# alot vs Forward Email

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- Forward Email: Forward Email's webmail in the terminal: mail, calendar, contacts and settings, with mouse support and a key hint bar.

## Differences

- Forward Email connects to Forward Email accounts through its API; alot works with any provider, including Forward Email.
- On Windows, alot runs through WSL and Forward Email runs natively.
- On Android, alot is not available and Forward Email runs through Termux.
- Forward Email has calendar support; alot does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; Forward Email does not.
- alot is written in Python; Forward Email in TypeScript.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and Forward Email uses settings screens, keyboard shortcut editor and an optional user.css.
- Forward Email is source-available (Business Source License 1.1); alot is open source (GPL 3.0 or later).

## Side by side

| | alot | Forward Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | Business Source License 1.1 |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Native |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | Not supported | Through Termux |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Forward Email API |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | Forward Email API |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Forward Email API |
| JMAP | No | Forward Email API |
| Maildir | Yes | Forward Email API |
| mbox | No | Forward Email API |
| notmuch | Yes | Forward Email API |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | No |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | No |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | built-in, across messages, contacts and events |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | shown as formatted text with links; plain text by default |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | drafts and changes made offline are sent when the connection returns |
| Calendar | No | Yes |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | Yes |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | settings screens, keyboard shortcut editor and an optional user.css |

Pages: [alot](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alot/index.md), [Forward Email](https://terminalemail.com/clients/forward-email/index.md)