Converting email archives is a common job if you back up emails regularly, migrate emails from one platform to another, or are an IT admin. EML is a single-message format supported by Windows Live Mail, Outlook Express, and eM Client. MBOX is a merged mailbox format supported by Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, SeaMonkey, and Eudora.

Softaken EML to MBOX Converter is a well-known tool to perform this migration but may not be suitable for all users with different operating systems, workflows, and organizational needs. There are several good alternatives if you do require native Mac support, more advanced folder hierarchy preservation, or direct filtering of files.

This article discusses the difference between the EML and MBOX file formats, the main Softaken software, and the best alternative converters to choose the right one that suits your needs.

How to Open EML & MBOX File Extensions

Knowing why you need to convert between these formats will help you choose which converter to use:

• Electronic Mail Format (EML): Plain Text Format. One email per file. It stores message content, inline images, metadata ( From, To, Subject, Date ), and file attachments. It is the native format for clients such as Windows Live Mail, Outlook Express, and many webmail export tools.

• MBOX (Mailbox Format): A format for mailbox archives that stores a whole folder or collection of email messages in a single text file. Emails and attachments are stored in a sequence. This is the default in Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, and PocoMail.

Why EML to MBOX Conversion?

1. Convert Platform & Client Migration: .eml files to .mbox for importing entire email collections at a time into MBOX-native clients such as Thunderbird or Apple Mail.

2. Easy File Management: MBOX files give you the ability to keep hundreds or thousands of single EML files systematically, thereby making file management and transport easier.

3. Cross-Platform Mobility: To migrate email archives from old Windows settings to email clients on macOS, you need MBOX format support.

Introducing the tool: Softaken EML to MBOX Converter Software

Softaken EML to MBOX Converter is a desktop software tool to help you merge multiple EML or EMLX files into MBOX format for importing into Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and other clients.

Key features 

• Convert EML to MBOX: Directly convert single EML email files to MBOX Support for EMLX, Apple Mail EMLX.

• Batch Conversion of EML Files: It lets you add multiple EML files for conversion.

• Full email conversion: Extracts and converts the text of the body and all attachments, unchanged.

• Selective conversion: Users can convert only EML files instead of the whole folder.

• Preview in Tree Format: Load preview emails in tree format before the final export.

• Attribute Preservation: Preserves header information such as From, To, CC, BCC, Subject, and dates sent/received.

• MBOX Client Compatibility: Compatible with Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, SeaMonkey, and Eudora.

• Multiple Content Formats: Handles email formatting correctly in Plain Text, RTF, and HTML.

• Windows Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and older versions of Windows.

Advantages and disadvantages of this tool 

Advantages 

• Easy & User-Friendly: Simple-to-use interface; no technical knowledge needed.

• Selective Conversion: You can select which EML files you want to convert.

• Preview: View the content and attachments before exporting.

• Free Evaluation Trial: Try the demo version to test features before you purchase a license.

Distadvanges 

• Windows only: No software support for Mac OS.

• Demo Restriction: The free trial version allows only 10 Items Per Folder conversion.

Top Alternatives to Softaken EML to MBOX Converter

If Softaken is not working for your platform setup and workflow needs, then here are 3 alternatives:

1. DataVare EML to MBOX Converter Pro

DataVare allows flexible file selection and provides individual file mode and directory mode to handle a large collection of non-corrupted EML files.

Top 10 Features

• EML to MBOX Converter: Convert EML to the popular MBOX format.

• EMLX Support: EMLX file support and popular EML extensions.

• Bulk Processing: Export multiple EMLs at once.

• Target by file selection: This option offers the ability to export by selecting files by hand.

• File and Folder Modes: Add single files or import an entire folder structure

• Advanced filtering: Users can filter & select specific datasets with flexible input selection.

• No File Size Limit: Support for large EML files without any hard size limits.

• Save Locally Options: Exported MBOX files can be saved in any local folder.

• Standalone: It can be run as a standalone; no need to install any third-party email client.

• Multi-source EML Reading: Reads EML files created by Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, etc.

Software Pros / Cons: 

Pros 

• Folder & Bulk Modes: Flexible loading of files from complex directory structures.

• Selective Export: Want to export just a few? Don’t convert files you don’t want.

• Lightweight: It runs well in minimum system resources. Big File Support: Handles large EML archives easily. 

Cons 

• Windows-based: Built for Windows OS environments mainly.

• Healthy files required: Skips scanning/processing of corrupt/damaged EML files.

2.WholeClear EML to MBOX Conversion

If you want to do a bulk email migration from one platform to another and keep the same folder structure, WholeClear is a good option.

Top 10 Features:

• EML to MBOX Converter: Easily Convert EML Files to MBOX Mass conversion of EML files.

• Attachment Retention: Stores files of attached converted messages.

• Format Protection: Preserves formatting in the body of HTML, RTF, and text.

• Folder hierarchy: The structure of subfolders is retained as it was before conversion.

• Preserves Attributes: Preserves the main headers (To, From, CC, BCC, Date, Subject)

• Legacy Support for Client: Imports EML files from Windows Live Mail, Outlook Express, and DreamMail.

• Support for most MBOX clients: The software creates MBOX files which can be opened in Thunderbird, Apple Mail, SeaMonkey, Eudora, and The Bat.

• Stand-alone: It can work with data without third-party email applications.

• 3 Step Wizard: It’s a 3-step process to convert.

Software Pros & Cons 

Pros: 

• Maintains Folder Structure: Keeps the subfolders in the same structure as the source folder.

• Large Scale Migration: is best suited for large-volume migrations.

• Full attachment support: with original message links intact.

• Cross-Platform Marketing Claims: Vendor pages will claim that it works on all operating systems.

Cons: 

• Trial restrictions: The trial version can’t fully convert files until you purchase a license.

• Platform Wording Inconsistency: Most of the product documentation is written for Windows, but the marketing pages say the product is cross-platform

3. Mailvita EML to MBOX Converter

Mailvita is a Mac-specific converter that is designed for users who want to transfer Windows Live Mail or individual EML files to Mac email clients.

Top 10 Features:

• EML to MBOX Converter: Sophisticated conversion engine for Mac OS systems.

• Windows Live Mail Compatibility: It converts WLM EML files to the Mac-compatible MBOX format.

• Batch Migration: Migrate multiple EML files at a time.

• Selective migration of the database: Export only the folders/files you need.

• No limits on file size: Tackle huge EML email archives without hurting performance.

• Wide Target App Support: Output can be imported to Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Entourage, and PocoMail.

• Local save locations: Custom save output files to anywhere on local or attached storage.

• Quality of Data: The email's properties, its inline images, and its text layout are unchanged.

• Easy Wizard: Friendly and easy-to-navigate interface.

• Mac OS & Windows Builds: Native support for macOS systems, especially with Windows options.

Software Pros & Cons 

Pros: 

• Mac-Native Solution: Best for Apple users to migrate EML data to Mac clients based on MBOX, like Apple Mail.

• Large Archives: Works easily with large EML database sizes.

• Bulk Processing: Fast batch conversion of large amounts of e-mail.

• Basic Stand-Alone Utility: No additional software needed to be totally functional.

Cons

• Need Healthy EML Files: It scans and can work only on accessible EML files. Non-corrupted EML files.

• Compatibility Documentation: explicitly states support for earlier versions of Mac OS X (10.6-10.11). Also recommends users with newer versions of macOS to check version compatibility before purchasing.

Overview of Commercial Licensing & Pricing

Commercial EML to MBOX converters are generally licensed per user (one-time purchase) with tiers based on amount of use:

• Personal / Single User License (~$29 – $49): For data conversion on 1 to 2 personal computers.

• Business / Administrative License (~$99 - $149): Used in a corporate office and needs to be installed on several workstations in an organization.

• Enterprise / Technical License (~$199 – $299): Unlimited installations on machines, rights to deploy on multiple sites and provide services to clients for IT consultants.

NOTE: Please check the correct formatting of your source EML files using the free demo version of any utility before purchasing the commercial license tier.

Abstracts:

No need to worry about converting EML files to MBOX format. Softaken EML to MBOX Converter offers a variety of reliable preview and batch conversion options, while other solutions are designed to meet specific operational requirements: - If you are looking for flexible File and Folder filtering modes for large directories, then DataVare is the best option.

WholeClear for bulk migrations where you want to retain the same subfolder structures.

Mailvita is the best utility for Mac users who want a native macOS-supported tool to migrate EML data to Apple Mail or Thunderbird.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Can I use these converters with Mozilla Thunderbird or Apple Mail? 

No, the 4 converter tools listed are independent. They import EML files to create their own MBOX files.

2. Do I lose my email attachments while converting EML to MBOX? 

No. Conversion tools can extract and preserve inline graphics, embedded file attachments, and header attributes (To, From, CC, BCC, Subject, Date) and the message body.

3. Do these tools repair corrupted or damaged EML files? 

No, not normally. DataVare and Mailvita utilities require good and accessible EML files to successfully process them. Convert EML to MBOX & repair corrupt files with the EML recovery tool.

4. What are typical limits of trial versions? 

Feel free to try the software to see how it installs, how quickly it scans, and what features it offers. However, the trial versions have some export limits (usually 10 files per folder to be converted, like Softaken) until the full license is registered.