Docker Mailserver vs Roundcube
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
Roundcube
Browser-based IMAP webmail client
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Roundcube |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 7,118 |
| First released | 2015 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Gmail, Outlook Web |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or Roundcube better?
Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community, while Roundcube is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Docker Mailserver and Roundcube free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Roundcube under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Roundcube with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Roundcube: yes.