The best email services to use with aerc on Linux

aerc is a terminal email client designed for users who prefer working with the keyboard, configuration files and fast workflows. It is not a graphical client like Thunderbird, Evolution or Geary: aerc runs in the terminal and is aimed at advanced users, system administrators, developers and people who spend much of the day in the console.

That is why the best email services to use with aerc are not necessarily the most popular ones, but those that offer IMAP, SMTP, good technical documentation and clear manual configuration. In a TUI client like aerc, the more standard the provider is, the better the experience will be.

aerc fits especially well in desktops such as Xfce, i3, Sway, GNOME, KDE Plasma or MATE, and on distributions such as Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Alpine Linux or Linux Mint. It is a very attractive option if you use the terminal as your work center and want to manage email without opening a browser.

In this comparison we will look at some of the best email services to use with aerc: Fastmail, StartMail, Infomaniak Mail, Mailfence, Zoho Mail, Gmail, Outlook and Proton Mail.

Comparison table

Email	Compatibility with aerc	Ease of setup	Privacy	Price	Best for
Fastmail	Excellent	High	Medium-high	Paid	Advanced and professional use
StartMail	Very good	Medium	High	Paid	Privacy with IMAP
Infomaniak Mail	Very good	Medium	Medium-high	Limited free / paid	European email and domains
Mailfence	Very good	Medium	High	Limited free / paid	Privacy and complete suite
Zoho Mail	Very good	Medium	Medium-high	Limited free / paid	Businesses and custom domains
Gmail	Good	Medium-low	Medium	Free / paid	General users
Outlook	Decent	Medium-low	Medium	Free / paid	Microsoft users
Proton Mail	Limited / with Bridge	Low	Very high	Limited free / paid	Advanced privacy

1. Fastmail: the best balance for aerc

Fastmail is probably the provider that best fits aerc if you are looking for a stable, serious and easy-to-maintain experience. It is a paid email service, fast and very oriented toward users who want to use external clients without depending on a web interface.

For aerc, this is key. Fastmail documents the use of IMAP, POP and SMTP as standards to connect the account with third-party email clients, exactly what a terminal client needs. (Fastmail)

Advantages of Fastmail in aerc

• Excellent compatibility with IMAP and SMTP.
• Very good performance in external clients.
• Ideal for custom domains.
• Clear configuration for advanced users.
• Very good option for those who use the terminal daily.

Disadvantages

• It does not have a full free plan.
• It is not as focused on end-to-end encryption as Proton Mail.
• It may not interest those who only want a free account.
• Its approach is more practical than privacy-maximalist.

Opinion

Fastmail is the best email service for aerc if you want balance. It is not the most private in the strict sense, but it is one of the providers that should cause the fewest problems in a TUI client. For users of Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora or openSUSE who live in the terminal, it is a very well-rounded choice.

2. StartMail: privacy with IMAP configuration

StartMail is one of the best alternatives for those who want privacy, but also want to use traditional clients. This makes it very interesting for aerc, because the client relies heavily on standard protocols and manual configuration.

StartMail offers access through IMAP with a password generated for the device. Its documentation indicates the server imap.startmail.com, port 993 and SSL/TLS for incoming mail. (StartMail)

Advantages of StartMail in aerc

• Good privacy approach.
• Compatible with IMAP.
• Very good alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Fits well with configurable clients.
• Good option for advanced Linux users.

Disadvantages

• It is a paid service.
• It does not support POP3.
• It may require manual setup.
• It is not as well known as Gmail, Outlook or Proton Mail.

Opinion

StartMail is a great option for aerc because it combines privacy with relatively simple integration. It does not force you to use a closed application or a complex bridge, so it fits very well with the philosophy of a terminal client.

3. Infomaniak Mail: European provider for serious email

Infomaniak Mail is a very interesting option for aerc if you want a European provider focused on professional services, domains and email with standard protocols. It is especially attractive for freelancers, system administrators, personal projects and small businesses.

To use it with aerc, the important thing is that Infomaniak works with classic email configuration. Its documentation indicates IMAP/SMTP settings such as mail.infomaniak.com, port 993 with SSL for IMAP and port 587 with STARTTLS for SMTP. (InfoSwitch – Migration vers Infomaniak)

Advantages of Infomaniak Mail in aerc

• Good compatibility with IMAP and SMTP.
• European provider.
• Very interesting for custom domains.
• Suitable for professional use.
• Fits well with technical Linux users.

Disadvantages

• It may require manual setup.
• It is not as popular as Gmail or Outlook.
• Some features are better used in its web ecosystem.
• It may make more sense for users with a domain than for a basic account.

Opinion

Infomaniak Mail fits very well with aerc because it offers what a terminal client needs: clear configuration, standard protocols and a professional focus. For users of Debian, Arch Linux, Fedora, Ubuntu or openSUSE, it is one of the best options if you want to leave Google and Microsoft.

4. Mailfence: privacy and complete suite

Mailfence is another good option for aerc if you are looking for privacy and a European provider with more features than a simple inbox. It offers email, calendar, contacts, documents and collaborative tools, although aerc will focus mainly on email.

Mailfence allows the account to be integrated through SMTP and IMAP/POP on paid plans, specifically Entry, Pro and Ultra. (Mailfence Support)

Advantages of Mailfence in aerc

• Good privacy approach.
• Compatible with IMAP, POP and SMTP on compatible plans.
• European alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Good option for users who want more control.
• Interesting for those looking for a private suite.

Disadvantages

• Access with external clients is not available on all plans.
• It may require manual setup.
• aerc does not take advantage of calendar, contacts or documents.
• It is not as simple as Gmail for beginners.

Opinion

Mailfence is a very solid option for aerc if you are going to use a plan compatible with IMAP/SMTP. You will not use its whole suite from the terminal, but as a private and standard provider it works very well.

5. Zoho Mail: good option for businesses and domains

Zoho Mail makes a lot of sense with aerc if you want professional email, a custom domain or an alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. It is a widely used provider in business environments, but it can also be useful for personal projects.

Zoho Mail can be used through IMAP in any standard client, although IMAP access must first be enabled from the account. It may also require a specific password if you have two-step verification enabled. (Zoho)

Advantages of Zoho Mail in aerc

• Good compatibility with IMAP and SMTP.
• Very useful for custom domains.
• Interesting for small businesses and freelancers.
• Alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
• Good balance between price and features.

Disadvantages

• It may require manually enabling IMAP.
• Some features depend on the chosen plan.
• Its ecosystem may be too broad if you only want email.
• It is not as direct as Fastmail for terminal users.

Opinion

Zoho Mail is a good option for aerc if your priority is professional email. It is not the most minimalist provider, but it offers an interesting combination of price, custom domain and business features.

6. Gmail: popular, but less ideal for aerc

Gmail can be used with external clients, but it is not the most convenient option for aerc. The problem is not so much IMAP or SMTP, but modern authentication and the fit with terminal clients. Gmail usually works better in clients with more polished OAuth2 integration, such as Thunderbird or Evolution.

Even so, Gmail remains a valid option if you already depend on Android, Google Drive, Google Calendar or Google Workspace. On distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch Linux or Linux Mint, it can be configured, but it is not the cleanest provider for a purely terminal workflow.

Advantages of Gmail in aerc

• Very popular service.
• Lots of storage.
• Compatible with IMAP and SMTP.
• Ideal if you already use Google services.
• Good option for existing personal accounts.

Disadvantages

• It is not the best option for privacy.
• It may require app passwords or additional settings.
• It depends heavily on the Google ecosystem.
• It does not fit as well with TUI clients as it does with modern graphical clients.
• Some features are better enjoyed from the web.

Opinion

Gmail can work in aerc, but I would not choose it as the first option if you are building your workflow from scratch. For a terminal client, Fastmail, StartMail, Infomaniak or Mailfence make more sense.

7. Outlook / Hotmail: useful if you depend on Microsoft

Outlook and old Hotmail accounts can be used with external clients, but they are not the most natural fit for aerc either. Microsoft has been strengthening modern authentication, and that can complicate use in terminal clients if there is no convenient OAuth2 support.

Outlook makes sense if you already use Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Windows or a corporate account linked to the Microsoft ecosystem. For users who switch between Linux and Windows, it can be practical, but it is not the cleanest option for aerc.

Advantages of Outlook in aerc

• Good option for Microsoft users.
• Free accounts and paid plans.
• Suitable for personal, academic and professional use.
• Clear alternative to Gmail.
• Useful if you switch between Linux and Windows.

Disadvantages

• It may require more adjustments than other providers.
• The full experience is more designed for Outlook web or Microsoft Outlook.
• It does not stand out for privacy.
• It is not the most convenient option for a terminal client.
• It may cause more problems than more direct IMAP providers.

Opinion

Outlook is valid if you already use it, but it would not be a main recommendation for aerc. If you want a clean terminal workflow, it is better to choose a more open provider that is easier to configure manually.

8. Proton Mail: very private, but not very direct in aerc

Proton Mail is one of the best options if absolute privacy is the priority, but it is not the most convenient for aerc. To use Proton Mail with external clients, Proton Mail Bridge is required, which creates a local IMAP/SMTP connection between your Proton account and the email client. Proton states that Bridge integrates Proton Mail with IMAP/SMTP clients, although official support is optimized for Thunderbird, Apple Mail and Outlook. (Proton)

This means that it may be possible with aerc, but it is not the simplest or most guaranteed combination.

Advantages of Proton Mail in aerc

• Very high privacy.
• Strong encryption within the Proton ecosystem.
• Good alternative to Gmail and Outlook.
• Complete ecosystem with email, calendar, VPN, storage and password manager.
• Interesting for advanced users.

Disadvantages

• Requires Proton Mail Bridge.
• Less direct setup.
• Official support is more oriented toward other clients.
• To use Bridge, a paid plan is normally required.
• It is not the best option for a simple TUI workflow.

Opinion

Proton Mail is excellent as a private service, but I would not place it among the best practical options for aerc. If you want privacy with more direct integration, StartMail or Mailfence fit better. Proton makes sense if you are an advanced user and accept configuring Bridge manually.

Final ranking

Rank	Email	Rating
1	Fastmail	The best balance for aerc
2	StartMail	Best private option with IMAP
3	Infomaniak Mail	Best European option for domains
4	Mailfence	Privacy and complete suite
5	Zoho Mail	Very good for businesses
6	Gmail	Popular, but less ideal
7	Outlook	Useful for Microsoft users
8	Proton Mail	Very private, but not very direct

Which one should you choose?

For the best overall experience in aerc, I would choose Fastmail. It is stable, fast, works well with IMAP/SMTP and fits perfectly with a terminal email client.

If privacy is the priority, StartMail is one of the best options because it maintains a relatively simple IMAP configuration. Mailfence is also highly recommended if you want privacy and a European provider, although access with external clients depends on the plan.

Infomaniak Mail deserves a special mention because it combines a European provider, standards compatibility and a good fit with custom domains. For Linux users working on Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE or Alpine Linux, it can be a very attractive alternative.

Gmail and Outlook are valid options if you already use them, but not the most convenient for aerc. They work better in graphical clients with more integrated OAuth2. Zoho Mail stands out if you need professional email, while Proton Mail remains an advanced privacy option, but with less direct integration.

Conclusion

The best email service for aerc depends on the type of user:

• Best overall: Fastmail
• Best private option with IMAP: StartMail
• Best European option for domains: Infomaniak Mail
• Best private option with a complete suite: Mailfence
• Best for businesses: Zoho Mail
• Most popular: Gmail
• Best for Microsoft users: Outlook
• Best advanced privacy: Proton Mail

If you use aerc on Linux, especially in environments such as i3, Sway, Xfce, MATE, GNOME or KDE Plasma, and on distributions such as Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Alpine Linux or Linux Mint, it is best to choose a provider with simple IMAP and SMTP. That is why Fastmail, StartMail, Infomaniak Mail and Mailfence are the options that best fit this terminal email client.