The Modoboa Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Modoboa 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.
Modoboa
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Modoboa’s own pages.
Made by NGYNLABS · 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 Modoboa’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Modoboa’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
2.2
GPA, above 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Modoboa, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You run the server, DNS and mail delivery yourself, which is a D whatever the quick installer promises.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Modoboa has no paid plan at all. The software is free and open source (ISC license on GitHub); you host it on your own server.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Admin panel
A web panel manages domains, mailboxes, aliases and more.
- 5
Built-in webmail
Users can read mail in a browser through the bundled webmail, which also has calendars and address books.
- 6
Filters and auto-responder
Users can create filtering rules and an auto-responder.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 29 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
Modoboa is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Modoboa at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- NGYNLABS
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free 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 | B | Free outright. You need your own server to run it, so a B. |
| Features | B | A 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 | D | No 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 | C | Web admin and webmail only, on a server you run. It lists Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd and Let's Encrypt, but no apps. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Individuals and small organizations that want their own mail server
- Admins who prefer a web panel over hand-edited configs
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.
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
Modoboa is free to use.
Free and open source (ISC licence) with unlimited domains and mailboxes, but only if you host it.
Free
$0
Open-source mail server you install yourself, with unlimited domains, mailboxes and aliases.
The free plan
The software is free and open source (ISC license on GitHub); you host it on your own server.
Read from modoboa.org 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
Open-source mail server with a web admin panel and webmail. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, calendar, email client.
A full stack in one installer: admin panel, webmail, filters, auto-responder, sender reputation tools and monitoring.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Postfix
- Dovecot
- Rspamd
- Let's Encrypt
Modoboa is made by NGYNLABS.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
29/122
Other email apps it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 69 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. Modoboa 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
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
mailcow, Mailu, Mail-in-a-Box, iRedMail and Stalwart Mail Server
The 5 tools Modoboa 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.
- Modoboa also covers calendar.
- Mailu also covers dMARC.
- 2.0GPA
Mail-in-a-Box
Free
Free script that turns a cloud server into your own mail server.
- 1.8GPA
iRedMail
Free plan · from $499/yr
Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD.
- Only Modoboa lists a web app.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- 2.2GPA
Stalwart Mail Server
Free plan · from $2.40/yr
Open-source mail and collaboration server written in Rust.
- Stalwart Mail Server also covers file sharing and dMARC.
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 Modoboa free?
Yes. Modoboa is free to use.
How much does Modoboa cost?
Modoboa lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Modoboa work on?
Modoboa is available on Web.
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.
What does Modoboa integrate with?
Modoboa's listing names Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd and Let's Encrypt. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Modoboa?
Modoboa is made by NGYNLABS.
What are the alternatives to Modoboa?
The closest alternatives to Modoboa in our directory are mailcow, Mailu, Mail-in-a-Box, iRedMail and Stalwart Mail Server.
How does Modoboa compare with other email apps?
Modoboa's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 24.
Is Modoboa good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Modoboa C for value for money. Modoboa has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Modoboa?
Modoboa 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 Modoboa’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 Modoboa'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 NGYNLABS. Prices change, so check modoboa.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
- Modoboa, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/modoboa
- 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, "Modoboa: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/modoboa
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/modoboa/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Modoboa, 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 Modoboa’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. Modoboa is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by NGYNLABS. Prices and plans change: check modoboa.org before you buy.