Cypht vs Nextcloud Mail
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted mail servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Cypht
Lightweight webmail aggregator for many accounts
VS
Nextcloud Mail
IMAP webmail client integrated into Nextcloud
| Feature | Cypht | Nextcloud Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,735 | ★ 1,029 |
| First released | 2015 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Gmail, Outlook Web | Gmail |
What are Cypht and Nextcloud Mail?
Cypht
Cypht is a webmail client that combines email from multiple IMAP, POP3, and SMTP accounts plus RSS feeds into a single unified interface. It is lightweight and privacy-conscious.
- Aggregates multiple email accounts
- Combined inbox view
- RSS feed integration
- Modular plugin system
Nextcloud Mail
Nextcloud Mail is the official mail app for Nextcloud that connects to existing IMAP and SMTP accounts inside the Nextcloud interface. It integrates with contacts, calendar, and files.
- IMAP and SMTP support
- Integrated with Nextcloud
- Contacts and calendar links
- Threaded conversations
Cypht vs Nextcloud Mail: key differences
Cypht is written in PHP, while Nextcloud Mail is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — LGPL-2.1 for Cypht versus AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Mail. Cypht is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Mail. Cypht lists first-class Docker deployment; Nextcloud Mail does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Cypht if…
- Released under the LGPL-2.1 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in PHP
Watch out for
- Less polished than Roundcube
- Setup needs configuration
Choose Nextcloud Mail if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Cypht or Nextcloud Mail better?
Neither is universally better. Cypht has the larger community, while Nextcloud Mail is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Cypht and Nextcloud Mail free and open-source?
Yes. Cypht is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Nextcloud Mail under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cypht and Nextcloud Mail with Docker?
Cypht: yes. Nextcloud Mail: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Cypht or Nextcloud Mail?
Cypht has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Mail. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.