Mailspring vs Simple NixOS Mailserver
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?
Mailspring
Cross-platform desktop email client
VS
Simple NixOS Mailserver
Complete mailserver solution leveraging the Nix Ecosystem
| Feature | Mailspring | Simple NixOS Mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Nix |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 17,730 | ★ 307 |
| First released | 2017 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Outlook, Apple Mail | — |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Simple NixOS Mailserver if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Nix
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailspring or Simple NixOS Mailserver better?
Mailspring is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Simple NixOS Mailserver if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Mailspring and Simple NixOS Mailserver free and open-source?
Yes. Mailspring is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Simple NixOS Mailserver under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mailspring and Simple NixOS Mailserver with Docker?
Mailspring: check the project docs for container support. Simple NixOS Mailserver: check the project docs for container support.