docker-mailserver vs Mailu
A side-by-side comparison of docker-mailserver and Mailu — pricing, license, deployment, and where each tool wins.
docker-mailserver
docker-mailserver.github.io
Production-ready fullstack but simple mail server (SMTP, IMAP, LDAP, Antispam, Antivirus, etc.) running inside a container. Only configuration files, no SQL database.
Mailu
mailu.io
Simple yet full-featured mail server as a set of Docker images.
| Feature | docker-mailserver | Mailu |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Model | Open-source | Open-source |
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Category | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions |
| Self-hosted | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Free tier | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
Pick docker-mailserver if…
- ✓You prefer docker-mailserver's feature set or ecosystem fit.
Pick Mailu if…
- ✓You prefer Mailu's feature set or ecosystem fit.
Switch from docker-mailserver → Mailu
16–60hhigh risk
Treat as a project — 16-60 engineering hours plus user training and parallel-run period.
Export from docker-mailserver: mbox, IMAP
2 things to watch
- ⚠DNS / MX cutover window
- ⚠Spam reputation reset
Switch from Mailu → docker-mailserver
16–60hhigh risk
Treat as a project — 16-60 engineering hours plus user training and parallel-run period.
Export from Mailu: mbox, IMAP
2 things to watch
- ⚠DNS / MX cutover window
- ⚠Spam reputation reset