Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rainloop VS aerc

Compare Rainloop VS aerc and see what are their differences

Rainloop logo Rainloop

RainLoop is a web based email client.

aerc logo aerc

Highly efficient and extensible email client for the terminal
  • Rainloop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-19
  • aerc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Rainloop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Rainloop has a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, providing a good user experience even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Lightweight
    Being a web-based email client, Rainloop is lightweight and does not require heavy server resources, which ensures faster loading times and performance.
  • No Database Required
    Rainloop operates without requiring a database, simplifying the installation process and reducing potential points of failure.
  • Support for Multiple Email Providers
    It supports various email protocols such as IMAP and SMTP, and works seamlessly with major email services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.
  • Modern Features
    Features like two-factor authentication (2FA), PGP encryption support, and integration with third-party services add to security and functionality.

Possible disadvantages of Rainloop

  • Limited Customization
    While Rainloop offers a range of functionalities, its customization options are somewhat limited compared to other email clients.
  • Lacks Advanced Features
    For advanced users, Rainloop might lack certain features like advanced filtering, tagging, or extensive plugin support.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    Rainloop relies on some external libraries, which could pose security risks or lead to compatibility issues if those libraries are not maintained.
  • Paid Version for Advanced Features
    Some advanced functionalities and features are only available in the paid pro version, such as ActiveSync support and administrative settings.
  • Limited Community Support
    The community around Rainloop is smaller compared to more widely used email clients, which might limit the availability of community-driven support and plugins.

aerc features and specs

  • User Interface
    Aerc offers a minimalist and efficient interface, ideal for users who prefer a console-based email client with keyboard-driven operations.
  • Customization
    It provides extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their email experience according to their workflow needs.
  • Privacy
    With Aerc being open-source, users have greater transparency over its operation, contributing to a more secure and privacy-focused experience.
  • Efficiency
    Designed to run in a terminal, Aerc is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources, making it ideal for power users and developers.
  • Scripting Capabilities
    It supports integration with various scripting languages, enabling automation of routine tasks and enhancing productivity.

Possible disadvantages of aerc

  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those unfamiliar with terminal-based applications, may find it challenging to learn and use effectively.
  • Limited User Base
    As a niche email client, the community and support resources are not as vast as more mainstream email clients, possibly leading to limited help for troubleshooting.
  • Feature Set
    Compared to graphical email clients, it may lack some of the advanced features or integrations that are available in more popular applications.
  • Visuals
    The text-only, terminal interface might not appeal to users who prefer a graphical user experience with rich media support.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up accounts and customizing can be complex, requiring users to edit configuration files manually, which may not be user-friendly for everyone.

Analysis of Rainloop

Overall verdict

  • Rainloop is a solid choice for users looking for a no-fuss, efficient, and customizable webmail client. Its performance, ease of use, and support for multiple email services make it a popular option.

Why this product is good

  • Rainloop is a lightweight and user-friendly email client that offers seamless integration with various email services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and others. It provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate. The client supports multiple accounts and has a high level of customization. Additionally, Rainloop is open-source, which means it benefits from community-driven improvements and security reviews.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking for a lightweight webmail client
  • Users who manage multiple email accounts
  • Open-source enthusiasts
  • Those who require a straightforward and fast interface

Rainloop videos

How to install RainLoop Webmail

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to install Rainloop Webmail 1.12.0 on Ubuntu 18.04
  • Tutorial - How to install RainLoop E-Mail Client in Ubuntu

aerc videos

Control Check Exam, AERC Educational Series

More videos:

  • Review - Temperature controller (subzero) Arihant Electrical & Refrigeration Centre | AERC | part 2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rainloop and aerc)
Email
56 56%
44% 44
Email Clients
56 56%
44% 44
Email Management
100 100%
0% 0
Calendar
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Rainloop and aerc

Rainloop Reviews

Top 15 Self-hosted open-source free web-based email clients
RainLoop integrates seamlessly with Google, Facebook, Twitter and Dropbox. It features a messages' folder management, media-rich email rendering, advanced attachment management, keyboard shortcuts, multiple email accounts manager, and more.
Source: medevel.com
15 Best iRedMail Alternatives 2021
Rainloop is a modern email server with an easy installation process and support for SMTP and IMAP protocols like STARTTLS and SSL. It delivers a seamless performance and OTA upgrades without the need for a database.
5 open source webmail clients for browser-based email
Next up is Rainloop. Rainloop is a very modern entry into the webmail arena, and its interface is definitely closer to what you might expect if you're used to Gmail or another commercial email client. It comes with most features you've come to expect, including email address autocompletion, drag-and-drop and keyboard interfaces, filtering support, and many others, and it can...
Source: opensource.com

aerc Reviews

We have no reviews of aerc yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, aerc seems to be a lot more popular than Rainloop. While we know about 20 links to aerc, we've tracked only 1 mention of Rainloop. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Rainloop mentions (1)

  • Meet PostPilot
    Have a local mail server be part of your development environment, along with a frontend like SquirrelMail or RainLoop. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago

aerc mentions (20)

  • Show HN: InstantDB – The Modern Firebase
    How about (inspired by another HN post) - a rebuild of a TUI for email, given how its built: https://blog.sergeantbiggs.net/posts/aerc-a-well-crafted-tui-for-email/ https://aerc-mail.org/ It seems that building a version of this Aerc Email TUi with Instant is a completely doable? Might be an interesting tutorial to build out an Instant FroBenDB (Instant is an instant Front-BackendDB :-) --- btu the txtual nature... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Aerc: A Well-Crafted TUI for Email
    The official site has video of it in use. https://aerc-mail.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Email and Git = <3
    You have some points, for some I do think it isn't as bad as you write. FWIW, some comments inline. > - You can't subscribe to a single PR/bug/feature-request thread. Subscription to the mailing list is all-or-nothing. And no, setting up email filters is not a reasonable solution. You can use tools like public-inbox or lei, the former is hosted for bigger projects on https://lore.kernel.org/ If you're interested,... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • git-appraise – Distributed Code Review for Git
    > Another problem is how badly email threading is displayed in these clients. Email UI is still abysmal. Fair point. However, given that the current alternative is "use another service entirely (e.g. GitHub)", I think it would be fair to assume that devs could choose a good e-mail client and learn how to format such e-mails correctly. It works for Linux, for instance. I started using Aerc, and I love it:... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • A Quick Guide to Mutt
    For fans of Mutt/NeoMutt looking to try something new, I've been getting a lot of mileage out of Aerc[1] and can recommend it as a somewhat more approachable alternative for the Mutt-curious. [1] https://aerc-mail.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rainloop and aerc, you can also consider the following products

Roundcube - Web-based IMAP email client

NeoMutt - NeoMutt is a command-line mail reader. It's a version of https://alternativeto.

Mailpile - Mailpile is a modern, fast web-mail client with user-friendly encryption and privacy features.

Mu4e - Starting with version 0.9.8, mu provides an emacs-based e-mail client which uses mu as its back-end: mu4e.

Horde - Horde Groupware is a free, enterprise ready, browser based collaboration suite.

Mutt - Mutt is a small but very powerful text-based mail client for Unix operating systems.