Docker Mailserver vs Stalwart 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?
FeatureDocker MailserverStalwart Mail Server
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageShellRust
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM2,048 MB512 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, binary, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 18,682★ 14,059
First released20152020
ReplacesGoogle Workspace, Microsoft 365Microsoft Exchange, Google Workspace

Why pick each one

Choose Docker Mailserver if…

  • Reproducible, version-controllable config
  • Lightweight
Docker Mailserver details

Choose Stalwart Mail Server if…

  • Single modern binary
  • Strong security defaults
Stalwart Mail Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Docker Mailserver or Stalwart 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 Stalwart Mail Server free and open-source?

Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Stalwart Mail Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Docker Mailserver and Stalwart Mail Server with Docker?

Docker Mailserver: yes. Stalwart Mail Server: yes.

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