What is Email Server?
Self-hosting email gives you complete control over your communications — no scanning of your messages for advertising, no storage limits, and custom domains for professional email addresses. Modern email server suites like Mailcow make the traditionally complex task of running email much more manageable.
Mailcow bundles Postfix, Dovecot, SOGo webmail, spam filtering (Rspamd), and antivirus into a Docker Compose stack. Mail-in-a-Box automates the entire setup on a clean Ubuntu server. Stalwart is a modern, Rust-based alternative focused on performance.
Self-hosted email requires careful DNS configuration (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and IP reputation management. It's rewarding but demands more maintenance than other self-hosted services.
$ apt list --installable
Popular Email Server Software
Top open-source tools you can self-host on your VPS.
Mailcow
Complete Docker-based email suite. Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd, SOGo webmail, and admin panel. The most popular self-hosted email solution.
Read our guideMail-in-a-Box
One-command email server setup on Ubuntu. Includes webmail, calendar, contacts, DNS, and automatic SSL. Designed for ease of use.
Official siteStalwart
Modern, Rust-based mail server with JMAP, IMAP, and SMTP support. High-performance with built-in spam filtering and encryption.
Official siteMaddy
Lightweight, composable mail server. Single binary with built-in spam filtering. Great for developers who want a minimal email setup.
Official siteVPS Specifications
What you need to run email server workloads.
$ top --providers --for=email
Best Providers for Email Server
Hand-picked based on specs, pricing, and suitability for email server workloads.
DigitalOcean
Clean IP ranges with good email reputation and reliable reverse DNS setup
Get Started
Vultr
Allows port 25 (required for email) and offers clean IPs with global locations
Get Started
Hetzner
Affordable with excellent network quality for email delivery in Europe
Get Started$ man email
Frequently Asked Questions
Is self-hosted email difficult?
More complex than other self-hosted services, but tools like Mailcow and Mail-in-a-Box automate most of the setup. Ongoing maintenance includes monitoring deliverability and managing DNS records.
Will my emails land in spam?
With proper DNS configuration (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and a clean IP address, deliverability is generally good. Warming up a new IP gradually helps establish reputation.
Do all VPS providers allow email hosting?
No. Some providers block port 25 by default to prevent spam. DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Hetzner allow it after account verification. Always check before signing up.
How much storage does email use?
Average email users generate 1-3GB per year. 20-50GB is sufficient for a small team. Attachments are the biggest space consumer — consider a file sharing solution alongside email.
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