alot

A terminal mail reader built on the notmuch indexer, with a command-prompt-driven interface.

FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line
Official websitegithub.com

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About alot

Alot is a mail user agent that runs in the terminal and uses the notmuch mail indexer to search and tag messages. It is written in Python with the urwid toolkit. The interface is modular and driven by a command prompt.

It is meant as a full mail client for people who want notmuch-style tagging and search without using the Emacs front end. Mail fetching and sending are handled by separate tools, so it suits people who already keep their mail in local folders.

Strengths

  • Fast search and tagging through notmuch
  • Keyboard and command-prompt driven interface
  • Modular Python codebase that is easy to extend

Limitations

  • Needs notmuch and separate tools to fetch and send mail
  • Terminal only, with no graphical interface
  • Setup takes more work than a typical desktop mail client

Details

Pricing
FreeFree and open source.
License
GPL-3.0
Developer
The alot contributors
Platforms
Linux, Command line
How it runs
Downloadable app
Account
Not required
Works offline
Yes
Best suited for
Terminal users who keep mail locally and index it with notmuch
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to alot

Compare all

Software that can replace alot for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • NeoMutt

    A fork of Mutt that gathered decades of scattered patches into one maintained terminal mail client.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    NeoMutt is a full terminal client with built-in IMAP and notmuch tag support, so it can fetch mail itself rather than relying on separate tools like alot does.

  • aerc

    A terminal email client with vim-style keys, an embedded terminal for composing, and first-class support for git email workflows.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    aerc adds a Notmuch backend plus IMAP, Maildir and JMAP, an embedded terminal for composing, and git patch workflow support, and it also runs on macOS.

  • meli

    A configurable terminal email client written in Rust with IMAP, Maildir, notmuch and JMAP support.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    meli is written in Rust and supports notmuch alongside IMAP, Maildir, JMAP and mbox, though its developers describe it as experimental.

  • mu

    A Maildir indexer and search tool with mu4e, an email client for GNU Emacs.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    mu replaces notmuch indexing with its own Maildir indexer, and its mu4e client runs inside GNU Emacs rather than as a standalone terminal program.

  • Mutt

    A text-based email client that runs in the terminal on Unix-like systems.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    Mutt is a long-established keyboard-driven terminal client configured through a text file, organised around folders rather than notmuch tags and searches.

  • Alpine

    A terminal email program descended from Pine, with its full documentation built into the program.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinuxCommand line

    Alpine offers a simpler menu-driven terminal interface with built-in documentation and Windows builds, but does not use notmuch for tagging and search.

  • Himalaya

    Manage mail accounts through a command-line client.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Himalaya is a command-line client that supports several protocols and local mailbox formats, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux as well.

Similar software

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