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Alternatives · Email

aerc alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded aerc alternative is Thunderbird (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.

aerc compared with 5 alternatives: NeoMutt, Mutt, Thunderbird, Claws Mail and Mailspring.

aerc is free to use. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
aercThis toolFreeFreemacOS, Linux
NeoMuttFreeFreemacOS, Linux
MuttFreeFreeLinux
ThunderbirdFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, Android
Claws MailFreeFreeWindows, Linux
MailspringFree plan · from $8/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux

Price against what you get

aerc has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

NeoMutt, Thunderbird, Claws Mail and Mailspring score higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessaercNeoMuttMuttThunderbirdMailspring

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of email apps, and the best at every price

How each one differs from aerc

  1. NeoMutt

    Command-line mail reader forked from Mutt with extra features

    • NeoMutt is free.

    Suits: Terminal users who already know Mutt and want more features

    NeoMutt vs aercNeoMutt pricing and details

  2. Mutt

    Small text-based mail client for Unix systems

    • Mutt is free.
    • Mutt lists no macOS app, which aerc has.

    Suits: Unix users who read mail in a terminal

    Mutt vs aercMutt pricing and details

  3. Thunderbird

    Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    • Thunderbird is free.
    • Thunderbird also lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.

    Suits: People who want a free desktop email app without ads

    Thunderbird vs aercThunderbird pricing and details

  4. Claws Mail

    Lightweight GTK email and news client, free under the GPL

    • Claws Mail is free.
    • Claws Mail also lists a Windows app.
    • Claws Mail lists no macOS app, which aerc has.
    • Claws Mail also covers inbox filtering.

    Suits: Linux users who want a fast, low-resource mail client

    Claws Mail vs aercClaws Mail pricing and details

  5. Mailspring

    Open-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux

    • Mailspring starts at $8 per month, or $85 per year (Mailspring Pro).
    • Mailspring also lists a Windows app.
    • Mailspring also covers templates.

    Suits: Linux users who want a modern desktop email client

    Mailspring vs aercMailspring pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in aerc

  • Runs only in a terminal; there is no graphical or web version.
  • HTML email is rendered through an interactive terminal browser rather than shown natively.
  • Support is via mailing lists, a bug tracker and a wiki.
aerc pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to aerc?

The alternatives to aerc in this directory are NeoMutt, Mutt, Thunderbird, Claws Mail and Mailspring. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with aerc.

Is there a free alternative to aerc?

Yes. NeoMutt, Mutt, Thunderbird and Claws Mail are free to use. Mailspring has a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which aerc alternatives work on Windows?

The aerc listing does not include a Windows app. Thunderbird, Claws Mail and Mailspring list one.

Which aerc alternatives work on Android?

The aerc listing does not include an Android app. Thunderbird lists one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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