SHSelfHostIndex

Docker Mailserver vs Sieve Editor

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 SI Sieve Editor Graphical editor for Sieve mail filtering scripts
FeatureDocker MailserverSieve Editor
CategoryMail ServersMail Servers
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageShellJavaScript
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM2,048 MB128 MB
Deploymentdockerbinary, source
GitHub stars★ 18,682★ 889
First released20152012
ReplacesGoogle Workspace, Microsoft 365Gmail filters

Why pick each one

Choose Docker Mailserver if…

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

Choose Sieve Editor if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in JavaScript
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Sieve Editor details

Frequently asked questions

Is Docker Mailserver or Sieve Editor better?

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

Are Docker Mailserver and Sieve Editor free and open-source?

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

Can I run Docker Mailserver and Sieve Editor with Docker?

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

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