Dovecot
IMAP and POP3 server written primarily with security in mind.
- GitHub stars
- 1,263
- License
- MIT, LGPL-2.1
- Latest release
- 2.4.5
28 August 2026 - Last commit
- 12 October 2026
- Runs on
- C, Debian packages
Commits per month, last 12 months
1,852 commits
How to self-host Dovecot
Dovecot runs on C and Debian packages. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.
- Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
- Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
- Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
- Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.
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Questions
Is Dovecot free?
Yes. Dovecot is open source under the MIT, LGPL-2.1 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.
Can I self-host Dovecot?
Yes. Dovecot runs on C and Debian packages. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.
Is Dovecot still maintained?
The last change to Dovecot's code was on 12 October 2026, with 1852 commits in the last 12 months.
Topics
App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.