Simple NixOS Mailserver vs Mailpit
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?
Simple NixOS Mailserver
Complete mailserver solution leveraging the Nix Ecosystem
VS
Mailpit
Email and SMTP testing tool with web UI
| Feature | Simple NixOS Mailserver | Mailpit |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Mail Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Nix | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 307 | ★ 10,067 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | — | Mailtrap, MailHog |
Why pick each one
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 Simple NixOS Mailserver or Mailpit better?
Mailpit 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 Simple NixOS Mailserver and Mailpit free and open-source?
Yes. Simple NixOS Mailserver is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Mailpit under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Simple NixOS Mailserver and Mailpit with Docker?
Simple NixOS Mailserver: check the project docs for container support. Mailpit: yes.