ContactMonkey emails work with most major email clients, but support levels vary. This article explains which clients fully support all features, which have limitations, and which require simplified layouts.
Understanding Support Levels
ContactMonkey categorizes email client compatibility into three levels:
Fully Supported: Your email displays correctly with all standard features. Background images and web fonts may show fallback alternatives depending on the client.
Partial Support: Your email displays correctly, but some minor visual elements may not render as designed. These differences have minimal impact on readability and functionality.
Basic Support Only: The email client has significant compatibility issues. Use simple, single-column layouts with text and images only.
Fully Supported Email Clients
These clients display emails correctly with fallback elements for advanced features.
Desktop
- Apple Mail (versions 8, 9, 10)
- Thunderbird
- Airmail 2
- Microsoft Outlook for Mac (2011, 2016)
- Microsoft Outlook for Windows (2010, 2011, 2013)
Mobile
- Android 4.4 Mail
- Gmail App (iOS and Android)*
- iOS Mail (iPhone and iPad)
- Outlook App (Android and iOS)
- Samsung Mail App (Android)
- Yahoo App (Android and iOS)
* When using Gmail accounts
Web-Based Email
- Gmail
- G Suite
- Inbox by Gmail
- Outlook.com
- Office 365
- Yahoo
- AOL Mail
- Comcast
- International providers: freenet.de, GMX.de, Mail.ru, Libero Mail, Tiscali, Virgilio, email.it, Web.de, Centrum.cz, Seznam.cz, Post.cz, Email.cz
Note: Web-based email services do not support custom or web fonts. Your emails will display using default system fonts.
Partially Supported Email Clients
These clients display emails correctly but may have minor visual differences that don't affect functionality.
Desktop
- Microsoft Outlook 2013 (high-resolution displays): Does not support background images or web fonts. May resize fonts, which can expand your layout slightly.
- Microsoft Outlook 2016 (high-resolution displays): Does not support background images or web fonts. May resize fonts and scale text at 200% on some devices.
- Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003: Does not support web fonts. Buttons display with square corners instead of rounded. Social icons may not resize properly.
Mobile
- Huawei Mail App (Android): Social media icons display vertically stacked instead of horizontally (app version 3.1.0.27).
Web
- qq.com: Buttons may not display properly.
- Yandex.ru: Minor display issues.
- Naver: Minor visual issues with separator lines.
Email Clients with Basic Support Only
These clients have significant compatibility issues. When sending to these recipients, use simple layouts with a single column, text, and images.
Desktop
- Lotus Notes (versions 7, 8, 8.5)
- IBM Notes 9
- Windows 10 Mail
Mobile
- Gmail App (when using non-Gmail IMAP accounts)
- Outlook.com (in mobile browser - not the Outlook app)
- Web-based email clients (mobile versions)
Web
- T-online.de
Emerging Client (Limited Testing)
- Huawei Mail App (Android): Basic functionality only
Best Practices for Maximum Compatibility
Design for the lowest common denominator: If you're sending to recipients using partially supported or basic support clients, simplify your template design before sending.
Test before sending large campaigns: Send test emails to colleagues using different email clients.
Avoid advanced features for wide audiences: If your recipient list includes users on older email clients, avoid custom fonts, background images, and complex multi-column layouts.
Use fallback fonts: When selecting fonts in the template builder, choose fallback fonts that closely match your primary font for consistent branding.