Mail-in-a-Box

Turns any Ubuntu server into a fully functional mail server with one command.

GitHub stars
15,438
License
CC0-1.0
Latest release
v77
26 September 2026
Last commit
26 September 2026
Runs on
Shell

Commits per month, last 12 months

20 commits

Replaces

Paid products Mail-in-a-Box can stand in for.

How to self-host Mail-in-a-Box

Mail-in-a-Box runs on Shell. 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.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is Mail-in-a-Box free?

Yes. Mail-in-a-Box is open source under the CC0-1.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Mail-in-a-Box?

Yes. Mail-in-a-Box runs on Shell. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does Mail-in-a-Box replace?

People use Mail-in-a-Box instead of Fastmail, Gmail or Outlook.com.

Is Mail-in-a-Box still maintained?

The last change to Mail-in-a-Box's code was on 26 September 2026, with 20 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Communication - Email - Complete Solutions

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.