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Stalwart Mail Server alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Stalwart Mail Server alternative is mailcow (2.4 GPA). It's also the best free one.

Stalwart Mail Server compared with 5 alternatives: mailcow, Mailu, docker-mailserver, Modoboa and iRedMail.

Stalwart Mail Server has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.40 per mailbox / year, billed annually (25-mailbox minimum). All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Stalwart Mail Server sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Stalwart Mail ServerThis toolFree plan · from $2.40/yrYesWeb
mailcowFreeFreeWeb
MailuFreeFreeWeb
docker-mailserverFreeFreeLinux
ModoboaFreeFreeWeb
iRedMailFree plan · from $499/yrYesLinux

Price against what you get

Stalwart Mail Server starts at $0.20 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 5 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: mailcow.

Mailu, docker-mailserver and Modoboa start lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessStalwart Mail ServermailcowMailudocker-mailserverModoboaiRedMail

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of email apps, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Stalwart Mail Server

  1. mailcow

    Dockerized open-source mail server with a web admin UI

    • mailcow is free.
    • mailcow does not cover file sharing and dMARC, which Stalwart Mail Server does.

    Suits: Admins who want a ready-made self-hosted mail server for a few domains

    mailcow vs Stalwart Mail Servermailcow pricing and details

  2. Mailu

    Free Docker-based mail server with webmail and admin UI

    • Mailu is free.
    • Mailu does not cover calendar and file sharing, which Stalwart Mail Server does.

    Suits: Self-hosters who want a lean mail server without groupware extras

    Mailu vs Stalwart Mail ServerMailu pricing and details

  3. docker-mailserver

    Self-hosted mail server packaged as a Docker container

    • docker-mailserver is free.
    • docker-mailserver also lists a Linux app.
    • docker-mailserver lists no web app, which Stalwart Mail Server has.
    • docker-mailserver does not cover calendar, email client, file sharing and dMARC, which Stalwart Mail Server does.

    Suits: Technical users who want a mail server managed as config files

    docker-mailserver vs Stalwart Mail Serverdocker-mailserver pricing and details

  4. Modoboa

    Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail

    • Modoboa is free.
    • Modoboa does not cover file sharing and dMARC, which Stalwart Mail Server does.

    Suits: Individuals and small organizations that want their own mail server

    Modoboa vs Stalwart Mail ServerModoboa pricing and details

  5. iRedMail

    Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD

    • iRedMail starts at $499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renew.
    • iRedMail also lists a Linux app.
    • iRedMail lists no web app, which Stalwart Mail Server has.
    • iRedMail does not cover file sharing and dMARC, which Stalwart Mail Server does.

    Suits: Admins who want a self-run mail server without per-mailbox fees

    iRedMail vs Stalwart Mail ServeriRedMail pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Stalwart Mail Server

  • Prices are shown in euros or dollars through a toggle; billing can be annual or monthly, and the monthly rate is not shown.
  • Enterprise has a 25-mailbox minimum, and deployments above 100,000 mailboxes are quoted.
  • Stalwart Enterprise Cloud, the hosted service, is listed as available in 2027, with interest registration only.
  • You run and update the server yourself in either edition.
Stalwart Mail Server pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Stalwart Mail Server?

The alternatives to Stalwart Mail Server in this directory are mailcow, Mailu, docker-mailserver, Modoboa and iRedMail. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Stalwart Mail Server.

Is there a free alternative to Stalwart Mail Server?

Yes. mailcow, Mailu, docker-mailserver and Modoboa are free to use. iRedMail has a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Stalwart Mail Server alternatives work on Linux?

The Stalwart Mail Server listing does not include a Linux app. docker-mailserver and iRedMail list one.

When were these prices checked?

Every listing on this page was checked on Nov 13, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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