Best Self-Hosted Email Servers in 2026

Self-hostable mail servers and groupware solutions for running your own email infrastructure.

The top-rated pick is Mailcow with 13,448 GitHub stars.

2 self-hosted email servers — ranked by GitHub stars.Browse all

Mailcow

Self-hostable, Dockerized mail server bundle that combines Postfix, Dovecot, and a polished web UI — a Gmail and Microsoft 365 alternative for organisations.

Alternative to:

Gmail

Inbucket

Open source disposable email testing server with built-in SMTP, POP3, REST, and web interfaces — no database required.

Alternative to:

Mailtrap

Why self-host?

Self-hosting puts you in control. You own your data, avoid vendor lock-in, and eliminate recurring subscription costs. For teams handling sensitive data or operating under strict compliance requirements, running your own infrastructure is often the only viable option.