# alot vs Alpine

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- Alpine: Menu-driven terminal email client descended from Pine, with built-in help, setup screens and native Windows builds.

## Differences

- Only alot has built-in Maildir and notmuch.
- Only Alpine has built-in IMAP, POP3, SMTP and mbox.
- On Windows, alot runs through WSL and Alpine runs natively.
- On Android, alot is not available and Alpine runs through Termux.
- Alpine has calendar support; alot does not.
- Alpine has S/MIME; alot does not.
- Alpine has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; Alpine does not.
- alot is written in Python; Alpine in C.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and Alpine uses built-in setup screens, stored in .pinerc.

## Side by side

| | alot | Alpine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | C |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | Apache 2.0 |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Native |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | Not supported | Through Termux |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | Yes | No |
| mbox | No | Yes |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | via plugin |
| S/MIME | No | Yes |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | built-in search and message selection; server-side for IMAP |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | built-in HTML-to-text rendering |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | No |
| Calendar | No | Yes |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | built-in address book; LDAP lookup |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | built-in setup screens, stored in .pinerc |

Pages: [alot](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alot/index.md), [Alpine](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alpine/index.md)