the results do make sense

I think a lot of this has to do with mainly two things:

1) Many Windows users tend to use whatever is "there", and may not understand the superior experience they'd get with TB

2) "Competing" with, for example, Outlook, would require ActiveSync or "Exchange" account compatibility.

#mytwocents

I think the macOS version has always lacked in UI integration. In fact, I've been using Thunderbird on other OSes except on the Mac, until v102. This new version felt a huge leap forward, yet it still doesn't stand a chance to overtake the fact people are just used to the (terrible) OS-integrated Mail.app.

Months ago I read some sort of roadmap, and I remember the goal was to match Mail.app's GUI, more or less. Can't wait.

I started using Thunderbird when I was still mainly on Windows, because Outlook's spam filter was terrible at the time. I have never looked back.

I first discovered Thunderbird on Linux. It appears on a lot of "best email client for Linux" lists, which I looked at a ton of lists like that as a Linux newbie.

When I use Windows, I install Thunderbird there because I am used to it.

So, I think the reason for this is that Thunderbird is popular in Linux news/media outlets, and that leads to users discovering it while on Linux and using it more often there.

the reason is probably that most windows users have microsoft office with outlook, so using thunderbird is harder than just using outlook. on macOS the mail app is preinstalled and on linux if any mail app is preinstalled it’s either command line or thunderbird

@CyborgZeta But take a look at https://stats.thunderbird.net. Only a small fraction of our users are on Linux.

@CyborgZeta Then this probably says something about which users follow open source projects on Twitter.

@CyborgZeta How're the Linux stats estimated? Deb file downloads from website? Maybe you guys should offer opt-in minimal data collection to get more accurate results...?

Thunderbird is one of the only usable clients on Linux. On Windows you've got Outlook and on macOS you've got their stuff

Expect something similar for Firefox now that most mainstream users have left

if I may use the opportunity to ask for quicker Linux updates? My husband uses Windows and keeps making me jealous about all the new shiny features while I'm still on a version from the 1990's it seems. 😢

You underestimated the normie draw of webmail.

@jakob That's the spirit!

I just tend to use whatever is there, Thunderbird is the built-in Email service on my distro. I’m currently using Manjaro, but I have the feeling that I knew Thunderbird before Manjaro. Prior to that I was on Ubuntu and Debian, not sure whether Thinderbird is also built-in there.

This makes sense.

Apple Mail is a good email client.

The other Linux email clients aren’t very good. Evolutions Exchange support is the primary reason to fire up something else.

Dear @thunderbird
Could you please remember captioning your images?
Some instances offer automatic #OCR which can help grab any text in your image, though proofreading is still important. You can also follow @PleaseCaption to be reminded whenever you post an image without captioning it.
#captionyourimages​
#a11y​
#accessibility​

even if you made the poll on twitter you don't reach an average sample of your users.
You reach persons who actively follow an open source project and participate in its polls. I don't think the result is that surprising.