Docker Mailserver vs Keila
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?
Docker Mailserver
Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a container
VS
Keila
Open-source newsletter tool for senders
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Keila |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Elixir |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 2,181 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Mailchimp, Sendinblue |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Choose Keila if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or Keila better?
Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community, while Keila is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Docker Mailserver and Keila free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Keila under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Keila with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Keila: yes.