The Mutt Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Mutt in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Mutt
The Insider’s Guide
Small text-based mail client for Unix systems
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Mutt’s own pages.
Made by The Mutt project · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Mutt’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Mutt’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 54 of the 122 other email apps we grade
Mutt is a small but powerful text-based mail client for Unix operating systems. The project site lists stable 2.4.3 as the current release, with regular bug-fix releases, and it hosts source, wiki and issue tracking on GitLab. There is no charge for it.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Mutt, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It covers the basics, and the extras live in its forks, so you may end up with one of those.
- 1
Best for a small mail reader for Unix terminals
Mutt is a free text-based mail client for Unix, with IMAP and GPGME support and steady bug-fix releases.
- 2
It is free
Mutt has no paid plan at all. Free to download; source is on the project's GitLab.
- 3
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 4
Text-based interface
Runs in a terminal and is described by its maintainers as small but very powerful.
- 5
IMAP and GPGME
Release notes mention IMAP support and GPGME-based signing and encryption.
- 6
Steady bug-fix releases
The news page shows frequent point releases, including a security fix in release 2.4.3.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 54 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Mutt is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Mutt at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- The Mutt project
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a small mail reader for Unix terminals
Mutt is a free text-based mail client for Unix, with IMAP and GPGME support and steady bug-fix releases. It covers the basics, and the extras live in its forks, so you may end up with one of those. It's text only, with Linux as the only system on record.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download, with the source on GitLab. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free software, and the listing shows no paid plans or limits. |
| Features | C | Text-based mail with IMAP and GPGME. It does the basic job, and the project points to forks for more. |
| Ease of use | D | Text only and configured by editing files, so the first hour is setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Unix systems only on record. No Windows or macOS builds are described, and nothing for phones or the web. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Mutt is for
- Fits if you read mail over SSH on a Unix box
- Works for people who want a tiny client and will write their own config
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a graphical, web or phone app
- Not for you if you use Windows or macOS
- Skip it if you don't want to write config files
- Watch out: support is mailing lists, IRC and an issue tracker
Good to know
Good for
- Unix users who read mail in a terminal
- People who configure tools with plain text files
Worth knowing
- Text-only; no graphical, web or mobile version.
- The site names Unix operating systems; no Windows or macOS builds are described.
- Support is through mailing lists, IRC and an issue tracker.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Mutt is free to use.
Free to download, with the source on GitLab.
Free
$0
Free software; no paid plans are listed.
The free plan
Free to download; source is on the project's GitLab.
Read from gitlab.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Linux
Small text-based mail client for Unix systems. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, email client.
It does the basic job, and the project points to forks for more.
- Text-based interface
- Runs in a terminal and is described by its maintainers as small but very powerful.
- IMAP and GPGME
- Release notes mention IMAP support and GPGME-based signing and encryption.
- Steady bug-fix releases
- The news page shows frequent point releases, including a security fix in release 2.4.3.
- Community resources
- Documentation, a wiki, mailing lists, an IRC channel, a newsgroup and a GitLab project.
- Mutt-based forks
- NeoMutt and similar projects build on Mutt; K-9 Mail's site says it was named for it.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
- GPGME
- OpenSSL
Mutt is made by The Mutt project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
54/122
Other email apps it is graded above
Mutt's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 54 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 19.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 97 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Mutt has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Mutt’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 88 of 122
- AFree plan and trialAbove 97 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Mutt is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Mutt is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Mutt’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
NeoMutt, aerc, Claws Mail, Thunderbird and Sylpheed
The 5 tools Mutt is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
NeoMutt
Free
Command-line mail reader forked from Mutt with extra features.
- Only NeoMutt lists a macOS app.
- 2.6GPA
aerc
Free
Terminal email client with Vim-style keys and git-email support.
- Only aerc lists a macOS app.
- 2.8GPA
Claws Mail
Free
Lightweight GTK email and news client, free under the GPL.
- Only Claws Mail lists a Windows app.
- Claws Mail also covers inbox filtering.
- 3.2GPA
Thunderbird
Free
Free, open-source email app for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- Only Thunderbird lists Windows, macOS and Android apps.
- Thunderbird also covers tasks and calendar.
- 2.8GPA
Sylpheed
Free
Lightweight desktop email client built on GTK+.
- Only Sylpheed lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Sylpheed also covers inbox filtering.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Mutt free?
Yes. Mutt is free to use.
How much does Mutt cost?
Mutt lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Mutt work on?
Mutt is available on Linux.
Does Mutt have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Mutt is listed for Linux.
Does Mutt have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Mutt is listed for Linux.
Is Mutt open source?
Yes. Mutt is open source, according to its own site.
What does Mutt integrate with?
Mutt's listing names GPGME and OpenSSL. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Mutt?
Mutt is made by The Mutt project.
What are the alternatives to Mutt?
The closest alternatives to Mutt in our directory are NeoMutt, aerc, Claws Mail, Thunderbird and Sylpheed.
How does Mutt compare with other email apps?
Mutt's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 54 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 19.
Is Mutt good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Mutt A for value for money. Mutt has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Mutt?
Mutt is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Mutt’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Mutt project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. The GitLab page was the only source that loaded, and it shows no prices.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by The Mutt project. Prices change, so check gitlab.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Mutt, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mutt
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Mutt: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mutt
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mutt/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Mutt, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 126 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- AOL Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with news and weather in a companion mobile app3.2 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Mutt’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Mutt is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Mutt project. Prices and plans change: check gitlab.com before you buy.