Docker Mailserver vs Mox
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
Mox
Modern, secure all-in-one mail server
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Mox |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Shell | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 5,771 |
| First released | 2015 | 2023 |
| 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 Mox better?
Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community, while Mox is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Docker Mailserver and Mox free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Mox under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Mox with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Mox: yes.