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iRedMail vs Modoboa (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Modoboa grades higher than iRedMail: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.

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

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

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

iRedMail

Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD

Free plan · from $499/yr
Full detailsiredmail.org

Modoboa

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

Free
Full detailsmodoboa.org

Which one is for you

Pick iRedMail if

  • Fits if you want to build your own mail server in one go on Linux or BSD
  • Works for admins who will look after backups, DNS and updates

Look elsewhere if

  • Pricey if you need the full admin panel: iRedAdmin-Pro is $499 a year for one server, $250 to renew
  • Skip it if you want support, as the Pro licence does not include support for iRedMail itself
  • Not for you if you run Windows or macOS servers
  • Watch out: the Enterprise Edition price was not readable on the site
  • Watch out: SOGo is missing on some newer Linux releases

Pick Modoboa if

  • Fits if you want to run your own mail for several domains with one admin panel
  • Works for admins who already look after Linux servers and DNS

Look elsewhere if

  • Not for you if you don't want to run DNS, deliverability and updates yourself
  • Skip it if you want paid support built in: installation starts at EUR 150 and issue help at EUR 120
  • Too heavy for one person who just wants an inbox
  • Watch out: parts of its development are funded by sponsoring campaigns with euro targets

How we grade them

1.8GPAiRedMailWeak2.2GPAModoboaFair
Value for money
CThe installer is free, but self-hosted is a C. The fuller admin panel iRedAdmin-Pro is $499 for 1 year per server, then $250 a year to renew, and sales are final.
CFree and open source (ISC licence) with unlimited domains and mailboxes, but only if you host it. Self-hosted free is a C for value.
Free plan and trial
BThe installer and a basic admin panel are free with unlimited domains, mailboxes and lists. You need your own server.
BFree outright. You need your own server to run it, so a B.
Features
CInstalls the stack with webmail, groupware, antispam and antivirus and lets you pick backends. The full admin panel and Enterprise Edition cost extra.
BA full stack in one installer: admin panel, webmail, filters, auto-responder, sender reputation tools and monitoring. We found no gap in the mail-server job in the listing.
Ease of use
DNo store rating on record. You run the server yourself on a supported Linux or BSD release, so a D.
DNo store rating on record. You run the server, DNS and mail delivery yourself, which is a D whatever the quick installer promises.
Platforms and integrations
DLinux and BSD servers only. SOGo is not available on some releases such as CentOS Stream, Rocky and Alma 10.
CWeb admin and webmail only, on a server you run. It lists Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd and Let's Encrypt, but no apps.
Best fora free Linux or BSD mail server installera self-hosted mail server with an admin panel

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: iRedMail and Modoboa. How we grade

Price against what you get

iRedMail starts at $20.83 a month when paid by the year and scores 1.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Modoboa has no paid plan and scores 2.0.

Modoboa scores higher and starts $20.83 a month lower. Of the other email apps on the chart, 97 score higher than iRedMail for less, and none scores higher than Modoboa 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 lessiRedMailModoboa

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

    In commonFree planOpen sourceSelf-hostableCalendarEmail client

    At a glance

    iRedMailModoboa
    PricingFree planFree
    Starts at$499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renewFree
    Free planiRedMail itself is free and open source, with a free basic web admin panel.The software is free and open source (ISC license on GitHub); you host it on your own server.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    Web
    Linux
    Made byiRedMailNGYNLABS
    Price read fromiredmail.orgmodoboa.org
    CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 13, 2026

    Worth knowing

    iRedMail

    • The iRedAdmin-Pro license covers one server, and support for iRedMail itself is not included.
    • Runs on supported Linux and BSD releases; SOGo is not available on some of them (CentOS Stream, Rocky and Alma 10).
    • The site recommends Enterprise Edition for new servers; its per-mailbox or per-server price was not readable.

    Modoboa

    • You run and maintain the server yourself, including DNS and deliverability.
    • Paid help is offered separately: installation from EUR 150 and issue assistance from EUR 120, per the site.
    • Features are funded partly through sponsoring campaigns with euro targets.

    Key features

    iRedMail

    Full stack installer
    Installs and configures the mail server components in a few minutes, per the site.
    Webmail and groupware
    Roundcube webmail and SOGo groupware, which adds CalDAV, CardDAV, tasks and ActiveSync.
    Antispam and antivirus
    SpamAssassin, ClamAV, SPF, DKIM, greylisting, whitelisting and blacklisting are listed.
    Choice of backends
    Accounts can be stored in OpenLDAP, MySQL, MariaDB or PostgreSQL.
    Unlimited accounts
    The site says there is no limit on domains, users, mailing lists or admins.
    Enterprise Edition
    A separate edition with Active Directory replication, domain admins, throttling and two-factor authentication.

    Modoboa

    Admin panel
    A web panel manages domains, mailboxes, aliases and more.
    Built-in webmail
    Users can read mail in a browser through the bundled webmail, which also has calendars and address books.
    Filters and auto-responder
    Users can create filtering rules and an auto-responder.
    Sender reputation tools
    The site says DKIM, SPF and DMARC are used to protect delivery, and TLS certificates come from Let's Encrypt.
    Monitoring
    Built-in graphs show message distribution by type and average size.
    Quick installer
    The site says the installer handles most of the work and you only need to configure DNS.

    Plans

    iRedMail

    • iRedMail$0

      Open-source installer with unlimited domains, mailboxes and mailing lists.

    • iRedAdmin-Pro, 1 year$499

      per server, for a 1-year license

      Full admin panel, SQL or LDAP edition. Renews at $250 per year; sales are final.

    • iRedAdmin-Pro, 2 years$699

      per server, for a 2-year license

      Same panel; renew before expiry for the third year.

    • iRedAdmin-Pro, 3 years$899

      per server, for a 3-year license

      Same panel; renew before expiry for the fourth year.

    Modoboa

    • Free$0

      Open-source mail server you install yourself, with unlimited domains, mailboxes and aliases.

    Ways to pay less

    iRedMail

    • Other savings

      5% off two licenses, 10% off four

      The iRedAdmin-Pro order page gives 5% off when buying 2 licenses and 10% off when buying 4.

    Modoboa

    No public discounts listed.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, iRedMail or Modoboa?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, Modoboa is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $20.83 a month when paid by the year for iRedMail. iRedMail starts at $499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renew, and Modoboa is free.

    Which has a free plan, iRedMail or Modoboa?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both iRedMail and Modoboa have a free plan.

    Which platforms do iRedMail and Modoboa run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only iRedMail lists a Linux app and only Modoboa 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