Comparing Four .Eml File Viewers

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.EML files are email messages that are text encoded files, formatted according to RFC-822, an open standard.  There are several Windows software applications that will open .eml files.  To  save time and money, the capabilities of the .eml viewer you select should closely match your needs.  For example, if you only have a few .eml messages to open, you could use a free online solution.  If your need is for bulk email archiving, or converting many eml files into pdf files, you’ll want a viewer that is able to search and manage thousands of .eml files at once.

This article looks at four different products for opening .eml files.  We’ve arranged these solutions based on their capabilities, from least to greatest. We hope one of them will match your specific needs. All of them offer free trial downloads, so you can make sure it’s the best .eml viewer for your needs.

MessageViewer Online

If you only have a few .eml files that you want to read, try MessageViewer Online, a free online .eml viewer. To use MessageViewer Online, you upload your .eml file. The email is converted into a web page and is then displayed in your web browser.  Email file attachments can be downloaded by clicking on a link.

An .eml file was uploaded to MessageViewer Online and is displayed in a web browser.
.EML file displayed with MessageViewer Online

In addition to .eml files, MessageViewer online can also open .msg and winmail.dat files. The emails are deleted within moments after your session ends. This is a free service offered by the developer, Encryptomatic LLC, to demonstrate a commercial email parsing software component. No information is retained or collected from the email files.

An alternative to using MessageViewer Online would be to install a free email client that can open .eml files, such as Mozilla Thunderbird.

MessageViewer Lite

MessageViewer Lite is an affordable email viewer  ($24.99) for Windows. It opens .eml, .msg and winmail.dat files.  MessageViewer Lite was the inspiration for MessageViewer Online, and uses the same email rendering engine.

MessageViewer Lite is a favorite of system administrators who want to deploy a quality email viewing tool for their clients. It can be set as the Windows default file handler, so opening .eml or .msg files is as easy as clicking on them.  Multiple viewing windows may be open simultaneously. Text can be copied from the email, and the .eml file can be printed.  File attachments can be saved to a folder with drag and drop ease.  If you need a simple .eml viewer that has no learning curve and that has been tested in enterprise environments (.msi installer file is available), then MessageViewer Lite should be on your short list.

Affordable .eml viewer for Windows, main screen showing a email message.
MessageViewer Lite, affordable .eml viewer for Windows

 

MessageViewer Lite .eml viewer, file menu drop down.
MessageViewer Lite File menu

 

EML Viewer Lite

EML Viewer Lite ($29.99, also known as Pst Viewer Lite) has many more capabilities than MessageViewer Lite. It can browse and search a directory of thousands of .eml files. It also opens Outlook .pst, .msg and winmail.dat files.

Eml Viewer Pro displaying a html .eml file.
EML Viewer Lite main screen

 

Eml Viewer Lite main screen.
EML Viewer Lite Mail Menu.
Eml Viewer Lite menu items.
EML Viewer Lite toolbar puts important functions front and center
Saving .eml files as .MHTML files.
Convert an email to PDF, HTML, MHT and other formats

Emails can be individually printed, or converted to different formats, including PDF, HTML, MHT, Text, PNG, GIF, BMP or TIFF.

EmlViewer Lite tools are selectable from the toolbar.
EML Viewer Lite toolbar

The EML Viewer Lite makes it easy to reply, forward or reply-all to .eml files using your Windows default email client.  You can also individually add .eml files to an existing pdf file, creating a PDF suitcase of emails.

EML Viewer Lite gives you a lot of high-end email content management functionality at a very low price. An MSI installer is available for enterprise deployment, and a 15 day free trial is available from the product website.

EML Viewer Pro

EML Viewer Pro ($79.99)  is the most capable eml file viewer on the market. It has all of the same features as the Lite version, and a lot more.  EML Viewer Pro will open .eml files, as well as .pst, .ost, .msg, winmail.dat, and .mhtml files.   Email messages can be converted individually or in bulk to many formats, including .pdf, mbox, eml, csv (Excel), text, and image formats such as jpg, gif, tiff, bmp and png.

The main difference between Pro and Lite is the export function. While Lite can export emails individually, Pro can convert or print them in batches of thousands of emails.

EmlViewer Pro email list organizes .eml email files.
EML Viewer Pro application window

EML Viewer Pro lets you setup custom export profiles that can accomplish multiple tasks in one operation, such as applying a specific naming scheme to the files it creates. It can export multiple emails into a single PDF file. There are several options for managing .eml file attachments while converting to PDF. For example, you tell EML Viewer Pro to try and convert the attachments into the PDF image, embed the attachments as files, extract the file attachments to a folder, or ignore them altogether.

EML Viewer Pro supports bulk printing of emails, and bulk conversion to PDF.  A MSI file is available for enterprise deployment.

Pick your eml viewer

When choosing a viewer for opening .eml files, its important to get the one with the capabilities you require.  Whether your needs are simple or very complex, one of these four eml viewers should help you accomplish your goal. Download a trial of the eml viewer that is closest to your needs and try it out free for fifteen days.

 

The Best .EML Viewer Software for Your Needs

Are you looking for the best way to open .eml emails on your Windows computer?  You are probably finding are a wide range of choices, from a free software to online viewers, to professional desktop software that can convert .eml to .pdf files and lots of other formats. They all work a little differently, come with different capabilities and support.  Some, unfortunately,  are not  worth the free price and come from questionable sources.

If you are engaged in the hunt to find the best .eml viewer for your needs, then this article is for you. We will look at different options, some of them free, beginning with the most simple .eml viewer, then moving into more capable options.

Free .Eml Viewer

Thunderbird is a free email client that can open .eml files. It requires setting up a full email client, but if you have the time it is a good option. We prefer the portable edition.

Online .Eml Viewer

If you have just a few .eml files and you want to see read them without installing any special software, try Encryptomatic LLC’s free online .eml viewer.  Just upload your file and in seconds it will appear in our web browser. You can then download the file attachments or print it.

Screen shot of the free .eml online file viewer. "Upload and View a .Eml, .Msg or winmail.dat message."
Online .Eml

 

MessageViewer Lite

Windows users who want a simple way to open .eml files should try MessageViewer Lite. After a quick installation, you can open .msg and .eml files by clicking on them. The message will then appear, and you can print it and open the email file attachments. Outlook is not required to use MessageViewer Lite. The integration with the Windows file system makes this an easy solution to use.  MessageViewer Lite can also be deployed in a Citrix enterprise environment, making it an excellent companion to CRM systems that store .eml files as records.  The cost is $24.99 and a free trial is available on the product home page.

Screen shot of an email displayed in MessageViewer Lite .eml file viewer. Access email attachments without Outlook.
Simple .Eml viewer for Windows.

 

PstViewer Lite

Pst Viewer Lite is a capable and affordable Windows email viewer that opens .eml, .msg, .ost and .pst email files. Search email and print. Microsoft Office Outlook is not required. Export a .eml files to .pdf format, or reply/forward the .eml file using your email client. For just $29.99, PstViewer Lite brings more capabilies than just .eml viewing. [Update: PstViewer Lite is now free for personal use]

Screen shot of .eml file viewer, PstViewer Lite.
PstViewer Lite .eml file viewer

Eml Viewer Pro

The most capable and advanced .eml viewer on the market, Eml Viewer Pro is capable of managing folders with thousands or .eml files, as well as .msg, .ost and .pst files.  Eml Viewer Pro will organize your .eml files from nested folders and display them in an organized mail list.  You can search through your .eml files without an indexing delay.  Microsoft Outlook is not required if you need to work with those email file types.

Bulk exporting and conversion of .eml files to pdf, mbox (Thunderbird), Csv (Excel), or even .ODT (Word/LibreOffice) documents is supported. You can also bulk print .eml files to a physical or virtual printer.

Eml Viewer Pro is $79.99.

Screen shot of Eml Viewer Pro .eml file viewer for Windows showing an email rendered on the main menu.
Eml Viewer Pro .eml file viewer and converter

Thanks for reading. We hope this article helps you on your way to discovering the best .eml viewer to meet your specific needs.  If you have any questions please post them in the comments, or email supportline at encryptomatic.com, or use live chat system on this web site.  We are always glad to help.