SHSelfHostIndex

Courier Mail Server 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?
CO Courier Mail Server Integrated mail server with IMAP, POP, and webmail VS ST Stalwart Mail Server Modern all-in-one mail server in a single binary
FeatureCourier Mail ServerStalwart Mail Server
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageCRust
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, sourcedocker, binary, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 13★ 14,059
First released20002020
ReplacesMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Exchange, Google Workspace

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
Courier Mail Server details

Choose Stalwart Mail Server if…

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Courier Mail Server 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 Courier Mail Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Courier Mail Server and Stalwart Mail Server free and open-source?

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

Can I run Courier Mail Server and Stalwart Mail Server with Docker?

Courier Mail Server: check the project docs for container support. Stalwart Mail Server: yes.

Related comparisons