iRedMail vs Modoboa
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted mail servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | iRedMail | Modoboa |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | ISC |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,844 | ★ 3,538 |
| First released | 2007 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange, Google Workspace | Google Workspace, cPanel Email |
What are iRedMail and Modoboa?
iRedMail
iRedMail is a shell-script-driven mail server deployment that sets up Postfix, Dovecot, antispam, and webmail on major Linux and BSD systems. It supports OpenLDAP, MySQL, or PostgreSQL backends.
- Automated full mail stack install
- LDAP, MySQL or PostgreSQL backends
- SpamAssassin and ClamAV
- Roundcube and SOGo webmail
Modoboa
Modoboa is a mail hosting and management platform that provides a clean web interface on top of Postfix and Dovecot. It includes antispam, webmail, calendar, and DNS health checks.
- Modern mail administration UI
- Amavis and Rspamd antispam
- Built-in webmail and calendar
- DNSBL and configuration health checks
iRedMail vs Modoboa: key differences
IRedMail is written in Shell, while Modoboa is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for iRedMail versus ISC for Modoboa. Modoboa is the lighter option, starting around 2,048 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for iRedMail. IRedMail is the more established project (first released 2007), while Modoboa arrived in 2010. Modoboa lists first-class Docker deployment; iRedMail does not.
Why pick each one
Choose iRedMail if…
- Works on many distros
- Long-standing project
Watch out for
- Admin panel features gated in pro edition
- Script-based, less reproducible
Choose Modoboa if…
- Friendly management interface
- Good monitoring features
Watch out for
- Installer can be finicky
- Multiple components to maintain
Frequently asked questions
Is iRedMail or Modoboa better?
Neither is universally better. Modoboa has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are iRedMail and Modoboa free and open-source?
Yes. iRedMail is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Modoboa under ISC. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run iRedMail and Modoboa with Docker?
iRedMail: check the project docs for container support. Modoboa: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, iRedMail or Modoboa?
Modoboa has the smaller minimum footprint at 2,048 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for iRedMail. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.