# alot vs Mutt

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- Mutt: Long-running text-mode email client with IMAP, POP3 and SMTP support, configured through a muttrc file.

## Differences

- Only alot has built-in notmuch.
- Only Mutt has built-in IMAP, POP3, SMTP and mbox.
- On Android, alot is not available and Mutt runs through Termux.
- alot has mouse support; Mutt does not.
- Mutt has S/MIME; alot does not.
- Mutt has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot is written in Python; Mutt in C.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and Mutt uses muttrc text file.

## Side by side

| | alot | Mutt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | C |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | GPL 2.0 or later |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Through WSL |
| 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 | Yes |
| mbox | No | Yes |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | Yes |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | via script |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | built-in patterns; server-side IMAP search |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | via mailcap and an external viewer such as w3m or lynx |
| Mouse | Yes | No |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | with isync or OfflineIMAP; IMAP header and body cache |
| Calendar | No | No |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | via query_command with abook or khard |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | muttrc text file |

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