{
  "slug": "aerc",
  "category": "email-clients",
  "name": "aerc",
  "description": "Terminal email client for Linux and macOS with IMAP, JMAP, Maildir and Notmuch support and PGP encryption through GnuPG.",
  "website": "https://aerc-mail.org",
  "source": "https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "linux",
    "macos"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": null,
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 89,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "aerc scores 89 out of 100 (grade B) on the email clients criteria. It meets 7 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, OpenPGP support, connects directly, blocks remote content and works with any provider. It does not meet independent audit.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/aerc/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/aerc/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/rjarry/aerc/blob/master/LICENSE",
      "note": "MIT."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/rjarry/aerc",
      "note": "No telemetry or analytics in the source code."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://aerc-mail.org",
      "note": "Volunteer free software project. No ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "openpgp": {
      "title": "OpenPGP support",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://aerc-mail.org",
      "note": "PGP signing, encryption and verification are built in through GnuPG."
    },
    "no_cloud_relay": {
      "title": "Connects directly",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://aerc-mail.org",
      "note": "Connects directly to IMAP, JMAP and SMTP servers. No vendor service is involved."
    },
    "remote_content_blocked": {
      "title": "Blocks remote content",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/rjarry/aerc/blob/master/filters/html",
      "note": "The default HTML filter renders mail with network access disabled. A separate html-unsafe filter must be chosen to load remote content."
    },
    "any_provider": {
      "title": "Works with any provider",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://aerc-mail.org",
      "note": "Works with any IMAP, JMAP and SMTP provider."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:02:35.533Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}