Practical comparison · For web developers
Plain mailto or a webmail picker?
A plain mailto link is the simplest option. smart-mailto keeps that link, then gives visitors a choice when their preferred email lives in the browser instead of a desktop app.
The click journey
The difference is one decision
Both approaches start with the same anchor. The question is whether your site offers a provider choice before the composer opens.
Plain mailto
Browser decides- 01Visitor clicks the email link
- 02Browser checks its configured handler
- 03A mail app opens, or the click goes nowhere useful
smart-mailto
Visitor decides- 01Visitor clicks the same email link
- 02The site shows resolved provider choices
- 03The chosen composer opens with the message preserved
Gmail
Outlook
Proton Mail
Copy addressSide-by-side
smart-mailto vs. plain mailto
| Question | Plain mailto | smart-mailto |
|---|---|---|
| What happens on click? | The browser passes the link to the visitor’s configured mail handler. | A provider picker opens before the browser hands the link to a mail app. |
| Can visitors choose webmail? | Only when their browser or operating system already routes mailto links there. | Yes. The picker offers resolved webmail providers and preserves message details. |
| What if native mail is preferred? | Native mail is the default path. | Native mail is included by default on mobile and can be enabled on desktop. |
| Can visitors copy the address? | Not from the link itself. | A copy-address action is included by default. |
| What changes in your HTML? | Nothing beyond a standard mailto anchor. | Keep the same anchor, then initialize one JavaScript package once. |
| What is the fallback? | The configured browser and operating-system behavior. | The original mailto URL remains available when the picker cannot load or should not intercept. |
Keep it plain when
Your audience already has a reliable mail handler
- Your site is internal and every device is managed.
- You want the browser and operating system to own the choice.
- You do not need an on-page copy-address fallback.
Add the picker when
Visitors may use webmail or have no useful handler
- Your contact links serve a mixed public audience.
- You want Gmail, Outlook, and regional providers available by choice.
- You want native mail and copy address to remain available.
Honest tradeoff
The picker solves a choice problem, not every delivery problem
smart-mailto adds a step for someone whose native mail setup already works. It does not send the email, guarantee delivery, or replace a form. It gives the visitor clearer ways to continue: webmail, native mail, or copy address.
A remembered provider stays in this site's local storage and opens directly on later clicks. A change-app link reopens the picker; the choice does not follow visitors elsewhere.
Questions
Comparison FAQ
Is smart-mailto a replacement for the mailto protocol?
No. It keeps a normal mailto anchor in the page and upgrades the click with a provider picker. The original mailto URL remains the fallback.
Does smart-mailto send email?
No. It opens a composer in the visitor’s chosen provider or native mail app. The visitor still reviews and sends the message.
Does the picker add an extra step?
Only for the first choice. Later clicks open the remembered provider directly on the same site; a change-app link can reopen the picker.
When should I keep a plain mailto link?
Keep it plain when your audience is known to have a working mail handler, or when the smallest possible setup matters more than offering a webmail choice.
Keep the fallback. Add the choice.
Try the picker on a normal mailto link.
Follow the installation guide, inspect the source on GitHub, view the package on npm, or return to the live demo.