Mailtrain vs Modoboa
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?
Mailtrain
Self-hosted newsletter application
VS
Modoboa
Mail hosting and management platform with a modern UI
| Feature | Mailtrain | Modoboa |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | ISC |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,743 | ★ 3,530 |
| First released | 2016 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Mailchimp | Google Workspace, cPanel Email |
Why pick each one
Choose Mailtrain if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.7k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailtrain or Modoboa better?
Neither is universally better. Mailtrain has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Mailtrain and Modoboa free and open-source?
Yes. Mailtrain is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Modoboa under ISC. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mailtrain and Modoboa with Docker?
Mailtrain: yes. Modoboa: yes.