Mutt

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

FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line
Official websitegitlab.com

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About Mutt

Mutt is a long-standing email client for the terminal. It is driven from the keyboard and configured through a text file, which makes it popular with people who spend their day in a shell or on remote machines.

Development happens in the muttmua project on GitLab. It suits users comfortable with configuration files who want a fast, scriptable mail reader rather than a graphical app.

Strengths

  • Keyboard-driven and fast
  • Works well over SSH
  • Highly configurable through a text file

Limitations

  • Steep learning curve
  • No graphical interface

Details

Pricing
FreeFree and open source.
License
Open source, license not stated
Developer
The Mutt contributors
Platforms
macOS, Linux, Command line
How it runs
Downloadable app
Account
Not required
Best suited for
Terminal users who want a keyboard-driven mail client
Categories
Email clients
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to Mutt

Compare all

Software that can replace Mutt 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 Mutt fork that bundles long-scattered patches, adding notmuch tags, compressed folders and a forgotten-attachment warning with the same keybindings.

  • 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 uses vim-style keys, composes in an embedded terminal, has asynchronous IMAP and JMAP, and is built for git patch workflows.

  • meli

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

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    meli is a Rust terminal client with IMAP, Maildir, notmuch, JMAP and mbox support and saner defaults, but developers call it experimental.

  • 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 adds Windows builds, though releases are infrequent.

  • alot

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    alot is a notmuch-based terminal reader with tagging and fast search, needing separate tools to fetch and send mail.

  • Himalaya

    Manage mail accounts through a command-line client.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Himalaya is a command-line mail client licensed MIT or Apache-2.0 that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with several protocols.

  • mu

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    mu indexes Maildir mail and its mu4e client runs inside GNU Emacs, so it suits Emacs users rather than a standalone terminal program.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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