The iRedMail Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about iRedMail in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
iRedMail
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from iRedMail’s own pages.
Made by iRedMail · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from iRedMail’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on iRedMail’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade
iRedMail is a downloadable installer that sets up a full open-source mail server on supported Linux and BSD systems, with webmail, antispam and antivirus. The team also sells iRedAdmin-Pro, a fuller admin panel, and an Enterprise Edition delivered as a single binary.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about iRedMail, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You run the server yourself on a supported Linux or BSD release, so a D.
- 1
Best for a free Linux or BSD mail server installer
iRedMail is a free installer that sets up a full mail server with webmail, antispam and antivirus on Linux or BSD.
- 2
Paid plans start at $20.83 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renew.
- 3
There is a free plan
iRedMail itself is free and open source, with a free basic web admin panel.
- 4
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 5
Full stack installer
Installs and configures the mail server components in a few minutes, per the site.
- 6
Webmail and groupware
Roundcube webmail and SOGo groupware, which adds CalDAV, CardDAV, tasks and ActiveSync.
- 7
Antispam and antivirus
SpamAssassin, ClamAV, SPF, DKIM, greylisting, whitelisting and blacklisting are listed.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 2 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace iRedMail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
iRedMail at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renew
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- iRedMail, since 2007
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for a free Linux or BSD mail server installer
iRedMail is a free installer that sets up a full mail server with webmail, antispam and antivirus on Linux or BSD. The free admin panel is basic, the fuller iRedAdmin-Pro is $499 a year, and it only runs on a server you look after.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The installer and a basic admin panel are free with unlimited domains, mailboxes and lists. You need your own server. |
| Features | C | Installs the stack with webmail, groupware, antispam and antivirus and lets you pick backends. The full admin panel and Enterprise Edition cost extra. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You run the server yourself on a supported Linux or BSD release, so a D. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Linux and BSD servers only. SOGo is not available on some releases such as CentOS Stream, Rocky and Alma 10. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who iRedMail is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Admins who want a self-run mail server without per-mailbox fees
- Hosting a mail server for several domains on one machine
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$20.83
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
iRedMail has a free plan. Paid plans start at $499 for a 1-year iRedAdmin-Pro license, $250 per year to renew.
The installer is free, but self-hosted is a C.
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.
The free plan
iRedMail itself is free and open source, with a free basic web admin panel.
Read from iredmail.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on iredmail.org
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Linux
Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, calendar, email client.
Installs the stack with webmail, groupware, antispam and antivirus and lets you pick backends.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
- Roundcube
- SOGo
- SpamAssassin
- ClamAV
- OpenLDAP
- Postfix
iRedMail is made by iRedMail, and has been around since 2007.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/122
Other email apps it is graded above
iRedMail's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 69 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $20.83 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.92 for the category: 70 of the 76 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4. 97 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. iRedMail’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- BFree plan and trialAbove 69 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. iRedMail is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace iRedMail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 112 of the 122 other email apps grade higher. It costs $250 a year. iRedMail is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Calendar: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Roundcube, SOGo and SpamAssassin among them.
What this rests on. iRedMail’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
mailcow, Modoboa, Mailu, Mail-in-a-Box and Zimbra
The 5 tools iRedMail is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
mailcow
Free
Dockerized open-source mail server with a web admin UI.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- Only mailcow lists a web app.
- 2.2GPA
Modoboa
Free
Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- Only Modoboa lists a web app.
- 2.0GPA
Mailu
Free
Free Docker-based mail server with webmail and admin UI.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- Only Mailu lists a web app.
- iRedMail also covers calendar.
- 2.0GPA
Mail-in-a-Box
Free
Free script that turns a cloud server into your own mail server.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- Only Mail-in-a-Box lists a web app.
Zimbra
Paid
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations.
- iRedMail has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
- Only Zimbra lists a web app.
- Only Zimbra lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is iRedMail free?
iRedMail has a free plan. iRedMail itself is free and open source, with a free basic web admin panel.
How much does iRedMail cost?
iRedMail lists 4 plans. iRedMail: $0. iRedAdmin-Pro, 1 year: $499 per server, for a 1-year license. iRedAdmin-Pro, 2 years: $699 per server, for a 2-year license. iRedAdmin-Pro, 3 years: $899 per server, for a 3-year license.
What platforms does iRedMail work on?
iRedMail is available on Linux.
Does iRedMail offer any discounts?
iRedMail publicly lists the following: 5% off two licenses, 10% off four.
Does iRedMail have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. iRedMail is listed for Linux.
Does iRedMail have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. iRedMail is listed for Linux.
Is iRedMail open source?
Yes. iRedMail is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
What does iRedMail integrate with?
iRedMail's listing names Roundcube, SOGo, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, OpenLDAP and Postfix.
Who makes iRedMail?
iRedMail is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2007.
What are the alternatives to iRedMail?
The closest alternatives to iRedMail in our directory are mailcow, Modoboa, Mailu, Mail-in-a-Box and Zimbra.
How does iRedMail compare with other email apps?
iRedMail's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is iRedMail good value for money?
ToolGPA grades iRedMail C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $20.83 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.92 for the category: 70 of the 76 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of iRedMail?
To replace iRedMail you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from iRedMail’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from iRedMail's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by iRedMail. Prices change, so check iredmail.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- iRedMail, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/iredmail
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "iRedMail: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/iredmail
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/iredmail/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after iRedMail, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 126 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- AOL Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with news and weather in a companion mobile app3.2 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what iRedMail’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. iRedMail is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by iRedMail. Prices and plans change: check iredmail.org before you buy.