to be quite effective. However, it’s dependent on the Google backend, and if you have very large accounts, you may start to notice that your searches take a few seconds longer than typical. Also, search may not handle partial matches intuitively.
On Vivaldi’s email client, everything is indexed locally. This way, you get near-instant searches across all connected accounts and folders. This is even the case for more complex search queries that include tags, dates, or sender information.
Another pain point with Gmail is the bulk operations. If I have to select, tag, archive, or move hundreds of messages, I usually perform a lot of repetitive clicks and navigate several menus. This sometimes leads to cascading errors when I miss threads.
I perform similar operations on Vivaldi within seconds using multi-selection, context-aware commands, and drag-and-drop. If you’re handling several accounts or active projects, you’ll realize that these features afford you real email management efficiency.
Own Your Mail
Control messages, servers, and data
Google’s servers lock you to IMAP, and it’s one of the more frustrating bits. It means that your entire archive will only exist if Google chooses to maintain it. You don’t get real transparency into how your data is handled beyond the terms of its service.
Vivaldi doesn’t impose the same restriction; it connects to providers and your self-hosted servers using POP3 or IMAP. This means you have total control over where and how your emails exist.
Gmail’s data exporting is also limited. You can download your mail and other information Google holds on you using Google Takeout, but if you have large archives or even a complex label hierarchy, the process becomes quite unwieldy. You may need extra steps to convert files, and it becomes unreliable when you need to restore them to another system.
Vivaldi gives real freedom here with clean data export in various formats. It doesn’t take guesswork or luck to perfectly restore or migrate an archive. What stands out most is how Vivaldi doesn’t lock you into its ecosystem. I easily integrate calendars, feeds, and task management from other systems, while Gmail pushes dependence on Google’s ecosystem.
Workflow as Art
Multitasking made intuitive and visual
Gmail’s biggest structural weakness may be its multitasking capabilities. When writing a message, if I need to reference a thread, I must open new browser tabs or a new window. This ruins my focus and adds too many layers of friction.
Vivaldi avoids this with split views and tabbed navigation support within the same interface. I can compare two accounts side by side, without needing any extra tabs. Keyboard shortcuts are great when multitasking, but on Gmail, they somehow feel like half measures. I had to memorize them. With Vivaldi, I customize my own shortcuts, including macros and panel-specific navigation, so they stick. They increase my speed, and my workflow doesn’t feel forced.
Vivaldi’s email client gives a smooth user experience. Rather than bouncing between open applications, I can glance, decide, and act within the same window.
It’s time to leave Gmail behind and switch to Vivaldi’s email app
It’s not an exaggeration when I say my Gmail now feels stuck. Yes, I’ve used Gmail all these years without complaining about basic functionality, but now that I’ve tried the Vivaldi email client, I don’t see myself going back.
Vivaldi is an underdog as far as browsers go, but it’s packed with features that solve daily challenges. I’m fast becoming a fan, and the email client plays a major role. So, I guess the real question is, will you be switching to this underrated browser?
