Shortwave alternatives · Email
Self-hosted alternatives to Shortwave
The Shortwave listing does not say it can be self-hosted. 25 of the 125 other email apps in this directory can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.
Shortwave has a free plan. Paid plans start at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan). 19 of them are free or have a free plan.
25 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to Shortwave
- Free trial · from $18/mo
Inbox Zero
Open source AI email assistant for Gmail and Outlook
- Inbox Zero starts at $18 per user / month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Shortwave has a free plan. Inbox Zero does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Inbox Zero lists a browser extension.
- Inbox Zero is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $20/mo
Zero Mail
Open-source AI email client that connects your existing inboxes
- Zero Mail starts at $20 per month (billing basis not shown). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Zero Mail is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Zero Mail also covers inbox filtering.
- Paid
Open-Xchange
OX App Suite email platform sold to providers and governments
- Shortwave has a free plan. Open-Xchange does not.
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Open-Xchange is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Open-Xchange also covers calendar.
- Free trial
GFI KerioConnect
Self-hosted business mail server with calendar, chat and local AI
- Shortwave has a free plan. GFI KerioConnect does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a Linux app.
- Only Shortwave lists a web app.
- Only Shortwave lists iOS and Android apps.
- Paid
Zimbra
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations
- Shortwave has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
- Only Zimbra lists a Linux app.
- Zimbra is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Zimbra also covers tasks and calendar.
- Free
Roundcube
Free open-source webmail client you host yourself
- Roundcube is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Roundcube is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant, AI search and templates.
- Free
SOGo
Open-source groupware with webmail, calendars and contacts
- SOGo is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- SOGo is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- SOGo also covers calendar.
- Free
Horde
Free open-source webmail, calendar, contacts and tasks suite
- Horde is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Horde is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Horde also covers notes, tasks and calendar.
- Free
mailcow
Dockerized open-source mail server with a web admin UI
- mailcow is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- mailcow is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- mailcow also covers calendar.
- Free
Mail-in-a-Box
Free script that turns a cloud server into your own mail server
- Mail-in-a-Box is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Mail-in-a-Box is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Mail-in-a-Box also covers calendar.
- Free plan · from $2.40/yr
Stalwart Mail Server
Open-source mail and collaboration server written in Rust
- Stalwart Mail Server starts at $2.40 per mailbox / year, billed annually (25-mailbox minimum). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Stalwart Mail Server is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Stalwart Mail Server also covers calendar, file sharing and dMARC.
- Free
Mailu
Free Docker-based mail server with webmail and admin UI
- Mailu is free. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Mailu is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Mailu also covers dMARC.
Common questions
Is there a self-hosted alternative to Shortwave?
Yes. Inbox Zero, Zero Mail, Open-Xchange, GFI KerioConnect, Zimbra, Roundcube, SOGo, Horde and 17 more can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.
Can Shortwave be self-hosted?
The Shortwave listing does not say it can be self-hosted. The listing was checked on Oct 4, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these email apps are free?
Zero Mail, Roundcube, SOGo, Horde, mailcow, Mail-in-a-Box, Stalwart Mail Server, Mailu and 11 more are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Shortwave: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.