Docker Mailserver vs Citadel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — 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
Citadel
All-in-one groupware, mail and collaboration server
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | Citadel |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Groupware |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2015 | 1987 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365 |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or Citadel 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 Citadel free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Citadel under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and Citadel with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. Citadel: check the project docs for container support.