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docker-mailserver vs Mailu (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Mailu grades higher than docker-mailserver: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.

Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

Mailu grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

docker-mailserver

Self-hosted mail server packaged as a Docker container

Free
Full detailsdocker-mailserver.github.io

Mailu

Free Docker-based mail server with webmail and admin UI

Free
Full detailsmailu.io

Which one is for you

Pick docker-mailserver if

  • Fits if you are comfortable with Docker and a config file and want your own mail server
  • Works for people who read documentation and fix things themselves

Look elsewhere if

  • Not for you if you want a settings page, because setup is by files, variables and the command line
  • Skip it if you want paid support, as help comes from the community and the docs
  • Too much work if you don't want to handle DNS, TLS certificates and deliverability
  • Watch out: the listing shows no webmail or admin screen

Pick Mailu if

  • Fits if you want your own mail server in Docker and no groupware
  • Works for admins who like plain compose files

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you want calendars and contacts, since the project says it avoids groupware
  • Skip it if you don't want to run the server, DNS and backups
  • Watch out: support is the community and contributors, and no paid plan exists
  • Watch out: the docs are versioned, so make sure you read the one for your version

How we grade them

1.8GPAdocker-mailserverWeak2.0GPAMailuFair
Value for money
CFree under MIT, but it only runs on a Docker host you look after, so self-hosted free is a C.
CFree to run yourself, with a server to provide. The docs ask for 1 GB of memory, or 3 GB with antivirus.
Free plan and trial
BFree outright, no plan limits. You need your own Docker host, so a B and not an A.
BThe whole server is free software, with no paid plan. You provide the machine and the upkeep.
Features
CSMTP, IMAP, antispam, antivirus, Sieve and account provisioning in one container. It does the server job but the listing shows no web admin panel or webmail.
CStandard mail, webmail, an admin panel, spam filtering and security options. The project says it avoids groupware, so calendars and contacts are missing.
Ease of use
DNo store rating on record. Configuration is by files, environment variables and command-line tools, per its own docs, so a D.
DYou run Docker or Kubernetes, DNS records and TLS yourself.
Platforms and integrations
DLinux and Docker only. It connects through Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd, Fail2Ban and ClamAV and has no apps.
CWeb admin and webmail, with Docker, Kubernetes and Let's Encrypt. No apps of its own.
Best fora mail server in one Docker containera simple Docker mail server

The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: docker-mailserver and Mailu. How we grade

Price against what you get

docker-mailserver has no paid plan and scores 1.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Mailu has no paid plan and scores 1.7.

Mailu scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other email apps on the chart, none scores higher than docker-mailserver for less, and none scores higher than Mailu for less.

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 lessdocker-mailserverMailu

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

Where they differ

  • Mailu also covers email client and dMARC.
In commonFree planOpen sourceSelf-hostable

At a glance

docker-mailserverMailu
PricingFreeFree
Starts atFreeFree
Free planFree and open source under the MIT license; you run the container yourself.The whole mail server is free software; you provide the server, domain and upkeep.
Free trialNone listedNone listed
Web
Linux
Made bydocker-mailserver communityMailu project
Price read fromgithub.commailu.io
CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 13, 2026

Worth knowing

docker-mailserver

  • Configuration is done through files, environment variables and command-line tooling, per the documentation.
  • Setup and upkeep, including DNS, TLS certificates and deliverability, are on you.
  • Support comes from the community and documentation, not a paid plan.

Mailu

  • You provide and maintain the server, DNS records, TLS and backups yourself.
  • The project says it aims to avoid groupware features, so calendars and contacts are not part of the core.
  • Support is from the community and contributors; no paid plan appears on the site.
  • The documentation is versioned, so check you are reading the version you run.

Key features

docker-mailserver

All-in-one container
The GitHub project describes a production-ready, full-stack mail server running inside a container.
Postfix and Dovecot
The documentation names Postfix as the MTA and Dovecot as the MDA.
Spam and malware filtering
Rspamd and Fail2Ban are documented, along with DKIM, DMARC and SPF setup.
Account provisioning
Accounts can come from files or from an LDAP service, and OAuth2 authentication is documented.
Sieve filtering
Email filtering with Sieve is documented, plus a forward-only mode with LDAP.

Mailu

Standard mail server
IMAP, SMTP and submission with auto-configuration profiles for mail clients.
Webmail and admin interface
Includes web access to mail and an admin interface with global admins, per-domain delegation, announcements and quotas.
User mail features
Aliases, domain aliases, auto-reply, auto-forward, fetched accounts, ManageSieve and full-text search of attachments.
Security options
Enforced TLS, DANE, MTA-STS, Let's Encrypt, outgoing DKIM, an antivirus scanner and blocking of malicious attachments.
Spam filtering
Auto-learning, greylisting, DMARC and SPF checks and anti-spoofing.
Compose and Kubernetes setups
Documented Docker Compose and Kubernetes installs, a RESTful API and a command line for administration.

Plans

docker-mailserver

  • Free$0

    Open source under the MIT license. Run it on your own Docker host.

Mailu

  • Mailu$0

    Free software you host yourself. The docs list 1 GB of memory without antivirus or 3 GB with it.

Common questions

Which is cheaper, docker-mailserver or Mailu?

As of Nov 13, 2026, both docker-mailserver and Mailu are free to use.

Which has a free plan, docker-mailserver or Mailu?

As of Nov 13, 2026, both docker-mailserver and Mailu have a free plan.

Which platforms do docker-mailserver and Mailu run on?

As of Nov 13, 2026, only docker-mailserver lists a Linux app and only Mailu lists a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.

More comparisons

How this page was made

  • The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
  • The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
  • Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
  • The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.
How we review and grade