Mutt

Mutt

Mutt is a free, open source email client for Linux, Unix, and macOS systems that emphasizes speed, flexibility, and security. It supports features like keyboard shortcuts, threading, PGP encryption, and more.
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open-source keyboard-shortcuts threading encryption

Mutt: Free, Open Source Email Clients

A fast, flexible, and secure email client for Linux, Unix, and macOS systems with features like keyboard shortcuts, threading, PGP encryption.

What is Mutt?

Mutt is a highly configurable, keyboard-driven email client for Linux, Unix, and macOS operating systems. Originally released in 1996, Mutt emphasizes speed, flexibility, and security for advanced email users.

As an open source program, Mutt is completely free to download and use. It supports standard email protocols like IMAP, POP3, and SMTP. Key features of Mutt include:

  • Keyboard-driven interface with hundreds of customizable keybindings
  • Powerful searching and filtering capabilities
  • Email threading with nested mailboxes
  • PGP and S/MIME encryption support
  • Multi-account management
  • Scriptable interface for automation
  • Runs in a terminal rather than graphically

Mutt is a popular choice among software developers, system administrators, and tech-savvy users who value speed and efficiency when managing high email volumes. With its flexibility through configuration files, Mutt can be tailored to suit advanced use cases. Though not as visually polished as some graphical email clients, Mutt provides functionality focused on the core email experience.

Mutt Features

Features

  1. Keyboard shortcuts
  2. Threading
  3. PGP encryption
  4. MIME support
  5. IMAP/POP3 support
  6. Multi-mailbox support
  7. Configurable and extensible

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Fast and lightweight

Highly customizable

Strong security features

Powerful keyboard controls

Cross-platform compatibility

Cons

Steep learning curve

Text-based interface not intuitive

Limited support for HTML emails

Manual configuration required


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