CryptPad vs Docker Mailserver
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
CryptPad
End-to-end encrypted collaboration suite
VS
Docker Mailserver
Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a container
| Feature | CryptPad | Docker Mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | Mail Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,832 | ★ 18,682 |
| First released | 2015 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 |
Why pick each one
Choose CryptPad if…
- Strong privacy guarantees
- Real-time collaboration
- No account needed to start
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or Docker Mailserver better?
Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CryptPad and Docker Mailserver free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Docker Mailserver under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and Docker Mailserver with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. Docker Mailserver: yes.