# alot vs Matcha

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- Matcha: Terminal email client written in Go with the Bubble Tea TUI library, with IMAP, JMAP and POP3 support.

## Differences

- Only alot has built-in notmuch.
- Only Matcha has built-in IMAP, POP3, SMTP and JMAP.
- On Windows, alot runs through WSL and Matcha runs natively.
- On BSD, alot runs natively and Matcha builds from source.
- Matcha has calendar support; alot does not.
- Matcha has S/MIME; alot does not.
- Matcha has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot is written in Python; Matcha in Go.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and Matcha uses ~/.config/matcha/config.json plus in-app settings.

## Side by side

| | alot | Matcha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | Go |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | MIT |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Native |
| BSD | Native | Build from source |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| JMAP | No | Yes |
| Maildir | Yes | Yes |
| mbox | No | No |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | Yes |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | built-in search and filter |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | built-in rendering, with inline images in supported terminals |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | local cache of message lists and bodies |
| Calendar | No | shows .ics invites and sends RSVP replies |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | address book built from sent and received mail |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | ~/.config/matcha/config.json plus in-app settings |

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