Guide to self-hosting your own email server.
Overview
You need at least three main components to send/receive emails from your self-hosted email server:
- MTA: Responsible for sending and receiving emails.
- MDA: Responsible for delivering emails to the recipient's mailbox.
- dovecot/core (0)
- Courier
- MUA: The client application used to read and send emails.
- Thunderbird
- Outlook
- roundcube/roundcubemail (0)
- Alinto/sogo (0)
Integrated Solutions
Existed solution that bundle MTA, MDA, and MUA together for easier setup and management, so you don't have to start from scratch.
| Name | MTA | MDA | MUA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mail-in-a-box/mailinabox (0) | Postfix | Dovecot | Roundcube | |
| mailcow/mailcow-dockerized (0) | Postfix | Dovecot | SOGo | |
| modoboa/modoboa (0) | Postfix | Dovecot | - | |
| iredmail/iRedMail (0) | Postfix | Dovecot | Roundcube / SOGo | |
| stalwartlabs/stalwart (0) | Rewrite | Rewrite | Rewrite | Support JMAP |
| mjl-/mox (0) | Rewrite | Rewrite | Rewrite | Implement from ground up with Go |
Tools
- mail-tester.com: Test your email deliverability and spam score.
- aboutmy.email
- MxToolbox: Check your domain's DNS records, and blacklist status.
- Google Postmaster Tools: View your domain's reputation and performance for Gmail.
- Microsoft SNDS: View your outbound IP reputation for outlook.com