Mailtrain vs RainLoop
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
RainLoop
Simple, modern and fast web-based email client
| Feature | Mailtrain | RainLoop |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,743 | ★ 4,120 |
| First released | 2016 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Mailchimp | Gmail, Outlook Web |
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
Choose RainLoop if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailtrain or RainLoop better?
Neither is universally better. Mailtrain has the larger community, while RainLoop is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Mailtrain and RainLoop free and open-source?
Yes. Mailtrain is licensed under GPL-3.0 and RainLoop under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mailtrain and RainLoop with Docker?
Mailtrain: yes. RainLoop: yes.