Modoboa 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?
Modoboa
Mail hosting and management platform with a modern UI
VS
RainLoop
Simple, modern and fast web-based email client
| Feature | Modoboa | RainLoop |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | ISC | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,530 | ★ 4,120 |
| First released | 2010 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, cPanel Email | Gmail, Outlook Web |
Why pick each one
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 Modoboa or RainLoop better?
RainLoop is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Modoboa if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Modoboa and RainLoop free and open-source?
Yes. Modoboa is licensed under ISC and RainLoop under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Modoboa and RainLoop with Docker?
Modoboa: yes. RainLoop: yes.