# alot vs nmail

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- nmail: Terminal email client for Linux and macOS with an Alpine-like interface and built-in IMAP and SMTP.

## Differences

- Only alot has built-in Maildir and notmuch.
- Only nmail has built-in IMAP and SMTP.
- On Windows, alot runs through WSL and nmail is not available.
- On BSD, alot runs natively and nmail is not available.
- alot has mouse support; nmail does not.
- alot has OpenPGP; nmail does not.
- nmail has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; nmail does not.
- alot has multiple accounts; nmail does not.
- alot has threaded views; nmail does not.
- alot is written in Python; nmail in C++.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and nmail uses ~/.config/nmail/main.conf key=value file.

## Side by side

| | alot | nmail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Full-screen terminal interface |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| License | GPL 3.0 or later | MIT |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Not supported |
| BSD | Native | Not supported |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| IMAP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| POP3 | Through a separate tool | No |
| SMTP | Through a separate tool | Yes |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | Yes | No |
| mbox | No | No |
| notmuch | Yes | No |
| OpenPGP | Yes | No |
| S/MIME | No | No |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | No |
| Search | notmuch queries | local cache index and server search |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | converted to text, or opened in an external browser |
| Mouse | Yes | No |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | No |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | local SQLite cache; offline mode and send queue |
| Calendar | No | No |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | address book built from messages |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | ~/.config/nmail/main.conf key=value file |

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