# Terminal email clients for macOS

Most clients install with Homebrew: 14 of the 18 that run on macOS have a Homebrew formula or cask. The rest install with an install script, Nix, RubyGems and MELPA, and each client's page has the command.

## Clients

| Client | macOS | Install |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Forward Email](https://terminalemail.com/clients/forward-email/index.md) | Native | `curl -fsSL https://github.com/forwardemail/mail.forwardemail.net/releases/latest/download/install.sh \| sh` |
| [aerc](https://terminalemail.com/clients/aerc/index.md) | Native | `brew install aerc` |
| [alot](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alot/index.md) | Native | `brew install alot` |
| [Alpine](https://terminalemail.com/clients/alpine/index.md) | Native | `brew install alpine` |
| [Gnus](https://terminalemail.com/clients/gnus/index.md) | Native | `brew install emacs` |
| [Himalaya](https://terminalemail.com/clients/himalaya/index.md) | Native | `brew install himalaya` |
| [Matcha](https://terminalemail.com/clients/matcha/index.md) | Native | `brew install --cask floatpane/matcha/matcha` |
| [mblaze](https://terminalemail.com/clients/mblaze/index.md) | Native | `nix profile install nixpkgs#mblaze` |
| [meli](https://terminalemail.com/clients/meli/index.md) | Native | `brew install meli` |
| [mu4e](https://terminalemail.com/clients/mu4e/index.md) | Native | `brew install mu isync emacs` |
| [Mutt](https://terminalemail.com/clients/mutt/index.md) | Native | `brew install mutt` |
| [NeoMutt](https://terminalemail.com/clients/neomutt/index.md) | Native | `brew install neomutt` |
| [nmail](https://terminalemail.com/clients/nmail/index.md) | Native | `brew install nmail` |
| [nmh](https://terminalemail.com/clients/nmh/index.md) | Native | `brew install nmh` |
| [Notmuch Emacs interface](https://terminalemail.com/clients/notmuch-emacs/index.md) | Native | `brew install notmuch emacs isync msmtp` |
| [S-nail](https://terminalemail.com/clients/s-nail/index.md) | Native | `brew install s-nail` |
| [Sup](https://terminalemail.com/clients/sup/index.md) | Native | `gem install sup` |
| [Wanderlust](https://terminalemail.com/clients/wanderlust/index.md) | Native | `M-x package-install RET wanderlust RET` |

## Mail tools

| Client | macOS | Install |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [getmail6](https://terminalemail.com/tools/getmail6/index.md) | Native | `brew install getmail6` |
| [isync](https://terminalemail.com/tools/isync/index.md) | Native | `brew install isync` |
| [msmtp](https://terminalemail.com/tools/msmtp/index.md) | Native | `brew install msmtp` |
| [mutt-wizard](https://terminalemail.com/tools/mutt-wizard/index.md) | Build from source | `git clone https://github.com/LukeSmithxyz/mutt-wizard && cd mutt-wizard && sudo make install` |
| [notmuch](https://terminalemail.com/tools/notmuch/index.md) | Native | `brew install notmuch` |
| [OfflineIMAP](https://terminalemail.com/tools/offlineimap/index.md) | Native | `brew install offlineimap` |
| [Pop](https://terminalemail.com/tools/pop/index.md) | Native | `brew install pop` |

## Questions

### Which terminal email clients run on macOS?

18 clients run on macOS: Forward Email, aerc, alot, Alpine, Gnus, Himalaya, Matcha, mblaze, meli, mu4e, Mutt, NeoMutt, nmail, nmh, Notmuch Emacs interface, S-nail, Sup and Wanderlust.

### Which macOS clients have built-in IMAP?

aerc, Alpine, Gnus, Himalaya, Matcha, meli, Mutt, NeoMutt, nmail, S-nail and Wanderlust. The others read local mail that a sync tool such as isync keeps up to date, or, for Forward Email's app, connect through its API.

### Does Forward Email work on macOS?

Yes. Its terminal app has a standalone build, and every other client on this page can use a Forward Email mailbox over IMAP and SMTP, directly or through a sync tool.