Mutt vs Notmuch Emacs interface
Mutt: Long-running text-mode email client with IMAP, POP3 and SMTP support, configured through a muttrc file.
Notmuch Emacs interface: Emacs front end for notmuch that reads, searches, tags and composes mail from a local Maildir.
Differences
- Mutt is a full-screen terminal client; Notmuch Emacs interface is a mail client that runs inside Emacs.
- Only Mutt has built-in IMAP, POP3 and mbox.
- Only Notmuch Emacs interface has built-in notmuch.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has mouse support; Mutt does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has calendar support; Mutt does not.
- Mutt has Vim-style keys; Notmuch Emacs interface does not.
- Mutt is written in C; Notmuch Emacs interface in Emacs Lisp.
- Configuration: Mutt uses muttrc text file, and Notmuch Emacs interface uses Emacs Lisp in init.el plus the notmuch config file.
Side by side
| Mutt | Notmuch Emacs interface | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Runs inside Emacs |
| Language | C | Emacs Lisp |
| License | GPL 2.0 or later | GPL 3.0 or later |
| Latest version | 2.4.2 | 0.40 |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Through WSL | Through WSL |
| BSD | Native | Native |
| Android | Through Termux | Through Termux |
| IMAP | Yes | Through a separate tool |
| POP3 | Yes | Through a separate tool |
| SMTP | Yes | Yes |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | Yes | Yes |
| mbox | Yes | No |
| notmuch | No | Yes |
| OpenPGP | Yes | Yes |
| S/MIME | Yes | Yes |
| OAuth2 sign-in | via script | via script |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Search | built-in patterns; server-side IMAP search | notmuch Xapian full-text search with tags |
| HTML mail | via mailcap and an external viewer such as w3m or lynx | built-in, rendered with the Emacs shr library |
| Mouse | No | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use | with isync or OfflineIMAP; IMAP header and body cache | full; reads a local Maildir synced by mbsync or OfflineIMAP |
| Calendar | No | shows text/calendar parts; no invitation replies |
| Contacts | via query_command with abook or khard | address completion from the notmuch index |
| Vim-style keys | Yes | No |
| Configuration | muttrc text file | Emacs Lisp in init.el plus the notmuch config file |
Which to choose
Choose Mutt for
- Packaged by major Linux distributions, Homebrew, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Termux
- Conservative releases that rarely break existing muttrc files
- Built-in PGP/MIME, S/MIME and Autocrypt
Watch out for
- No notmuch, NNTP or scripting support (NeoMutt has these)
- Configuration is a text file with hundreds of options and no setup wizard
- HTML mail needs an external viewer set up in mailcap
Choose Notmuch Emacs interface for
- Tag-based organization with fast full-text search over all local mail.
- Shows a whole thread in a single buffer.
- Handles PGP/MIME and S/MIME signatures and decryption through notmuch.
Watch out for
- No built-in IMAP; needs mbsync or a similar sync tool.
- Custom tags stay in the local index; only standard flags such as unread and replied reach the IMAP server.
- Requires Emacs and some Emacs Lisp to configure.
Questions
What is the difference between Mutt and Notmuch Emacs interface?
Mutt is a full-screen terminal client; Notmuch Emacs interface is a mail client that runs inside Emacs. Only Mutt has built-in IMAP, POP3 and mbox. Only Notmuch Emacs interface has built-in notmuch.
Which runs on Windows, Mutt or Notmuch Emacs interface?
On Windows, Mutt runs through WSL. On Windows, Notmuch Emacs interface runs through WSL.
See also: Mutt alternatives, Notmuch Emacs interface alternatives.