Courier Mail Server 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?
Courier Mail Server
Integrated mail server with IMAP, POP, and webmail
VS
listmonk
Self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager
| Feature | Courier Mail Server | listmonk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13 | ★ 22,670 |
| First released | 2000 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange | Mailchimp, Sendinblue |
Why pick each one
Choose Courier Mail Server if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in C
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Courier Mail Server or listmonk better?
listmonk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Courier Mail Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Courier Mail Server and listmonk free and open-source?
Yes. Courier Mail Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and listmonk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Courier Mail Server and listmonk with Docker?
Courier Mail Server: check the project docs for container support. listmonk: yes.