alps vs Nextcloud Mail
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted mail servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Nextcloud Mail
IMAP webmail client integrated into Nextcloud
| Feature | alps | Nextcloud Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 700 | ★ 1,029 |
| First released | 2020 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Gmail | Gmail |
What are alps and Nextcloud Mail?
alps
alps is a minimal webmail client that connects to IMAP and SMTP servers, designed to be lightweight and extensible. It is developed by the team behind the SourceHut mail infrastructure.
- Minimal webmail interface
- IMAP and SMTP support
- Plugin system
- No database required
Nextcloud Mail
Nextcloud Mail is the official mail app for Nextcloud that connects to existing IMAP and SMTP accounts inside the Nextcloud interface. It integrates with contacts, calendar, and files.
- IMAP and SMTP support
- Integrated with Nextcloud
- Contacts and calendar links
- Threaded conversations
alps vs Nextcloud Mail: key differences
Alps is written in Go, while Nextcloud Mail is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for alps versus AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Mail. Alps is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Mail. Nextcloud Mail is the more established project (first released 2014), while alps arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
Choose alps if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Nextcloud Mail if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is alps or Nextcloud Mail better?
Nextcloud Mail is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider alps if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are alps and Nextcloud Mail free and open-source?
Yes. alps is licensed under MIT and Nextcloud Mail under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run alps and Nextcloud Mail with Docker?
alps: check the project docs for container support. Nextcloud Mail: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, alps or Nextcloud Mail?
alps has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Mail. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.