How do I export Thunderbird emails to PDF with a timestamp or audit stamp?

ThunderExportImport can add a compliance stamp to every exported PDF and HTML: who exported it, when, the Message-ID, the folder and the message's SHA-256, also as a QR code. An export-manifest.json lists every file's SHA-256 so the export can be verified later.

Is ThunderExportImport a replacement for ImportExportTools NG?

For exporting folders and messages (EML, PDF, HTML, text, MBOX, attachments) and importing EML/MBOX, yes. ImportExportTools NG also backs up whole profiles, imports MBOX files with their folder structure, imports EMLX and exports search results; ThunderExportImport doesn't.

An ImportExportTools NG alternative

ImportExportTools NG is the well-known export add-on for Thunderbird, used by almost 300,000 people. ThunderExportImport is newer and smaller, with a different focus: verifiable, stamped exports that keep working across Thunderbird versions. Here is the honest comparison.

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Side by side

Figures from addons.thunderbird.net and each add-on's own files and listing, checked on 12 October 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn't mention it. Corrections welcome on GitHub.

	ThunderExportImport 1.1	ImportExportTools NG 15.0.3
Basics
Price	Free	Free
License	MIT	GPL 3.0
Thunderbird versions (current release)	91 → any newertwo builds: 91–139 and 140+	140 – 157 older versions for older Thunderbird
Experiment APIs (deep access to Thunderbird internals)	None	6
Download size	≈ 80 KB	633 KB
Daily users (ATN)	new	287,000
Export
EML, HTML, plain text, MBOX	✓	✓
PDF	✓ own PDF writer: text, Western European characters	✓
Attachments, subfolders, file name patterns, CSV index	✓	✓
Everything in one ZIP	✓	not listed
Compliance stamp (exported by, date, Message-ID, SHA-256, QR code)	✓	not listed
SHA-256 manifest and Verify	✓	not listed
Runs in the background, progress on the toolbar button	✓	not listed
Export search results, copy to clipboard	–	✓
Import and backup
Import EML and MBOX	✓ into a folder (Thunderbird 106+), duplicates skipped	✓ MBOX with folder structure, EMLX too
Import a ZIP	✓	not listed
Profile backup and restore	–	✓ with schedule
Settings backup of other add-ons	✓ Thunder suite	–

Which one should you use?

ThunderExportImport

You need exports others can trust (stamp, SHA-256, verify), a tidy ZIP per job, or support on Thunderbird versions from 91 to the newest with one add-on.

ImportExportTools NG

You need profile backups, MBOX imports that rebuild folder trees, EMLX import or search-result exports.

They can be installed side by side.

Sources: the addons.thunderbird.net page for ImportExportTools NG and its public API data; the Experiment API count from its manifest.