docker-mailserver vs Mail-in-a-Box
Both docker-mailserver and Mail-in-a-Box are self-hosted alternatives to Gmail, Outlook.com and Proton Mail. Both are filed under Communication - Email - Complete Solutions.
Side by side
| Field | docker-mailserver | Mail-in-a-Box |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Production-ready fullstack but simple mail server (SMTP, IMAP, LDAP, Antispam, Antivirus, etc.) running inside a container. Only configuration files, no SQL database. | Turns any Ubuntu server into a fully functional mail server with one command. |
| GitHub stars | 19,715 | 15,453 |
| License | MIT | CC0-1.0 |
| Platforms | Docker | Shell |
| Latest release | v16.0.1, 4 September 2026 | v77, 26 September 2026 |
| Repository activity | 31 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
| Health | Active | Active |
| Categories | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions |
| Website | https://docker-mailserver.github.io/docker-mailserver/edge/ | https://mailinabox.email/ |
| Source code | https://github.com/docker-mailserver/docker-mailserver | https://github.com/mail-in-a-box/mailinabox |
Where the records differ
Computed from the two records above: a line appears only where the dataset states a figure, a date or a set relation, and no line recommends one application over the other.
- docker-mailserver has more GitHub stars in the dataset, 19,715 against 15,453.
- docker-mailserver recorded repository activity more recently, 31 October 2026 against 22 October 2026.
- Mail-in-a-Box has the newer release on record: v77, 26 September 2026, against v16.0.1, 4 September 2026.
- Licenses differ: docker-mailserver is listed under MIT; Mail-in-a-Box under CC0-1.0.
- Platforms differ: docker-mailserver lists Docker; Mail-in-a-Box lists Shell.
- Both are filed under the same categories: Communication - Email - Complete Solutions.