Apache James vs listmonk
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted mail servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Apache James
Enterprise mail server and SMTP/IMAP platform
VS
listmonk
Self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager
| Feature | Apache James | listmonk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,037 | ★ 22,670 |
| First released | 2003 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange | Mailchimp, Sendinblue |
Why pick each one
Choose Apache James if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache James or listmonk better?
listmonk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Apache James if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Apache James and listmonk free and open-source?
Yes. Apache James is licensed under Apache-2.0 and listmonk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache James and listmonk with Docker?
Apache James: yes. listmonk: yes.