Docker Mailserver vs Maddy Mail Server
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
Maddy Mail Server
Composable, all-in-one mail server in Go
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Maddy Mail Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 6,060 |
| First released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Choose Maddy Mail Server if…
- Drastically simpler than traditional stacks
- Low resource use
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or Maddy Mail Server 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 Docker Mailserver and Maddy Mail Server free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Maddy Mail Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Maddy Mail Server with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Maddy Mail Server: yes.