Modoboa review (2026): is it any good?
Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail
Modoboa report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a self-hosted mail server with an admin panel
Modoboa installs a whole mail stack with an admin panel, webmail and calendar, and the software is free with unlimited domains and mailboxes. But you run the server, including DNS and deliverability, and help is a paid extra from EUR 120.
Who Modoboa is for
- 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
Who Modoboa is not for
- 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
Why Modoboa gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyFree and open source (ISC licence) with unlimited domains and mailboxes, but only if you host it. Self-hosted free is a C for value.
- BFree plan and trialFree outright. You need your own server to run it, so a B.
- BFeaturesA 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.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record. You run the server, DNS and mail delivery yourself, which is a D whatever the quick installer promises.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb admin and webmail only, on a server you run. It lists Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd and Let's Encrypt, but no apps.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Modoboa's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Modoboa? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/modoboa#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/modoboa.svg" alt="Modoboa: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Modoboa stands among email apps
Modoboa's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 24.
It stands best on features (B, above 79 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Modoboa 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. Modoboa’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122, level with 53
- BFree plan and trialAbove 69 of 122, level with 27
- BFeaturesAbove 79 of 122, level with 43
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122, level with 19
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 122, level with 46
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Keep Modoboa, or make your own?
Keep it
Modoboa 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: 69 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. Modoboa’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.
What is Modoboa?
Modoboa is an open-source mail server platform that installs a full mail stack with an admin panel, webmail, calendar and address books. Its site says the installer sets up a server in under 10 minutes and that domains, mailboxes and aliases are unlimited.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Modoboa pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Modoboa is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The software is free and open source (ISC license on GitHub); you host it on your own server.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Open-source mail server you install yourself, with unlimited domains, mailboxes and aliases. |
Read from modoboa.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Modoboa before you buy.
Works with
- Postfix
- Dovecot
- Rspamd
- Let's Encrypt
Modoboa alternatives
- Modoboa vs Mailu
Free
- Modoboa vs iRedMail
Free plan · from $499/yr
- Modoboa vs Stalwart Mail Server
Free plan · from $2.40/yr
Common questions
Does Modoboa have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Modoboa is listed for Web.
Does Modoboa have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Modoboa is listed for Web.
Is Modoboa open source?
Yes. Modoboa is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.