EmailRelay 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?
EmailRelay
A small and easy to configure SMTP and POP3 server for Windows and
VS
Mailspring
Cross-platform desktop email client
| Feature | EmailRelay | Mailspring |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 17,730 |
| First released | 2020 | 2017 |
| Replaces | — | Outlook, Apple Mail |
Why pick each one
Choose EmailRelay if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in C++
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
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 EmailRelay or Mailspring better?
Mailspring is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider EmailRelay if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are EmailRelay and Mailspring free and open-source?
Yes. EmailRelay is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Mailspring under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EmailRelay and Mailspring with Docker?
EmailRelay: check the project docs for container support. Mailspring: check the project docs for container support.