Can I move my Quicktext templates to ThunderSnippet?

Yes. Export them in Quicktext's settings and import the .xml file in ThunderSnippet's settings. Groups, keywords, HTML and the common codes ([[TO=firstname]], [[INPUT=…]], [[CURSOR]], [[TEXT=…]], dates) are translated; anything without an equivalent is kept as text and listed.

Which Thunderbird versions does ThunderSnippet support?

Thunderbird 91 to the newest release, in two builds (91–139 and 140+), tested in real Thunderbird builds. It uses only official MailExtension APIs and declares no upper version limit.

A Quicktext alternative for Thunderbird

Quicktext is the long-standing template add-on for Thunderbird, and SmartTemplates fills in replies automatically. Here is how ThunderSnippet compares, with sources, including where the others do more.

Try ThunderSnippet – free Jump to the table

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.

	ThunderSnippet 1.1	Quicktext 6.9.4	SmartTemplates 4.20.2
Basics
Price	Free	Free	Yearly license (about $5 standard; Pro costs more)
License	MIT (open source)	MPL 2.0 (open source)	CC BY-ND 4.0
Thunderbird versions (current release)	91 → any newertwo builds: 91–139 and 140+	148 – 157	140 – 158
Experiment APIs (deep access to Thunderbird internals)	None	1	4
Download size	≈ 65 KB	352 KB	1.3 MB
Daily users (ATN)	new	97,000	3,600
Writing
Type a key, press Tab to expand	✓ (or Space)	✓ keywords	not listed
Search all snippets from the keyboard	✓ palette, Alt+Shift+S	menus and toolbar	not listed
Fields asked when inserting	✓ form with live preview, defaults, choices, remembered values	✓ [[INPUT]]	not listed
Recipient / sender / date	✓	✓	✓
Attachments with a template	✓ names from fields	✓	not listed
Set the subject	✓ set, or add before / after	✓	✓
Add or replace recipients (To, Cc, Bcc, Reply-To)	✓ add, replace or remove	✓ [[HEADER]]	✓
Custom headers	✓ X- headers	not listed	not listed
Automatic templates for new / reply / forward, per identity	–	–	✓
Scripts in templates	–	✓ [[SCRIPT]]	not listed
Moving in
Import	✓ Quicktext XML, CSV, JSON	its own XML	Stationery files
Settings backup with other add-ons	✓ Thunder suite backup	–	–

Which one should you use?

ThunderSnippet

You type the same emails often and want them one Tab away, with fields, recipient names and files, on any Thunderbird from 91 on.

Quicktext

You need scripts in templates, or you're happy with its menus and toolbar.

SmartTemplates

You want every new message, reply and forward to start from a template automatically, per identity.

Moving from Quicktext takes a minute: export your templates in Quicktext's settings, then Import… them in ThunderSnippet's settings. [[TO=firstname]] becomes {{to.first}}, [[INPUT=PO]] becomes {{PO}}, [[CURSOR]] becomes {{cursor}}, a template's subject and [[HEADER=cc|…]] become header changes; codes without an equivalent are kept as text and listed.

Sources: addons.thunderbird.net pages for Quicktext and SmartTemplates and their public API data; Experiment API counts from each add-on's manifest; SmartTemplates' licensing from its listing.