# nmail vs Notmuch Emacs interface

- nmail: Terminal email client for Linux and macOS with an Alpine-like interface and built-in IMAP and SMTP.
- Notmuch Emacs interface: Emacs front end for notmuch that reads, searches, tags and composes mail from a local Maildir.

## Differences

- nmail is a full-screen terminal client; Notmuch Emacs interface is a mail client that runs inside Emacs.
- Only nmail has built-in IMAP.
- Only Notmuch Emacs interface has built-in Maildir and notmuch.
- On Windows, nmail is not available and Notmuch Emacs interface runs through WSL.
- On BSD, nmail is not available and Notmuch Emacs interface runs natively.
- On Android, nmail is not available and Notmuch Emacs interface runs through Termux.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has mouse support; nmail does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has calendar support; nmail does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has OpenPGP; nmail does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has S/MIME; nmail does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has multiple accounts; nmail does not.
- Notmuch Emacs interface has threaded views; nmail does not.
- nmail is written in C++; Notmuch Emacs interface in Emacs Lisp.
- Configuration: nmail uses ~/.config/nmail/main.conf key=value file, and Notmuch Emacs interface uses Emacs Lisp in init.el plus the notmuch config file.

## Side by side

| | nmail | Notmuch Emacs interface |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interface | Full-screen terminal interface | Runs inside Emacs |
| Language | C++ | Emacs Lisp |
| License | MIT | GPL 3.0 or later |
| Linux | Native | Native |
| macOS | Native | Native |
| Windows | Not supported | Through WSL |
| BSD | Not supported | Native |
| Android | Not supported | Through Termux |
| IMAP | Yes | Through a separate tool |
| POP3 | No | Through a separate tool |
| SMTP | Yes | Yes |
| JMAP | No | No |
| Maildir | No | Yes |
| mbox | No | No |
| notmuch | No | Yes |
| OpenPGP | No | Yes |
| S/MIME | No | Yes |
| OAuth2 sign-in | Yes | via script |
| Threads | No | Yes |
| Search | local cache index and server search | notmuch Xapian full-text search with tags |
| HTML mail | converted to text, or opened in an external browser | built-in, rendered with the Emacs shr library |
| Mouse | No | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | No | Yes |
| Offline use | local SQLite cache; offline mode and send queue | full; reads a local Maildir synced by mbsync or OfflineIMAP |
| Calendar | No | shows text/calendar parts; no invitation replies |
| Contacts | address book built from messages | address completion from the notmuch index |
| Vim-style keys | No | No |
| Configuration | ~/.config/nmail/main.conf key=value file | Emacs Lisp in init.el plus the notmuch config file |

Pages: [nmail](https://terminalemail.com/clients/nmail/index.md), [Notmuch Emacs interface](https://terminalemail.com/clients/notmuch-emacs/index.md)