Chatmail vs Mail-in-a-Box
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?
Chatmail
Minimal, instant-onboarding mail server for Delta Chat
VS
Mail-in-a-Box
Turn a fresh server into a working mail server
| Feature | Chatmail | Mail-in-a-Box |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MPL-2.0 | CC0-1.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 476 | ★ 15,385 |
| First released | 2023 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 |
Why pick each one
Choose Chatmail if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatmail or Mail-in-a-Box better?
Mail-in-a-Box is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Chatmail if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Chatmail and Mail-in-a-Box free and open-source?
Yes. Chatmail is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Mail-in-a-Box under CC0-1.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Chatmail and Mail-in-a-Box with Docker?
Chatmail: yes. Mail-in-a-Box: check the project docs for container support.