Out of the blue, Microsoft is turning Outlook for macOS into a free app

In addition to being free, Microsoft Outlook now runs natively on Apple Mac silicon computers. Planned new features such as menu bar view are scheduled to launch soon.

• What’s happening? Microsoft now lets you download and use Outlook on macOS for free without paying anything.
• Why care? Now you can check email, manage calendars and contacts, and more—without a subscription or license.
• What to do? Download Microsoft Outlook on your Mac and give it a try.

Microsoft Outlook for Mac is now a free app

This unexpected change marks a significant break from the past when you needed an Office license or a Microsoft 365 subscription to use Outlook.

In 2018, Microsoft acquired the popular Accompli email app, which became the basis for the rebuilt Outlook mobile app. The Mac client works well on macOS, follows Apple’s visual guidelines, and supports core OS features.

First of all, Outlook now runs natively on Apple silicon systems such as Macs with M1 and M2 processors. The macOS app and its iOS/iPadOS counterpart use the Apple Handoff feature to let you pick up tasks where you left off.

Why you should try Outlook

Like all modern email clients, Outlook for Mac supports swipe gestures to sort incoming messages. Like the mobile version, the Mac version supports the Focused Inbox feature, which removes unwanted emails from the main screen.

Outlook supports all popular email platforms including Gmail, Yahoo Mail, iCloud Mail, Outlook.com and any email provider via IMAP support. The software includes a built-in calendar and contacts, providing a handy widget for calendar entries. It natively supports the Notification Center in macOS.

View menu bar and Focus support

Microsoft has stated that it is not resting on its laurels and will continue to provide new features and functionality to the Outlook Mac app through future updates.

The Windows maker plans to soon add support for Apple Focus modes via Outlook profiles, allowing you to use separate work and personal mailboxes. A menu bar option is also in development, with the ability to quickly view calendar entries with a single click.

“We still have a lot of work to do, and we’re excited to bring many more features to Outlook Mac,”said Jeremy Purdue, product manager for Outlook for Mac. “We’re rebuilding Outlook for Mac from the ground up to be faster, more reliable, and the Outlook for everyone.”

How to download and install Outlook for macOS

Microsoft offers Outlook for macOS in the App Store and as a direct download from its website. To use the Handoff feature on your Mac to start an email in Outlook on one device and continue on another, you must use the App Store version of Outlook.

• Download Outlook for macOS from the App Store (supports Handoff)
• Download Outlook for macOS from Microsoft (no Handoff support)

The app requires macOS Big Sur 11.0 or later.