Mailman vs Stalwart Mail Server
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?
Mailman
Free software for managing electronic mailing lists
VS
Stalwart Mail Server
Modern all-in-one mail server in a single binary
| Feature | Mailman | Stalwart Mail Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 400 | ★ 14,059 |
| First released | 1998 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Google Groups | Microsoft Exchange, Google Workspace |
Why pick each one
Choose Stalwart Mail Server if…
- Single modern binary
- Strong security defaults
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailman or Stalwart Mail Server better?
Stalwart Mail Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Mailman if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Mailman and Stalwart Mail Server free and open-source?
Yes. Mailman is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Stalwart Mail Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mailman and Stalwart Mail Server with Docker?
Mailman: yes. Stalwart Mail Server: yes.