Maddy Mail Server vs Mailspring
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?
Maddy Mail Server
Composable, all-in-one mail server in Go
VS
Mailspring
Cross-platform desktop email client
| Feature | Maddy Mail Server | Mailspring |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,060 | ★ 17,730 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 | Outlook, Apple Mail |
Why pick each one
Choose Maddy Mail Server if…
- Drastically simpler than traditional stacks
- Low resource use
Choose Mailspring if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 17.7k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Maddy Mail Server or Mailspring better?
Mailspring is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Maddy Mail Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Maddy Mail Server and Mailspring free and open-source?
Yes. Maddy Mail Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Mailspring under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Maddy Mail Server and Mailspring with Docker?
Maddy Mail Server: yes. Mailspring: check the project docs for container support.