# alot vs Wanderlust

- alot: Terminal mail reader written in Python that works on a local notmuch database, with tag-based search and threads.
- Wanderlust: Mail and news reader for Emacs, written in Emacs Lisp, with built-in IMAP, POP3, NNTP and SMTP support.

## Differences

- alot is a full-screen terminal client; Wanderlust is a mail client that runs inside Emacs.
- Only alot has built-in notmuch.
- Only Wanderlust has built-in IMAP, POP3 and SMTP.
- On Android, alot is not available and Wanderlust runs through Termux.
- Wanderlust has OAuth2 sign-in; alot does not.
- alot has Vim-style keys; Wanderlust does not.
- alot is written in Python; Wanderlust in Emacs Lisp.
- Configuration: alot uses INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks, and Wanderlust uses Emacs Lisp in ~/.wl, folder list in ~/.folders.

## Side by side

| | alot | Wanderlust |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Runs inside Emacs |
| Language | Python | Emacs Lisp |
| 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 | No |
| notmuch | Yes | Through a separate tool |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | No |
| OAuth2 sign-in | No | via oauth2.el |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | notmuch queries | IMAP server-side search; local search via mu, notmuch, grep or namazu |
| HTML mail | via mailcap, e.g. w3m -dump | via mime-w3m (emacs-w3m) |
| Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | always; reads a local notmuch database | message cache and disconnected operation |
| Calendar | No | No |
| Contacts | via an external lookup command such as abook, khard or notmuch address | built-in address book |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | INI-style config file plus optional Python hooks | Emacs Lisp in ~/.wl, folder list in ~/.folders |

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