Docker Mailserver vs meli
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
meli
Terminal email client with a modern interface
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | meli |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 877 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Mutt, NeoMutt |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Choose meli if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or meli 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 meli free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and meli under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and meli with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. meli: check the project docs for container support.