Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

sSMTP VS aerc

Compare sSMTP VS aerc and see what are their differences

sSMTP logo sSMTP

sSMTP is a simple MTA to deliver mail from a computer to a mail server.

aerc logo aerc

Highly efficient and extensible email client for the terminal
  • sSMTP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • aerc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

sSMTP features and specs

  • Lightweight
    sSMTP is a minimalistic SMTP client that is significantly lighter than most full-fledged mail transfer agents (MTAs). This makes it ideal for systems with limited resources.
  • Easy Configuration
    sSMTP requires minimal configuration to send emails. Configuration is typically straightforward and involves editing a single file.
  • Secure Email Sending
    sSMTP supports TLS/SSL, allowing for secure email transmission which is essential for protecting sensitive information.
  • Simplified Use Case
    Designed purely for forwarding emails to a mail hub, reducing complexity for specific use cases like sending system alerts or reports.

Possible disadvantages of sSMTP

  • Limited Functionality
    sSMTP lacks advanced features found in full MTAs like mail queuing, multiple email server support, and local email delivery.
  • Unmaintained
    The sSMTP project is no longer actively maintained, which can lead to potential security risks and compatibility issues over time.
  • No Authentication Handling
    sSMTP does not handle email authentication beyond basic username and password; it does not support modern authentication mechanisms like OAuth.
  • No Receiving Capability
    sSMTP is incapable of receiving and storing emails, limiting its use to just sending outgoing mail.

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.

sSMTP videos

Debian Package of the Day S01E13 - #13: ssmtp

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 sSMTP and aerc)
MTA
100 100%
0% 0
Email
28 28%
72% 72
Email Clients
15 15%
85% 85
SMTP Servers
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using sSMTP and aerc. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, aerc seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. 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.

sSMTP mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of sSMTP yet. Tracking of sSMTP recommendations started around Mar 2021.

aerc mentions (21)

  • Help Keep Thunderbird Alive
    I tried for a long time to work with Thunderbird, but what kept bothering me was that I couldnโ€™t simply define keyboard shortcuts. In the end, I landed on AERC and created my own extreme Vim-style keyboard configuration (the idea is to look at the list of mails like looking at a buffer in vim) for it. Iโ€™ve never been this fast when it comes to email. https://aerc-mail.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Show HN: InstantDB โ€“ 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 / almost 2 years ago
  • Aerc: A Well-Crafted TUI for Email
    The official site has video of it in use. https://aerc-mail.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years 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 / almost 3 years ago
  • git-appraise โ€“ 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 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Postfix - Postfix is a mail transfer agent (MTA) that routes and delivers electronic mail.

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

Sendmail - Sendmail is a general purpose internetwork email routing facility that supports many kinds of...

MailMate - MailMate is an alternative email client that was designed for the macOS.

Exim - Exim is a message transfer agent (MTA) developed at the University of Cambridge for use on Unix systems connected to the Internet.

Mailspring - Mailspring is a mail client for Mac, Windows and Linux.