NeoMutt

A command-line email client for the terminal, forked from Mutt with extra features.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About NeoMutt

NeoMutt is a text-based email client that runs in a terminal on Linux, macOS and other Unix-like systems. It is a fork of the classic Mutt that gathers many community patches, such as a sidebar, notmuch search integration, better colour handling and compressed folders, into one maintained project. Everything is driven by keyboard and a configuration file, so you can bind keys, write macros, hook in external tools for HTML rendering or address books, and use PGP or S/MIME through GnuPG and similar tools. It works with IMAP, POP, SMTP and local Maildir or mbox folders, and is often combined with tools like mbsync, msmtp and notmuch. It is free and open source. The learning curve is steep, setup takes time, and rich HTML email is awkward to read in a terminal. For developers and sysadmins who want speed, scripting and full control over their mail, it remains a popular choice.

Best for: Developers and terminal users who want a fast, scriptable mail client.

What works

Fully keyboard-driven and highly scriptable
Works with IMAP, Maildir and tools like notmuch
Free, open source and very lightweight

Why people leave

Steep learning curve and lengthy setup
HTML email is awkward in a terminal
No graphical interface or mobile version

Top NeoMutt alternatives

See all 4

1
Thunderbird
A graphical open-source client when a terminal workflow becomes too much.
66.5
2Ma
MailMate
A keyboard-centric Mac client with a GUI and Markdown composing.
62.6
3
Geary
A simple graphical client for Linux desktops.
59.6
4
Roundcube
Self-hosted webmail if you want browser access to the same server.
57.2

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NeoMutt: common questions

Is NeoMutt free?

Yes. NeoMutt is free, open-source software.

Is NeoMutt open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at neomutt/neomutt.

What platforms does NeoMutt run on?

NeoMutt is available for Linux and macOS.

What are the best alternatives to NeoMutt?

The highest-ranked NeoMutt alternatives right now are Thunderbird, MailMate and Geary. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 NeoMutt alternatives

NeoMutt facts

4 of 4 verified

License: GPL-2.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-2.0 (GNU General Public License v2.0).”
Type: Command-line mail reader; Checked Oct 25, 2026neomutt.org(opens source in a new tab); “NeoMutt is a command line mail reader (or MUA ).”
Origin: Fork of Mutt; Checked Oct 25, 2026neomutt.org(opens source in a new tab); “It’s a fork of Mutt with added features .”
Configuration: Highly configurable, with sample config files; Checked Oct 25, 2026neomutt.org(opens source in a new tab); “It’s versatile and highly configurable.”