At the beginning of this year, I decided to ditch Gmail for the first time in about 15 years. It was not my plan to let down Google’s email app, as I have always enjoyed features such as Proofread, Confidential Mode, and Undo Send ( this one saved me once when I almost sent an email meant for my wife to my boss). But that does not mean it’s the best option for everyone.
Over time, the Gmail app stopped feeling like a tool for sending and receiving emails and became like a marketer trying to sell me Google’s services. From the push for smart features that I don’t need to ads and the cluttered, AI-supported interface, checking my emails became a chore.