SHSelfHostIndex

Docker Mailserver vs msmtp

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?
DO Docker Mailserver Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a container VS MS msmtp Lightweight SMTP client for sending mail
FeatureDocker Mailservermsmtp
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseMITGPL-3.0
LanguageShellC
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM2,048 MB32 MB
Deploymentdockerbinary, source
GitHub stars★ 18,682★ 290
First released20152004
ReplacesGoogle Workspace, Microsoft 365Sendmail

Why pick each one

Choose Docker Mailserver if…

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

Choose msmtp if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in C
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
msmtp details

Frequently asked questions

Is Docker Mailserver or msmtp better?

Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community, while msmtp is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Docker Mailserver and msmtp free and open-source?

Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and msmtp under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Docker Mailserver and msmtp with Docker?

Docker Mailserver: yes. msmtp: check the project docs for container support.

Related comparisons