Best VPS for Email Server: Top Hosting Picks for Self-Hosted Email

Tired of Gmail reading your emails? A self-hosted email server puts you in complete control — your data, your rules, professional addresses at your domain.

What is a Self-Hosted Email Server?

A self-hosted email server runs mail software on your own VPS. Popular solutions include Mailcow, Mail-in-a-Box, Mailu, and iRedMail — complete packages with webmail, spam filtering, and easy administration.

Why Self-Host Email?

Privacy — No third party scanning your messages
Professional addresses — you@yourdomain.com
Unlimited accounts — Create as many as you need
No vendor lock-in — Your data, exportable anytime
Learning — Understand how email actually works

Why NOT to Self-Host Email

Be aware of the challenges:

IP reputation management (deliverability)
Spam fighting is constant work
Maintenance responsibility
Some providers block port 25

Email Server VPS Requirements

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	1 vCPU	2+ vCPU
RAM	2GB	4GB+
Storage	30GB SSD	100GB+ NVMe
Bandwidth	1TB	Unmetered
Port 25	Open	Must be open
OS	Ubuntu 22.04+	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Critical: Your VPS provider must allow outbound port 25 (SMTP). Some block it by default to prevent spam.

Top VPS Picks for Email Servers

1. Hostinger VPS (Best Value)

$4.99/mo | 1 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 50GB NVMe

Solid choice for email:

4GB RAM runs Mailcow smoothly
Port 25 available (may need ticket)
24/7 support for deliverability issues
NVMe for fast email search

Why it's good for email: Enough RAM for full-featured mail stacks, and support can help with IP issues.

2. Hetzner Cloud (Best for Deliverability)

€3.79/mo | 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 40GB NVMe

Excellent email reputation:

Clean IP ranges
Port 25 open by default
rDNS easily configurable
German privacy laws

3. OVH/Kimsufi (Best for Clean IPs)

€5.99/mo | 1 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD

OVH is known for email:

Generally clean IP reputation
Dedicated IP included
Easy rDNS configuration
Strong anti-abuse policies

4. Vultr (Best with Caution)

$6/mo | 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB NVMe

Good if you verify IP reputation first:

Port 25 open after account verification
32 locations (pick carefully)
Some IP ranges may be listed
Check blacklists before committing

5. Contabo (Best Specs, Harder Reputation)

€4.99/mo | 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 50GB SSD

Great hardware, reputation varies:

Massive specs for the price
Some IPs may need warming
Good for secondary/backup MX
Unlimited bandwidth

Quick Mailcow Installation

Step 1: Get Your VPS

Choose a provider, verify port 25 is open. Set up rDNS (PTR record) to match your mail domain.

Step 2: DNS Setup (Do This First!)

# A Record
mail.yourdomain.com → your-server-ip

# MX Record
yourdomain.com → mail.yourdomain.com (priority 10)

# SPF Record
yourdomain.com TXT "v=spf1 mx -all"

# DKIM and DMARC (Mailcow will generate DKIM)

Step 3: Install Mailcow

apt update && apt upgrade -y
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
apt install docker-compose-plugin git -y

cd /opt
git clone https://github.com/mailcow/mailcow-dockerized
cd mailcow-dockerized

# Generate config
./generate_config.sh
# Enter: mail.yourdomain.com

Step 4: Configure

nano mailcow.conf
# Verify MAILCOW_HOSTNAME=mail.yourdomain.com
# Set SKIP_LETS_ENCRYPT=n for automatic SSL

Step 5: Launch

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Step 6: Access Admin

Open https://mail.yourdomain.com and login with default credentials (admin/moohoo), then change immediately.

Step 7: Add Domain & Mailbox

In Mailcow admin:

Configuration → Mail Setup → Domains → Add
Add your domain
Copy the DKIM key and add to DNS
Create mailboxes

Provider Comparison

Provider	RAM	Port 25	IP Reputation	Price
Hostinger	4GB	On request	Good	$4.99
Hetzner	4GB	Open	Excellent	€3.79
OVH	2GB	Open	Good	€5.99
Vultr	1GB	After verify	Variable	$6
Contabo	8GB	Open	Variable	€4.99

Email Server Best Practices

1. Always Set Up Authentication

Configure all three:

SPF — Declares which servers can send for your domain
DKIM — Cryptographically signs your emails
DMARC — Tells receivers what to do with failures

# Example DMARC record
_dmarc.yourdomain.com TXT "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com"

2. Check Blacklists Before Sending

Test your IP before going live:

If listed, request a new IP or contact the blacklist for removal.

3. Warm Up Your IP

Don't send 1000 emails day one:

Start with personal emails
Gradually increase volume
Build reputation over weeks

4. Monitor Your Reputation

Set up Google Postmaster Tools and check:

Domain reputation
IP reputation
Spam rates

5. Regular Backups

Mailcow makes this easy:

cd /opt/mailcow-dockerized
./helper-scripts/backup_and_restore.sh backup all

FAQ

Is self-hosted email worth it in 2026?

For privacy enthusiasts and learning: yes. For reliability and ease: consider managed email or transactional services for important mail.

Will my emails end up in spam?

Possibly at first. Proper SPF/DKIM/DMARC, clean IPs, and warming up prevents most issues. Google and Microsoft are strict — expect some initial challenges.

Mailcow vs. Mail-in-a-Box?

Mailcow: More features, Docker-based, active development
Mail-in-a-Box: Simpler, all-in-one installer, easier for beginners

What if my IP is blacklisted?

Options:

Request removal from the blacklist
Ask your VPS provider for a new IP
Use a relay service (Mailgun, SendGrid) for outbound

Should I use a relay service?

For important transactional emails (invoices, alerts), yes. Services like Mailgun or Amazon SES have better deliverability. Use self-hosted for personal mail.

How many email accounts can I create?

Unlimited — limited only by storage and RAM. A 4GB VPS handles hundreds of light-use accounts.

Conclusion

Self-hosted email is challenging but rewarding. For the best experience:

✅ Hetzner — Best reputation and deliverability at €3.79/mo
✅ Hostinger — Best value with 4GB RAM at $4.99/mo
✅ OVH — Clean IPs and straightforward rDNS setup

Start with Mailcow or Mail-in-a-Box, set up your DNS properly, and gradually warm up your sending reputation. Your inbox, your rules.

Best VPS for Email Server: Top Hosting Picks for Self-Hosted Email in 2026