I'm tried of how terrible Gmail is. Id like an email client with folders or categories. If it can sort them automatically (like how Googles now defunct inbox app used to) that would be even better.
Edit: in a couple days or whenever the activity on this post slows down. I will update this post with a list of the most recommended email app.
Edit2:
Results are in: Number is the amount of people who specifically mentioned it.
This is an entirely pointless comment. They said it didn't meet their needs and they want to know if others have alternatives. You're as bad as the people who answer the Amazon questions with "I don't know."
My problem with Gmail is that from mobile you're limited on the features you have. You can't create filters or really set up any kind of automation for your inbox. Mobile is the main place that I interact with my personal inboxes, so having these features on mobile is important to me.
After Gmail merged all the storage limits that you use across all their sevices, I have been looking for an altetnstive. I'd rather pay for a web server to host my mails than google
Self-hosted mail has some pains associated with it in regards to reliability due to major email services rating SMTP servers and tending to not trust personal ones. If moving away from privacy-violating services is your main goal and are open to non-self-hosted alternatives, I'd suggest Proton Mail. They even have a free tier if you want to test the waters. They do have pretty easy migration tools to move away from Gmail as well.
A thread on HN really poopoo'd proton mail (but not the VPN which I love) and recommended Fastmail over it. I can't recall why so I'll try to dig it up, but just throwing that out there since it might be good to check in on any major cons with it. It wasn't scandals or "they aren't private" or something but it felt significant when I read it.
It's possible that it's the lack of direct compatibility with other clients. Since it's fully encrypted beyond even just OpenPGP capabilities, some are turned off that you can't easily use other clients. Without a lot of effort you are required to use their mobile app or the website. And on desktop, you need to setup their Bridge to be able to use third party clients.