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.
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Mox |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| 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 | ★ 18,872 | ★ 5,868 |
| First released | 2015 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 |
What are Docker Mailserver and Mox?
Docker Mailserver
Docker Mailserver is a single-container mail server built on Postfix and Dovecot with no external database. It is configured entirely through files and environment variables for a reproducible setup.
- Single container, no database
- Postfix and Dovecot core
- SpamAssassin and ClamAV integration
- File-based configuration
Mox
Mox is a modern mail server written in Go that provides SMTP, IMAP, and automatic TLS in a single binary. It is designed for easy, secure self-hosting with sensible defaults.
- Single binary mail server
- Automatic TLS and DNS guidance
- Built-in spam filtering
- Quickstart wizard for setup
Docker Mailserver vs Mox: key differences
Docker Mailserver is written in Shell, while Mox is built with Go. Mox is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Docker Mailserver. Docker Mailserver is the more established project (first released 2015), while Mox arrived in 2023. Docker Mailserver has the considerably larger community, at 18,872 GitHub stars versus 5,868.
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- No built-in webmail
- Requires comfort with mail concepts
Choose Mox if…
- Very easy to deploy
- Strong modern defaults
Watch out for
- Young project
- No webmail included
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.
Which is lighter on resources, Docker Mailserver or Mox?
Mox has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Docker Mailserver. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.