Docker Mailserver vs emailwiz
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 | emailwiz |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 25 · At risk |
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,872 | ★ 2,166 |
| First released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
What are Docker Mailserver and emailwiz?
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
emailwiz
emailwiz is a shell script that automatically configures a complete, secure email server with Postfix, Dovecot, Spamassassin, and DKIM on a Debian or Ubuntu system. It targets quick, opinionated setups.
- One-script mail server setup
- Postfix, Dovecot and SpamAssassin
- Automatic DKIM and TLS
- Opinionated, secure defaults
Docker Mailserver vs emailwiz: key differences
Both projects are written in Shell. Licensing differs — MIT for Docker Mailserver versus GPL-3.0 for emailwiz. Emailwiz is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Docker Mailserver. Docker Mailserver is the more established project (first released 2015), while emailwiz arrived in 2019. Docker Mailserver has the considerably larger community, at 18,872 GitHub stars versus 2,166. Docker Mailserver lists first-class Docker deployment; emailwiz does not.
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 emailwiz if…
- Fast to deploy
- Transparent shell script
Watch out for
- No webmail included
- Limited customization
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or emailwiz 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 emailwiz free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and emailwiz under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and emailwiz with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. emailwiz: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Docker Mailserver or emailwiz?
emailwiz has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Docker Mailserver. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.