SHSelfHostIndex

Apache James vs Stalwart Mail Server

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?
AP Apache James Enterprise mail server and SMTP/IMAP platform VS ST Stalwart Mail Server Modern all-in-one mail server in a single binary
FeatureApache JamesStalwart Mail Server
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseApache-2.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageJavaRust
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM2,048 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, sourcedocker, binary, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 1,037★ 14,059
First released20032020
ReplacesMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Exchange, Google Workspace

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
Apache James details

Choose Stalwart Mail Server if…

  • Single modern binary
  • Strong security defaults
Stalwart Mail Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache James or Stalwart Mail Server better?

Stalwart Mail Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Apache James if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Apache James and Stalwart Mail Server free and open-source?

Yes. Apache James is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Stalwart Mail Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache James and Stalwart Mail Server with Docker?

Apache James: yes. Stalwart Mail Server: yes.

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