mail
vs. msmtp
mail
?mail
is a mail client used to compose and send messages.mail
:mail
:msmtp
?msmtp
is a standalone SMTP client that communicates directly with an SMTP server.msmtp
:msmtp
:~/.msmtprc
) for SMTP settings.Feature | mail |
msmtp |
---|---|---|
Function | Mail client using a local MTA | SMTP client sending directly to servers |
Local MTA required | Yes | No |
SMTP support | Via local MTA | Direct |
Flexibility | Less flexible, meant for local servers | Highly flexible, for external servers |
Ease of use | Simple if MTA is running | Needs its own configuration |
Email reading | Yes | No |
Use mail
:
If you have a local mail server like Postfix installed and want to send emails through it. It's straightforward and requires no additional configuration.
Use msmtp
:
If you do not have a local mail server or if you want to send emails through an external SMTP service (e.g., Gmail, Office365). Ideal for scripts, automation, or minimal setups.