Plain Text vs HTML Emails

This cluster features strong criticism of HTML emails and advocacy for plain text alternatives, discussing compatibility issues, email client behaviors, and preferences for simple text communication.

📉 Falling 0.3x Other
3,925
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#5964
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
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239
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191
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Keywords

SUCKS IMHO CSS JS stackexchange.com MIME ASCII HTML google.com campaignmonitor.com html plain text plain text email emails clients send mail client

Sample Comments

inetknght Aug 20, 2021 View on HN

You're assuming the email is HTML. No, not all users use HTML email.

claudius Mar 6, 2013 View on HN

Sane email clients do not display HTML :)

mixcocam Sep 25, 2025 View on HN

I hope they enforce the use of plain text versions of html email :)

m1117 May 10, 2015 View on HN

Hope people will stop send HTML-formatted emails.

Kwpolska Jun 7, 2011 View on HN

HTML emails SUCKS. Use goddamn plaintext.

coagmano Oct 1, 2019 View on HN

Email clients don't give a shit about your html. They will straight mess you up

Demiurge Nov 1, 2013 View on HN

Why can't emails just be text :(

gsich Feb 9, 2018 View on HN

HTML mails are an abomination, just tell people to use text/plain.

eli Oct 16, 2013 View on HN

Most HTML is sent multipart with a text version too. You might consider setting your mail client to favor that version.

jxdxbx Mar 26, 2019 View on HN

Email should be plain text. HTML in email itself was a terrible idea, though not as bad as AMP in email.