We began to notice the changes last fall when v12.5, the last major release in 2025, renamed EssentialPIM to EPIM with two products: Pro (paid) and Mail (free).
Unaware of more significant changes to come, I wrote in September that “Version 12.5 feels like a new era in EPIM's development.” Besides the rebranded name, EPIM upgraded to 64-bit architecture to address performance and security, and to lay the groundwork for future development.
Then, we learned at year-end that new releases would reflect the year they are published. The next version of EPIM Pro after v12.5.6 would be v26.0.
EPIM 26.0 released in May, but, more than that, Astonsoft Ltd., the Estonian company that created EssentialPIM in 2005, announced that it had partnered with /n software, Inc., a United States enterprise, to form a new company: EPIM Technologies, Inc.
You can read the announcement and concerns that users have raised on EPIM’s website. A particular point emphasized in the announcement and the team’s replies to questions is, “EPIM remains the same product you trust. This change is designed to strengthen EPIM, not alter its direction.”
This commitment is already evident. Two minor releases for v26.0 have already been published to improve performance and modify features as users respond to the new version.
EPIM 26.0 introduced over 20 significant enhancements. We'll take a look at many of them, including modifications through v26.0.2, in this and upcoming posts:
- Miscellaneous enhancements
- Mail updates
- The new support for Markdown
Before we examine the specific updates, you'll notice that the rebranding includes a new logo (Figure 1). A number of users objected, saying it was hard to distinguish EPIM’s blue logo from others. Accordingly, an option to retain the original logo is available through Tools > Options > Appearance (Figure 2).
Figure 1. EPIM Pro sports a new logo and new versioning with its first release of 2026.
Figure 2. Users who prefer EPIM’s original logo can still select it in options.
Enhancements across all modules
1. Main toolbars standardized with filter and layout buttons
The effort to make the Main toolbar consistent throughout the program has been completed in v26.0. Filter and layout buttons in the Mail, Tasks, and Contacts modules now correspond to changes that were introduced in the Calendar, Notes, and Passwords last year.
In prior versions, the filter button toggled the filters on/off in the column headers. A menu, where you can apply these column filters and other options, replaces the toggle.
This enhancement brings to the forefront settings that are also available through Tools > Options.
Figures 3–5 compare the Main toolbars between versions 12.5.6 and 26.0.
Figure 3. The Mail module's Main toolbar in v12.5.6 (#1 above) and v26.0 (#2).
Figure 4. The Tasks Main toolbar in v12.5.6 (#1 above) and v26.0 (#2).
Figure 5. The Contacts Main toolbar in v12.5.6 (#1 above) and v26.0 (#2).
2. Tags streamlined
The Tags Explorer remains the same in v26.0, but the dialog for assigning tags has been redesigned (Figure 6). Gone are the Ok and Cancel buttons. Once you select the tag(s), simply click outside the dialog to apply them. To cancel the assignment or to quit the dialog, deselect any tags and click outside the box.
Functions to add and manage tags replace buttons that had been adjacent to the search box.
Figure 6. The dialog for assigning tags has been redesigned in EPIM 26.0.
3. Checkboxes added to all note fields
A long-awaited enhancement is the addition of check boxes to note fields in modules besides Notes. They are available on the formatting toolbar in all modules (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Users requested that check boxes be added to the lists in all note fields. This is fulfilled in EPIM 26.0.
4. Module navigation and backups
Before we move on to enhancements in particular modules, there are two other changes to note:
- You can retrace the modules you've visited using the mouse's forward and backward buttons. Here are ways to traverse modules, besides clicking on the module's icon in the Navigation Pane.
Module navigation Method Retrace history Mouse forward/backward buttons Move forward F6, Ctrl-Tab Move backward Shift-Ctrl-Tab - EPIM 26.0 changes the database structure. When you open your file, EPIM will create a backup before converting it to the new format.
Module enhancements
1. Today adds customization tools
Options for configuring EPIM's most popular module, Today, have been brought forward from the Tools > Options menu. They're still available the old way, but the Customize Today button (Figure 8) lets you choose the modules you want to see without leaving the screen.
Each of the available modules—Calendar, Tasks, and Mail—has a menu in the upper right that provides access to additional filtering and display capabilities. The Hide Section option in each menu turns off that module's display.
Figure 8. You can choose the modules to see in Today and set other display and filtering options without leaving the screen.
2. Designate your favorite contacts
You have been able to designate your favorite notes and mail folders so they appear in their own lists. EPIM 26.0 adds flagging your favorite contacts.
The function is a toggle, and there are two ways to add or remove a favorite contact: either with the mouse or keyboard.
Using the mouse, hover the cursor wherever you see the contact's icon or, in the vertical and wide views, over the Favorites column, and click (Figure 9, #1).
Using the keyboard, select the contact and bring up the context menu—right-click or press the key for the Windows context menu (Figure 9, #2).
Figure 9. Contacts can be starred as favorites in EPIM 26.0.
3. Quick actions streamline contacting a contact
Three quick-action buttons have been added to the Contacts preview window (Figure 10). Without leaving the screen, EPIM will open an email message or an appointment for the selected contact.
Figure 10. When previewing a contact, you can send an email or schedule an appointment without leaving the Contacts module.
4. Dialog for entering contact information refreshed
The dialog for adding or editing a contact has been streamlined for a less cluttered look (Figure 11). The initial screen has fewer fields, but the All Fields tab is available to enter the remaining information.
Figure 11. The dialog for editing contact information has a cleaner look in EPIM 26.0 (on the right).
5. Change the future for recurring events
EPIM 26.0 supports modifying future events of a recurring appointment.
Prior versions required scheduling these as unique events. Now, you can schedule an event for the necessary recurrences, then go to the item where a change is needed. Select it and click the option to apply changes to this and future appointments (Figure 12). If the change(s) don't affect future events, select This Appointment.
Figure 12. EPIM 26.0 supports creating a recurring event and modifying occurrences within the series.
6. Preview details of appointments
The way to see details of appointments in the calendar has been to hover over an event and display a tooltip. The problem is that tooltips disappear after a few seconds or when you press a key.
You can now preview the details as long as necessary by clicking once on an event. Up to five lines in the Notes field and other details will display, as seen in Figure 13. Click the 'X' in the upper right of the preview window or anywhere on the screen to dismiss it.
Figure 13. Example of the one-click preview screen for Calendar items.
We will review changes in the Mail module and the new support for Markdown in Notes in upcoming posts.
Let us know in the comments which features you would like to learn more about.
Reviews & Comments
Personally I would love to upgrade to 26 but I am dam skittish to do so. This is in part because the last 6 or so major releases of EPIM introduced issues some of which still linger to this day. I contacted support gave them the information and a video but they are unable to duplicate the issue. Perhaps this nagging issue does not occur in 26 but I am gun shy.
Without knowing the specific context, it’s unfortunately not possible for us to determine whether the issue has been addressed in the latest updates.
Issues related to the community forum are outside the scope of this discussion.
EPIM on Windows continues to receive updates and improvements, which is greatly appreciated. However, today's world is mobile-first. Most people spend a large part of their day away from their desks, and their smartphone is always within reach. For many of us, the phone has become the primary tool for managing everyday life.
Every day we need to capture information on the go: shopping lists, notes from a child's parent-teacher meeting, doctor's appointments, work-related tasks, ideas, reminders, and many other important details. These are exactly the situations where a modern and actively maintained mobile app becomes essential.
I am not the only user waiting for Android updates since 2023. There are many of us who rely on EPIM daily and would love to see the mobile version receive the same level of attention as the desktop application. In 2026, a powerful mobile experience is no longer an optional feature—it is a necessity.
I sincerely hope that the Android version of EPIM will once again become a development priority. Many loyal users are still waiting and would be excited to see the platform move forward on mobile devices..
PS just a small request - to help us provide you with the most consistent and efficient support, we ask that you use a single communication channel when contacting us, as duplicate messages across multiple platforms can make it harder to track and respond properly. Thank you!
1.从名字的全称essentialpim变成以EPIM简称替代，突出了什么？是pim功能还是email功能，所以你们这个产品的定义从某种意义上讲是模糊的、不成功的。类似的从软件图标的毫无预警的更换，给了老用户当头一棒的惊吓（请注意不是惊喜），给新用户毫无深刻印象。请恕我直言，一般成功的企业其产品商品是不会轻易改变的，比如众所周知的劳斯莱斯、宝马、奥迪、linux、微软、谷歌、三星、台积电等等（当然也有少数例外），因为这抽样突如其来的更换图标而没有适当的过渡，会导致品牌价值的快速流失或者瞬间归零。
2.从产品的套餐、售价和服务描述一如既往换汤不换药的混乱！比如新版的EPIM pro在小字说明中分别是“一年订阅随时可以取消；一次购买终生使用，提供一年升级。”这里面有重大的误解和隐患，比如一年后不付钱是不是意味着无法打开软件，已有的数据是否需要交钱才能处理？又比如终生使用如何确保？这个终生是你们自己能确保的么？比如windows平台重大升级（比如臭名昭著的tpm2.0逼迫用户升级win11，你们能主导么？不能主导的话你们如何兑付对用户可以“终生使用”的承诺？）这在法律术语方面留下了巨大的漏洞和可能带来的诉讼风险（终生使用只能是win10的十年，这侮辱了”终生“两个字），相反以前的”年度购买后升级一年“和”终生用户一次购买终生升级“的表述则没有这样的歧义。
3.移动端epim产品连续几年的停滞不前，但是你们居然在官网上堂而皇之将其作为软件的核心卖点进行广而告之，你们难道不知道在pixel手机升级android 16以后在play商店中搜索时，已经提示”该产品不兼容新的系统而无法下载使用“了么？这算不算你们产品研发部门的失职？这不仅会导致你们的宣传与实际的不符而极大损坏你们产品可以在多端运行美好形象！同时你们的移动端产品在ios和android系统中是有功能和使用上的极大差异的，我详细对比过ios端的功能要少于android端的功能，这与一般的跨终端产品保持功能界面几乎一致的传统做法是有区别的，而你们没有详细说明。
4.对于云端用户epim cloud的困惑依然如初。你们在官网上根本就没有详细介绍购买本地端产品和epim cloud产品的真正区别以及两者之间的互为前提条件（没有本地端，购买epim cloud就相当于搭建空中楼阁），同时你们对epim cloud的很多细节并没有透露（比如epim cloud只提供5G的存储空间，可能会在本地用户数据接近1G时--假如有大量的附件在数据库中，备份设置5个以后，就会带来数据存储同步的灾难性后果，对于这样的情况首先应当告知用户云存储的限制有哪些，而不应只是片面强调可以云同步，同时也要靠虑极端情况下如何通过扩容或者分级套餐来解决存储问题--这个关系到很多用户的数据安全，这是致命的）。
5.对于pc端能够通过多种方式进行数据同步方面，你们也没有详细说明，不管是操作方面还是数据同步后得到的结果或者差异方面也没有详细说明（比如通过Google同步日历和任务，会丢失很多细节，比如pc端的任务起止时间同步到Google task上将消失这些字段，还有子任务也会变成task中的备注内容或者直接消失；又比如笔记数据同步到移动端后，将会消失很多界面上的格式不一致）。并且在数据同步的操作方面论坛一直有用户反映在没有明确指导下的尝试性操作会导致数据重复（用户手工清理核对会浪费非常多的时间，反而降低了生产力，这与使用你们的软件可以提高生产力的目标背道而驰）这会导致很多用户的困惑、甚至愤怒和离开。看起来支持那么多的数据同步功能，用户将在没有明确指导下进行拆盲盒式的摸索，无疑极大提高了用户的使用门槛和使用时间精力成本，使得你们的开发投入毫无任何价值（软件功能不在于多，而在于精细和准确）。
6.EPIM战略上的调整，比如突然之间把密码模块删除（没有详细向老用户做出说明原因，也没有详细介绍以往的数据将如何处理--是一只保留可以使用还是在某一天软件升级后密码数据凭空消失？？老用户没有答案，你们也没有明确的答复），并且我觉得密码模块、联系人模块的集成式你们软件曾经比其他软件有优势的巨大亮点区别，但是想不通你们居然主动放弃这种优势自断手脚。另外，新产品的套餐售价和升级机制，如何对待老用户，老用户所受影响有哪些，特别是终生升级用户的群体最需要得到回答，然而你们只是简单的依据”按照以往继续运行“的模糊回答----什么叫以往？？？影响有哪些？？终生用户还要再花钱么？？理由是什么？？等等非常多的疑问等着你们回答！
7.订阅制软件虽然可能带来持续的盈利和发展，但是恕我直言，订阅制存在的价值在于软件会不断丰富功能和提供新的体验（比如office365，比如Google ai套餐，他们都在不断增添新的功能和软件），因为目前为止，看不出来今后3-5年你们软件的功能上有什么新的更新、增加发展（因为那可能会导致开发难度呈指数级增长）。而不是简单的通过用户使用时间来逼迫用户订阅付费，这会让用户觉得你们简单粗暴通过调整销售方式而强迫用户付费。
以上几个在我看来是你们转型时期非常急切面对的非常致命的问题，如果回答不好，那么恕我直言你们的所谓转型只是一种自我欺骗而已，不一定能发展壮大，很有可能埋下巨大隐患甚至是你们衰落的起点。可能有些语言听起来不太友好，请原谅我的诚恳和直接，我并无恶意。如能被公司团队认真考虑，我将深感荣幸！祝愿EPIM一帆风顺!
We understand your concerns and have noted your points. EPIM serves a very broad and diverse user base and our decisions are made by considering many different use cases, technical constraints and long‑term development goals. Not every change can align perfectly with every individual workflow but feedback like yours helps us evaluate whether we're moving in the right direction.
Some of the topics you mentioned are part of ongoing development and strategic evaluation and they are continuously being reviewed and refined.
Your feedback is valued and will be taken into account as we move forward. Thank you again for your continued support and for being a long‑time EPIM user!