I have three Microsoft accounts and two POP accounts configured on Windows Live Mail.  However once again problems has arisen and  lately WLM is taking ages to download messages.  I have run Windows Defender and Malwarebytes but no viruses were found.  What could be the problem?

As support for WLM is scheduled to end at month-end, is it time to ditch WLM and find another email client?  I have tried the Mail programs both in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 but simply did not like them.  Are there any free email clients out there that can truly be deemed comparable to WLM?