Source-backed analysis11
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
11 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 11, 2026
How we review
Talanoa Review
Chat-style email client that keeps mail on your device
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Fact-checked
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Talanoa suits people who want a sender-based inbox with tasks and a calendar built in, and who want mail stored on their own device. The trade-offs are a very young product (1.0 shipped in October 2026), an interface in English and French only, and security claims that mostly come from the vendor.
Best for: Heavy email users who want conversations grouped by person and emails turned into tasks
Skip it if: Teams that need shared inboxes or central administration; the official pages do not describe such features
Pros
- Messages appear as chat bubbles with quotes and signatures hidden, plus a view grouped by person
- Tasks with due dates and the original email attached, and a built-in calendar (editable recurring events, CalDAV from 1.2.1)
- Works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo and any IMAP mailbox, and offline
Cons
- Young product: 1.0.0 shipped on 14 Oct 2026, the AI section is labelled "Currently in beta" and the iPhone app is still in beta
- Interface in English and French only
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Privacy policy states mail and OAuth tokens stay on the device; the Free plan is ongoing with no card required
- Frequent releases: 10 versions between 14 Oct and 11 Nov 2026; reviewers praise a responsive developer
More cons
- The homepage advertises "zero telemetry" while the privacy policy turns usage data on by default; CASA certification and the audit are vendor claims with no date, scope or report
- Free is limited to one account and 5 tasks with no mobile app; the pricing page states no refund policy
Best for
- People who prefer local mail storage and offline use
Skip it if
- Users who need a finished iPhone app; the homepage says the iPhone app is still in TestFlight beta
Experience & key features
Talanoa is an email client from E2MA LABS for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android, with an iPhone app in TestFlight beta. Its name means "discussion" in Fijian, according to the homepage. The author introduced it on Hacker News on 30 April 2025, when it ran only on macOS and only with Gmail.
Each message shows as a chat bubble with quotes and signatures hidden, and mail can be grouped by person. An email can become a task with a due date, status and notes, with the original attached. The built-in calendar accepts invitations, shares booking links and, since 1.1.3, edits recurring events. The AI features (plain-language search, summaries, reply drafts, translation) are labelled beta, and the vendor says they run locally.
Free is limited to one account, 2 blocks/unsubscribes per month, 5 tasks and no mobile app. Pro removes those limits and adds the mobile app and priority support for $10 per month or $90 per year ($7.50/month). Both plans are for individual users.
Compared with email apps such as Superhuman, Talanoa differs by grouping mail by person and keeping it on the device. Maturity is the main consideration: Trustpilot has only 11 reviews and notes the company has not recently invited reviews. No credible reports of breaches, lawsuits or billing disputes were found.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 11, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
One email account, 2 blocks/unsubscribes per month, up to 5 to-do tasks; the mobile app is not included.
Pro
Personal$10/mo
$7.50/mo billed yearly
Unlimited email accounts, blocks/unsubscribes and Kanban tasks, plus the mobile app (iOS and Android) and priority support. $10 per month, or $90 per year ($7.50/month).
- Free plan limits
- The Free plan is ongoing and needs no credit card: one account, 2 blocks/unsubscribes per month, 5 tasks, no mobile app.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pricing page states no refund policy. You can cancel anytime and keep access until the end of the billing period.
Privacy
The privacy policy (updated 2 Nov 2026) says emails and OAuth tokens stay on the user's device and are "never uploaded to our servers". The vendor still stores account data (name, email, operating system, Stripe customer ID, held in Supabase), receives Sentry crash reports and collects usage data: in-app actions, pseudonymously linked to the account, excluding email content, kept 13 months, on by default and switchable off in Settings. That sits uneasily with the homepage's "Zero tracking, zero telemetry" and the security page's "No analytics on your behaviour". The vendor says its AI runs locally and that it holds CASA Tier 2 after a TAC Security audit; the security page gives no audit date or scope, and the privacy policy does not mention AI.
Talanoa alternatives
Controversies & incidents
Issues documented by the press, regulators, courts or the vendor itself. Every item is sourced; unproven claims are labelled as allegations. Last researched: Nov 11, 2026
No significant controversies or incidents found in the sources we checked.
Frequently asked questions
Is Talanoa free?
Yes. The ongoing Free plan needs no card and covers one email account, 2 blocks/unsubscribes per month and 5 tasks, but not the mobile app. Pro costs $10 per month or $90 per year.
Where does Talanoa store my email?
According to its privacy policy, emails and OAuth tokens are stored on your device and not uploaded to the vendor's servers. The vendor still stores account data and collects usage data by default (it can be turned off in Settings).
Which platforms and accounts does Talanoa support?
macOS, Windows, Linux and Android, with the iPhone app in TestFlight beta. It works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo and any IMAP account. The mobile app is part of Pro.
Does Talanoa support Vietnamese?
Not yet. According to the help center, the interface is in English and French only, and other system languages fall back to English. Date and time formats can be set separately, and the app has a button to request a new language.
Review evidence & sources11
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.0
- Features
- 7.5
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 6.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 7.0
Why this score
Conversation view, a setup tour during the first sync and keyboard shortcuts. Held back by an interface in English and French only, and one reviewer says the design could still improve.
Why this score
People-first view, Kanban tasks, calendar (with CalDAV), multi-account and AI for replies, translation and summaries. Many features are new, AI is in beta, the iPhone app is in beta and no collaboration features are described.
Why this score
The ongoing Free plan is limited to one account, 5 tasks and no mobile app. Pro, for individuals, costs $10 per month or $90 per year ($7.50/month) and unlocks multiple accounts and the mobile app. No refund policy is stated.
Why this score
Sync was rebuilt in 1.1.0, but releases 1.0 to 1.1.x still fixed app freezes, IMAP sync and attachment-download bugs. No independent measurements found.
Why this score
Help center, support email and public roadmap; Pro includes priority support. Trustpilot reviewers report fast replies, though from only 11 reviews.
Why this score
By policy, mail and tokens stay on the device rather than the vendor's servers. Account data is still stored and usage data collection is on by default (it can be turned off), at odds with the "zero telemetry" marketing; the CASA, audit and local-AI claims lack independent documentation.
What users say
- Trustpilot4.4/5 · 11
Sources
- Vendor-providedTalanoa official siteNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa pricing pageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa privacy policyNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa changelogNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa security pageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa help centerNov 11, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot reviewsNov 11, 2026
- Community-reportedShow HN thread (2025-04-30)Nov 11, 2026
- review-siteAlternativeTo listingNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedTalanoa help: change the languageNov 11, 2026
- storeTalanoa on Google PlayNov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- E2MA LABS
- Headquarters
- France
- Launched
- 2025
- Category
- Productivity
Capabilities
- Works offline
- AI features
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- French
Integrations
- Gmail
- Outlook
- iCloud
- Yahoo
- IMAP
- CalDAV
Support
- Help center
- Community forum
Change history
- Feature.Version 1.2.1 added CalDAV calendar support.
- Feature.Version 1.2.0 rebuilt conversations as thread cards and added AI-suggested replies.
- Feature.Version 1.1.3 made the calendar fully editable, including recurring and multi-day events.
Full change history (6)
- Feature.Version 1.1.0 rebuilt background sync for Gmail, Outlook and IMAP and added undo for archiving.
- Feature.Talanoa 1.0 released with a setup tour during the first sync.
- Launch.The author presented Talanoa on Hacker News; at that point it ran only on macOS with Gmail.
About the author
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