The Mail-in-a-Box Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Mail-in-a-Box 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.
Mail-in-a-Box
The Insider’s Guide
Free script that turns a cloud server into your own mail server
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Mail-in-a-Box’s own pages.
Made by Mail-in-a-Box project · 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 Mail-in-a-Box’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Mail-in-a-Box’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
2.0
GPA, above 11 of the 122 other email apps we grade
Mail-in-a-Box turns a fresh Ubuntu cloud machine into a working mail server with webmail, an IMAP and SMTP service, contact and calendar sync, spam filtering and a control panel. It also configures DNS records for mail delivery. The software is free; the project's guide estimates about $12 a month for the server.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Mail-in-a-Box, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it on a fresh machine and act as the sysadmin, with help from a forum and chat room.
- 1
Best for one script that makes a cloud server a mail server
Mail-in-a-Box is a free script that sets up a mail server with webmail, DNS and spam filtering on a fresh cloud server.
- 2
It is free
Mail-in-a-Box has no paid plan at all. The software is free; you pay for your own server and domain, which the setup guide puts at about $12 a month plus roughly $17 a year.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Webmail and mail server in one
Includes Roundcube webmail and an IMAP and SMTP server for phones and desktop mail apps, with contacts and calendar sync.
- 5
Automatic DNS and security records
When the box acts as your nameserver it sets SPF, DKIM, DMARC and MTA-STS records, and can add DNSSEC with DANE.
- 6
Control panel and API
A web panel to add mail accounts, aliases and custom DNS records, run status checks and set up backups, also reachable over a REST API.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 11 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Mail-in-a-Box is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Mail-in-a-Box at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Mail-in-a-Box project, since 2014
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for one script that makes a cloud server a mail server
Mail-in-a-Box is a free script that sets up a mail server with webmail, DNS and spam filtering on a fresh cloud server. The guide puts the server at about $12 a month, it can't run at home, and mail sent from your own server may get blocked.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The software is free, but the guide puts a server at about $12 a month plus a domain at about $17 a year, which lands in the dearer end of the category. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free software that still needs a rented server running before anything works. |
| Features | B | Mail server, webmail, automatic DNS and security records, spam filtering, backups, multiple users and domains. The listing shows no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | D | You install it on a fresh machine and act as the sysadmin, with help from a forum and chat room. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web admin and webmail, with Roundcube, Nextcloud and Let's Encrypt. No apps of its own. |
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 Mail-in-a-Box is for
- Fits if you want your own mail on your own domain and can run a server
- Works for people who would rather run one script than configure ten programs
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a home connection to do it, since it needs a cloud server with a clean IP
- Skip it if you don't want to be the sysadmin
- Watch out: the page warns that other mail services may block or filter mail from your own server
- Watch out: it needs a dedicated fresh machine, and manual changes after install are overwritten
Good to know
Good for
- Individuals and small groups who want to run their own mail service
- Self-hosters who prefer a fixed, ready-made setup over a custom one
- Friends or families splitting the cost of one shared server
Worth knowing
- It cannot run on a home connection: it needs a cloud server with a clean IP, so the guide advises renting a virtual machine.
- It must be installed on a fresh machine dedicated to it, and manual changes after install are overwritten.
- The page warns that other mail services may block or spam-filter mail sent from your own server.
- You act as the system administrator and must fix issues yourself; help comes from a forum and chat room.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Mail-in-a-Box is free to use.
Free software that still needs a rented server running before anything works.
Mail-in-a-Box
$0
Free software. The setup guide estimates about $12 a month for the cloud server, plus a domain name at about $17 a year.
The free plan
The software is free; you pay for your own server and domain, which the setup guide puts at about $12 a month plus roughly $17 a year.
Read from mailinabox.email on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free script that turns a cloud server into your own mail server. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, calendar, email client.
Mail server, webmail, automatic DNS and security records, spam filtering, backups, multiple users and domains.
- Webmail and mail server in one
- Includes Roundcube webmail and an IMAP and SMTP server for phones and desktop mail apps, with contacts and calendar sync.
- Automatic DNS and security records
- When the box acts as your nameserver it sets SPF, DKIM, DMARC and MTA-STS records, and can add DNSSEC with DANE.
- Control panel and API
- A web panel to add mail accounts, aliases and custom DNS records, run status checks and set up backups, also reachable over a REST API.
- Spam filtering and backups
- Spam filtering with greylisting, mail filter rules, TLS certificates from Let's Encrypt and automated backups to Amazon S3 and similar services.
- Multiple users and domains
- One box can host mail for several users and domain names, with simple static website hosting on the side.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Roundcube
- Nextcloud
- Amazon S3
- Let's Encrypt
Mail-in-a-Box is made by Mail-in-a-Box project, and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/122
Other email apps it is graded above
Mail-in-a-Box's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 11 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 17.
It stands best on features (B, above 79 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Mail-in-a-Box has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Mail-in-a-Box’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- CFree plan and trialAbove 9 of 122
- BFeaturesAbove 79 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 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. Mail-in-a-Box 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
Mail-in-a-Box is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 94 of the 122 other email apps grade higher.
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.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Mail-in-a-Box’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, Mailu, iRedMail, Modoboa and docker-mailserver
The 5 tools Mail-in-a-Box is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
mailcow
Free
- 2.0GPA
Mailu
Free
Free Docker-based mail server with webmail and admin UI.
- Mail-in-a-Box also covers calendar.
- Mailu also covers dMARC.
- 1.8GPA
iRedMail
Free plan · from $499/yr
Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD.
- Only Mail-in-a-Box lists a web app.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- 2.2GPA
Modoboa
Free
Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail.
- 1.8GPA
docker-mailserver
Free
Self-hosted mail server packaged as a Docker container.
- Only Mail-in-a-Box lists a web app.
- Only docker-mailserver lists a Linux app.
- Mail-in-a-Box also covers calendar and email client.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Mail-in-a-Box free?
Yes. Mail-in-a-Box is free to use.
How much does Mail-in-a-Box cost?
Mail-in-a-Box lists one plan. Mail-in-a-Box: $0.
What platforms does Mail-in-a-Box work on?
Mail-in-a-Box is available on Web.
Does Mail-in-a-Box have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Mail-in-a-Box is listed for Web.
Does Mail-in-a-Box have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Mail-in-a-Box is listed for Web.
Is Mail-in-a-Box open source?
Yes. Mail-in-a-Box is open source, according to its own site.
What does Mail-in-a-Box integrate with?
Mail-in-a-Box's listing names Roundcube, Nextcloud, Amazon S3 and Let's Encrypt.
Who makes Mail-in-a-Box?
Mail-in-a-Box is made by Mail-in-a-Box project. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to Mail-in-a-Box?
The closest alternatives to Mail-in-a-Box in our directory are mailcow, Mailu, iRedMail, Modoboa and docker-mailserver.
How does Mail-in-a-Box compare with other email apps?
Mail-in-a-Box's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 11 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 17.
Is Mail-in-a-Box good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Mail-in-a-Box C for value for money. Mail-in-a-Box has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Mail-in-a-Box?
Mail-in-a-Box is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Mail-in-a-Box’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 the Mail-in-a-Box project'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 Mail-in-a-Box project. Prices change, so check mailinabox.email 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
- Mail-in-a-Box, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mail-in-a-box
- 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, "Mail-in-a-Box: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mail-in-a-box
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mail-in-a-box/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Mail-in-a-Box, 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 Mail-in-a-Box’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. Mail-in-a-Box is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Mail-in-a-Box project. Prices and plans change: check mailinabox.email before you buy.