Side by side
Alot vs Geary
Both stand on email clients. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Linux
Alot is a focused terminal client for users already working with notmuch. Its customization and offline operation are useful, but setup depends on external indexing, sending, rendering, and encryption tools.
Visit Alot Free plan Linux
Geary focuses on conversation-based email for Linux and supports major consumer services through IMAP. Its privacy defaults block remote media and JavaScript, but local mail protection is limited and Exchange requires connectors.
Visit GearyThe facts
| Alot | Geary | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux | Linux |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | gitlab.gnome.org |
| On email clients | #104 of 142 | #108 of 142 |
Alot: what it does well
- Free GPL-3.0 software
- Offline desktop mail interface
- Supports multiple sending accounts
- Configurable keyboard maps and themes
- PGP/MIME signing and encryption
What to know first
- Requires notmuch and other dependencies
- Sending works only through sendmail
- Does not fetch mail itself
- Inline HTML needs an external renderer
Geary: what it does well
- Conversation-based message organization
- Fast full-text and keyword search
- Rich and plain-text composition
- Desktop notifications for new mail
- Remote media blocked by default
What to know first
- Linux desktop only
- Exchange needs IMAP and SMTP connectors
- Locally stored mail is not encrypted
- No free trial because it is already free