Outlook on Mac

The new Outlook for Mac is a modern, fast email client that syncs with Exchange, Microsoft 365, Gmail, iCloud Mail, and other providers.

Setup

1. Open Outlook (installed with Microsoft 365)
2. Sign in with your work or personal Microsoft account
3. Outlook syncs mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks automatically

Mac Outlook vs Windows Outlook

Feature	Mac	Windows
Exchange and M365 mail	Yes	Yes
Gmail and iCloud accounts	Yes	Yes (new Outlook)
Shared mailboxes	Yes	Yes
Calendar scheduling	Yes	Yes
Focused Inbox	Yes	Yes
Rules and filters	Yes	Yes
Offline access	Yes	Yes
COM add-ins	No	Yes (classic Outlook)
S/MIME encryption	Limited	Full support
PST file import	No	Yes

Outlook vs Apple Mail

You don't have to choose: but here's when each makes sense:

Use Outlook when...	Use Apple Mail when...
Your workplace runs Exchange/M365	You want deep macOS integration
You need shared calendars at work	You use iCloud Mail as primary
You want Teams integration in email	You prefer a simpler, lighter client
You manage multiple work accounts	You want Handoff between Mac and iPhone

You can add your Microsoft 365 account to Apple Mail too (System Settings > Internet Accounts > Microsoft Exchange), but Outlook gives you better calendar and Teams integration.