Comparison | Updated 5 November 2026 | By Ramy Elbeitam, recruitment operations manager
Ways to bulk-download CVs from email, compared
Short answer: For a few emails, save attachments by hand. For a whole mailbox, the free options are Google Takeout or Apps Script for Gmail, a macro or Power Automate for Outlook, the ImportExportTools NG add-on for Thunderbird, or a desktop app such as Applicant Packager, which works with all three and saves only the CVs from application emails.
Recruiters hit the same wall in every mail app: attachments save one message at a time. Here is every free way around it that we know of, with what each one is good and bad at. Applicant Packager is our own app, so it is listed with its limits too.
The options side by side
| Method | Works with | Effort | Picks out CVs? | Where files go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save attachments by hand | Any mail app | High for many emails | You decide | Your computer |
| Google Takeout | Gmail | Low, but slow (hours to days) | No, exports the whole mailbox | Download from Google |
| Google Apps Script | Gmail | Medium, needs a script | Only by label or search | Google Drive |
| VBA macro | Classic Outlook for Windows | Medium, needs macros enabled | Only by folder or rule | Your computer |
| Power Automate flow | Outlook, Microsoft 365 | Medium, new mail only | Only by rule | OneDrive or SharePoint |
| ImportExportTools NG add-on | Thunderbird | Low | No, exports everything in a folder | Your computer |
| Applicant Packager | Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, IMAP, Thunderbird (Windows only) | Low | Yes, by CV language, file names and your keywords | Your computer, one folder per applicant |
How to choose
- Under twenty emails: save them by hand. Nothing to install.
- You want an archive of everything: Google Takeout or ImportExportTools NG. Expect to sort the files afterwards.
- You already live in Microsoft 365 and only care about new mail: a Power Automate flow.
- You want only the CVs, sorted by applicant, from mail you already have: Applicant Packager. It is free, reads mail without changing it and keeps the files on your PC. It does not run on Mac or in a browser.
A note on privacy
CVs carry personal data. Methods that copy files to a cloud drive add another place the data lives and another set of people who can open it. If that matters for your agency, prefer methods that save to a computer you control, and see how to keep applicant data private.
Download Applicant Packager free
Questions about bulk-downloading CVs
What is the best free way to download CVs from many emails?
It depends on your mail app and how many emails you have. For a whole inbox of applications, a tool that picks out only the CVs, such as Applicant Packager, saves the most time; for an archive of everything, use Google Takeout or ImportExportTools NG.
Can I bulk-download attachments without uploading them to a third party?
Yes. Saving by hand, a VBA macro, ImportExportTools NG and Applicant Packager all save straight to your own computer.
Does Applicant Packager work on Mac?
No. It is a Windows 10 and 11 app. On a Mac, use your mail app's own export or ImportExportTools NG in Thunderbird.
More guides
- Ways to bulk-download CVs from email, compared
- Applicant Packager vs Outlook rules
- Applicant Packager vs Gmail filters
- Applicant Packager vs an applicant tracking system
- How to download all CVs from your email at once
- How to save attachments from many emails in Outlook
- How to download all CV attachments from Gmail at once