alot vs mu4e
alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
mu4e: Email client that runs inside GNU Emacs, built on the mu Maildir indexer and search tool.
Differences
- alot is a full-screen terminal client; mu4e is a mail client that runs inside Emacs.
- Only alot has built-in notmuch.
- Only mu4e has built-in SMTP.
- On Android, alot is not available and mu4e runs through Termux.
- mu4e has calendar support; alot does not.
- mu4e has S/MIME; alot does not.
- mu4e has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; mu4e does not.
- alot is written in Python; mu4e in Emacs Lisp (mu4e), C++ (mu).
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and mu4e uses Emacs Lisp in init.el.
Side by side
| alot | mu4e | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Runs inside Emacs |
| Language | Python | Emacs Lisp (mu4e), C++ (mu) |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | GPL 3.0 or later |
| Latest version | 0.12 | 1.14.3 |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Through WSL |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | No | Through Termux |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Through a separate tool |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | Through a separate tool |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | Yes | Yes |
| mbox | No | No |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | via Emacs MML |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | via script |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | Xapian full-text index with mu query syntax |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | built-in, rendered with the Emacs shr library |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | via contexts |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | full; reads a local Maildir synced by mbsync or OfflineIMAP |
| Calendar | No | replies to invitations with mu4e-icalendar |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | address completion from indexed mail |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | Emacs Lisp in init.el |
Which to choose
Choose alot for
- Tag-based searches through notmuch instead of folders
- Full PGP/MIME signing and encryption
- Python hooks for custom behavior and formatting
Watch out for
- Needs separate tools to fetch mail (mbsync) and send it (msmtp)
- No direct IMAP, POP3 or SMTP support
- No S/MIME support
Choose mu4e for
- Full-text search over all local mail through mu's Xapian index.
- Works offline, since all mail lives in a local Maildir.
- Uses Emacs message mode, so PGP/MIME, S/MIME and Org mode links are available.
Watch out for
- No built-in IMAP; needs mbsync or a similar sync tool, so setup spans several config files.
- Requires Emacs and some Emacs Lisp to configure.
- No native Windows build, and Arch packages it only in the AUR.
Questions
What is the difference between alot and mu4e?
alot is a full-screen terminal client; mu4e is a mail client that runs inside Emacs. Only alot has built-in notmuch. Only mu4e has built-in SMTP.
Which runs on Windows, alot or mu4e?
On Windows, alot runs through WSL. On Windows, mu4e runs through WSL.
See also: alot alternatives, mu4e alternatives.