Running your own email server? Mailcow gives you a full web UI and webmail, while docker-mailserver keeps it to a single lightweight container. Here's how to choose.
Quick Verdict
Mailcow is better for users who want a full-featured web interface with webmail, admin panel, and user self-service. docker-mailserver is better for sysadmins who want a lightweight, CLI-managed mail server with minimal resource usage.
Overview
Mailcow and docker-mailserver are the two most popular Docker-based email servers. They solve the same problem — running your own email — but with fundamentally different philosophies. Mailcow bundles everything (Postfix, Dovecot, SOGo webmail, admin panel, ClamAV, Rspamd) into a multi-container stack with a polished web UI. docker-mailserver runs everything in a single container with no web interface — all management happens through CLI commands.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailcow | docker-mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| Web admin panel | Yes (mailcow UI) | No |
| Webmail | SOGo (built-in) | None (add Roundcube/Snappymail separately) |
| Calendar & Contacts | SOGo (CalDAV/CardDAV) | None |
| User self-service | Yes (password changes, aliases, filter rules) | No |
| SMTP | Postfix | Postfix |
| IMAP/POP3 | Dovecot | Dovecot |
| Spam filtering | Rspamd | SpamAssassin or Rspamd (configurable) |
| Antivirus | ClamAV (included, enabled by default) | ClamAV (optional, disabled by default) |
| DKIM | Rspamd-managed | OpenDKIM or Rspamd |
| Fail2ban | Built-in (custom implementation) | Fail2ban (requires NET_ADMIN capability) |
| Rate limiting | Built-in with per-user controls | Postfix rate limiting only |
| Docker containers | 10-15+ | 1 |
| CLI management |
docker compose exec commands |
setup.sh / docker exec setup commands |
| Two-factor auth | Yes (admin panel) | No (no web UI) |
| API | Full REST API | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
Installation Complexity
Mailcow uses a git clone + script approach:
git clone https://github.com/mailcow/mailcow-dockerized
cd mailcow-dockerized
./generate_config.sh
docker compose up -d
The setup is comprehensive but automated. The generate_config.sh script handles hostname, timezone, and initial configuration. Expect 5-10 minutes to pull all images and start ~15 containers.
docker-mailserver is more manual but simpler:
# Download compose.yaml and mailserver.env
docker compose up -d
# Add first account
docker exec -ti mailserver setup email add user@example.com
Setup takes 2-3 minutes. The trade-off is that you configure everything via environment variables in mailserver.env instead of a web UI.
Both require the same DNS configuration (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, PTR records).
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Mailcow | docker-mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | 2-4 GB | 500 MB-1 GB |
| RAM (with ClamAV) | 4-6 GB | 2-3 GB |
| Containers | 10-15+ | 1 |
| Disk (application) | 2-3 GB | 500 MB |
| CPU usage (idle) | Low-Medium | Very Low |
docker-mailserver is dramatically lighter. A single container using 500 MB of RAM vs. Mailcow's 15-container stack using 2-4 GB. If you're running a mail server on a small VPS alongside other services, docker-mailserver leaves much more headroom.
Mailcow's higher resource usage is the cost of SOGo webmail, the admin UI, and multiple supporting services.
Community and Support
| Metric | Mailcow | docker-mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ~10K | ~15K |
| Documentation | Excellent (docs.mailcow.email) | Excellent (docker-mailserver.github.io) |
| Update frequency | Regular releases | Regular releases |
| Forum/Community | Mailcow Community Forum | GitHub Discussions |
| Commercial support | Available | No |
Both have excellent documentation and active communities. Mailcow has a slightly more structured support ecosystem with its community forum and commercial support options. docker-mailserver's documentation is particularly thorough on configuration options.
Use Cases
Choose Mailcow If...
- You want a web admin panel for managing domains, accounts, and aliases
- You need built-in webmail (SOGo) without setting up a separate client
- You want calendar and contacts (CalDAV/CardDAV) integrated
- You need user self-service (password resets, filter management)
- You want a REST API for automation
- You have 4+ GB of RAM available
- You're managing email for multiple users who need self-service
Choose docker-mailserver If...
- You want minimal resource usage (512 MB-1 GB RAM)
- You're comfortable managing email accounts via CLI
- You're running on a small VPS with limited resources
- You want a single-container deployment
- You prefer simple, file-based configuration
- You'll add your own webmail client (Roundcube, Snappymail) if needed
- You want the simplest possible mail server that just works
Final Verdict
For single users or small teams comfortable with CLI: docker-mailserver is the better choice. It's lighter, simpler, and does the core job (SMTP + IMAP + spam filtering) excellently. Add Roundcube if you need webmail.
For organizations or users who want a managed experience: Mailcow is the better choice. The web admin, webmail, calendar integration, and user self-service justify the higher resource usage.
If you want something even more modern with lower resource usage and built-in everything (JMAP, web admin, CalDAV, CardDAV, spam filtering) in a single container, also consider Stalwart.
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