# Discourse vs Mailman 3 comparison
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [July 31, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446 "2020-07-31T17:57:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/1 "2020-07-31T17:57:33Z")
I’ve been looking into moving from Mailman 2 to either Discourse or Mailman 3.
The main difference, from my perspective, seems to be that Discourse is a primarily forum but can act like a mailing list, whereas Mailman 3 is primarily a mailing list but has a web interface. I really like the Discourse web interface and app, but wonder whether behind the scenes Mailman is somehow better at handling email.
But I’ve not yet come across any direct comparisons - are you aware of any comparison articles, blog posts setting out peoples’ experiences of each, etc?
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/2 "2020-08-01T01:06:07Z")
It depends heavily on your audience.
- If you have a lot of “I’m only ever using email, come hell or high water” users then stick with mailman
- If you have a lot of “I like email, but I also like using the web” users then Discourse can be a viable option
Try asking them and see what they say?
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### Author:  [@k4rtik](https://meta.discourse.org/u/k4rtik)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/3 "2020-08-01T20:21:35Z")
Not exactly a comparison but I have found this guide by folks at Mozilla Discourse quite handy for mailman-lovers:
> **[How do I use Discourse via email?](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/how-do-i-use-discourse-via-email/15279)**
>
> Discourse can be used exclusively via email, much like a Mailman mailing list. Here's how: Receive emails when active on the site Head to the email section of your preferences, and set the settings like so: “Mailing list mode” is a red...
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### Author:  [@sunjam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sunjam)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/4 "2020-08-01T21:21:54Z")
Main two features that seem to be quite different when using Discourse are:
- Cannot reply\* via email subject line to a specific topic thread as you would on Mailman.
- You’ll want to update your documentation so users know to use the `Watch` and `Mute` options in email replies. Plus, definitely follow the guide linked above. ^^
- Install `Expose Email In` plugin so users without an account can click an email icon in order to anonymously create posts on your forum in specific categories.
> [@Expose Emails In -- Plugin by Mozilla](https://meta.discourse.org/t/expose-emails-in-plugin-by-mozilla/157207):
>
> [Expose Emails In](https://github.com/mozilla/discourse-expose-emails-in) is a plugin developed by Mozilla for Discourse. I do not maintain it, but I hope to see a plugin category appear for it. I’ve found very little documentation or mention of it over the last few years. Here is how it works… an email button is added to the topic, as opposed to the usual +New Topic button You must designate a specific email address for each specific category. optionally Accept emails from anonymous users with no accounts
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### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/5 "2020-08-08T20:12:16Z")
> [@sunjam](#):
>
> - Cannot reply\* via email subject line to a specific topic thread as you would on Mailman.
> - You’ll want to update your documentation so users know to use the `Watch` and `Mute` options in email replies. Plus, definitely follow the guide linked above. ^^
Thanks everybody for the replies. Unfortunately I don’t understand the two bullet points above.
1. My impression was that in Discourse it is possible to reply to a notification email, and that the reply is added to the relevant thread in the forum.
2. From what I’ve read, “watch” (and related options) are an alternative to “mailing list mode” for those who don’t want to receive an email for every message on the whole forum. What is the “guide linked above” though? Edit: Reading again, it’s clearly referring to the Mozilla link 🙂
Thanks again.
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### Author:  [@sunjam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sunjam)
#### Post date: [August 16, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/6 "2020-08-16T16:16:53Z")
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> My impression was that in Discourse it is possible to reply to a notification email, and that the reply is added to the relevant thread in the forum.
You can reply to an email in Discourse once you receive one. Mailman does offer even greater flexibility in composition via email, which you might not need.
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> What is the “guide linked above” though
> **[How do I use Discourse via email?](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/how-do-i-use-discourse-via-email/15279)**
>
> Discourse can be used exclusively via email, much like a Mailman mailing list. Here's how: Receive emails when active on the site Head to the email section of your preferences, and set the settings like so: “Mailing list mode” is a red...
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### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/7 "2020-08-19T15:50:32Z")
James, out of interest, did you reply via email to my post? I ask because I’d answered my “which link?” question in a quick online edit days before you sent the link again. I suppose this shows a problem in being able to edit posts online (only)! 🙂
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### Author:  [@sunjam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sunjam)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/8 "2020-08-19T18:31:38Z")
Yes, I was replying by email.
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### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/9 "2020-08-19T18:44:10Z")
Thanks (I’m replying to the notification by email to see how it works).
Best wishes
Jonathan
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-vs-mailman-3-comparison/159446/10 "2020-10-24T15:49:37Z")
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