Courier Mail Server vs mailcow
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
mailcow
Dockerized full-stack mail server suite
| Feature | Courier Mail Server | mailcow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 6,144 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13 | ★ 13,245 |
| First released | 2000 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange | Microsoft 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
Frequently asked questions
Is Courier Mail Server or mailcow better?
mailcow 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 mailcow free and open-source?
Yes. Courier Mail Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and mailcow under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Courier Mail Server and mailcow with Docker?
Courier Mail Server: check the project docs for container support. mailcow: yes.