Docker Mailserver vs Mailu
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
Mailu
Simple yet full-featured Docker mail server
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Mailu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 7,443 |
| First released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or Mailu 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 Mailu free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Mailu under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Mailu with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Mailu: yes.