SHSelfHostIndex

Cyrus IMAP vs Docker Mailserver

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?
CY Cyrus IMAP Scalable IMAP and POP server for large deployments VS DO Docker Mailserver Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a container
FeatureCyrus IMAPDocker Mailserver
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseBSD-3-ClauseMIT
LanguageCShell
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM1,024 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, sourcedocker
GitHub stars★ 641★ 18,682
First released19942015
ReplacesMicrosoft ExchangeGoogle Workspace, Microsoft 365

Why pick each one

Choose Cyrus IMAP if…

  • Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
  • Written in C
Cyrus IMAP details

Choose Docker Mailserver if…

  • Reproducible, version-controllable config
  • Lightweight
Docker Mailserver details

Frequently asked questions

Is Cyrus IMAP or Docker Mailserver better?

Docker Mailserver is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Cyrus IMAP if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Cyrus IMAP and Docker Mailserver free and open-source?

Yes. Cyrus IMAP is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Docker Mailserver under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Cyrus IMAP and Docker Mailserver with Docker?

Cyrus IMAP: check the project docs for container support. Docker Mailserver: yes.

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