Docker Mailserver
Mail ServersProduction-ready, config-driven mail server in a container
Replaces Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
Best No-Database Mail Servers for self-hosting
The 25 best No-Database mail servers you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Maddy Mail Server
Mail ServersComposable, all-in-one mail server in Go
Replaces Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
Mox
Mail ServersModern, secure all-in-one mail server
Replaces Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
imapsync
Mail ServersSynchronization and migration tool between IMAP accounts
Replaces IMAP migration services
SnappyMail
Mail ServersLightweight, fast and modern webmail client
Replaces Gmail, Outlook Web
swaks
Mail ServersSwiss Army knife for SMTP testing
Replaces Mailtrap
chasquid
Mail ServersSimple, easy-to-configure SMTP server
Replaces Google Workspace
imapfilter
Mail ServersScriptable IMAP mail filtering utility
Replaces Gmail filters
alot
Mail ServersTerminal-based mail user agent for notmuch
Replaces Mutt
alps
Mail ServersSimple and extensible web-based email client
Replaces Gmail
OfflineIMAP
Mail ServersSynchronize IMAP mailboxes to local Maildir
Replaces Outlook offline mode
OpenSMTPD
Mail ServersSecure and simple SMTP server from OpenBSD
Replaces Sendmail, Postfix
isync
Mail ServersIMAP and Maildir mailbox synchronizer
Replaces Outlook offline mode
afew
Mail ServersInitial tagging script for the notmuch mailer
Replaces Gmail filters
msmtp
Mail ServersLightweight SMTP client for sending mail
Replaces Sendmail
fdm
Mail ServersFetch and filter mail with a single configuration
Replaces fetchmail, procmail
DragonFly Mail Agent
Mail ServersTiny mail transfer agent for outbound delivery
Replaces Sendmail, Postfix
Fetchmail
Mail ServersRemote mail retrieval and forwarding utility
Replaces Gmail import
Nullmailer
Mail ServersSimple relay-only mail transfer agent
Replaces Sendmail
getmail6
Mail ServersFlexible mail retrieval tool for POP3 and IMAP
Replaces fetchmail
OpenDMARC
Mail ServersDMARC policy enforcement filter for mail servers
Replaces Proprietary DMARC services
OpenDKIM
Mail ServersDKIM signing and verification filter for mail servers
Replaces Proprietary email security gateways
bogofilter
Mail ServersFast Bayesian spam filter for mail systems
Replaces Proprietary spam gateways
DKIMpy Milter
Mail ServersDKIM signing and verification milter for mail servers
Replaces Hosted email authentication
mpop
Mail ServersSmall POP3 client for retrieving mail
Replaces fetchmail
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docker Mailserver | ≈5-minute setup | Medium | 2,048 MB | MIT | 19,533 |
| Maddy Mail Server | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 6,108 |
| Mox | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 256 MB | MIT | 5,895 |
| imapsync | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 64 MB | GPL-3.0 | 4,176 |
| SnappyMail | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 1,712 |
| swaks | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 16 MB | GPL-2.0 | 1,347 |
| chasquid | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 128 MB | Apache-2.0 | 977 |
| imapfilter | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 32 MB | MIT | 937 |
| alot | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 64 MB | GPL-3.0 | 749 |
| alps | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 64 MB | MIT | 700 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: Docker Mailserver (19,533 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: swaks (from 16 MB RAM, against 2,048 MB for the heaviest here).
- Fastest to deploy: Docker Mailserver (verified single-container compose).
- Licensing: 7 of 25 use GPL-2.0; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged No-Database within the mail servers category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.