# alot vs mblaze

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- mblaze: Set of small Unix utilities for reading, searching, threading and composing mail stored in Maildir folders.

## Differences

- alot is a full-screen terminal client; mblaze is a command-line program.
- Only alot has built-in notmuch.
- alot has mouse support; mblaze does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; mblaze does not.
- alot is written in Python; mblaze in C.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and mblaze uses ~/.mblaze/profile (header-style key: value lines).

## Side by side

| | alot | mblaze |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Command-line tools and prompts |
| Language | Python | C |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | CC0 1.0 and MIT |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Through WSL |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Through a separate tool |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | Through a separate tool |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Through a separate tool |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | Yes | Yes |
| mbox | No | No |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | via contrib scripts |
| S/MIME | No | No |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | No |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | mpick and magrep filter messages by headers, flags and content |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | via a filter command in ~/.mblaze/filter used by mshow |
| Mouse | Yes | No |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | via separate Maildirs and profile settings |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | full; works only on local Maildir |
| Calendar | No | No |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | No |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | ~/.mblaze/profile (header-style key: value lines) |

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