Docker Mailserver vs DragonFly Mail Agent
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
DragonFly Mail Agent
Tiny mail transfer agent for outbound delivery
| Feature | Docker Mailserver | DragonFly Mail Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Shell | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,682 | ★ 263 |
| First released | 2015 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Sendmail, Postfix |
Why pick each one
Choose Docker Mailserver if…
- Reproducible, version-controllable config
- Lightweight
Choose DragonFly Mail Agent if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Mailserver or DragonFly Mail Agent better?
Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community, while DragonFly Mail Agent is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Docker Mailserver and DragonFly Mail Agent free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and DragonFly Mail Agent under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Mailserver and DragonFly Mail Agent with Docker?
Docker Mailserver: yes. DragonFly Mail Agent: check the project docs for container support.