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Communication & Collaboration
Production mail server packaged with Docker
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Mail-in-a-Box
Turn a fresh Ubuntu server into a working mail server with one command
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About Mail-in-a-Box
Mail-in-a-Box turns a fresh Ubuntu server into a complete, working mail server with a single command. It configures SMTP, IMAP, webmail, contacts and calendar sync, spam filtering and DNS records automatically, and includes a control panel for managing users, aliases and backups. The project is free and open source, dedicated to the public domain. It is aimed at individuals and small organizations who want to run their own standards-based email without hand-configuring every moving part.
Mail-in-a-Box website preview
Live preview of mailinabox.email via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.
Mail-in-a-Box: strengths & things to check
Strengths
- Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
- Covers email, mail server, self hosted, ubuntu — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
- Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.
Things to check
- Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
- Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
- It is one of 565 tools in the Communication & Collaboration category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.
Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.
Mail-in-a-Box pricing
| Pricing model | Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. |
|---|---|
| Free access | Yes — fully free |
| Current plan prices | Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale. |
| Official site | mailinabox.email |
Mail-in-a-Box key facts
- Category: Communication & Collaboration
- Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
- Focus areas: email, mail server, self hosted, ubuntu
- Official site: mailinabox.email
Mail-in-a-Box FAQ
How much does Mail-in-a-Box cost?
Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (mailinabox.email).
What is Mail-in-a-Box used for?
Turn a fresh Ubuntu server into a working mail server with one command Its focus areas in the Communication & Collaboration category: email, mail server, self hosted, ubuntu.
Where can I try Mail-in-a-Box?
On its official site, mailinabox.email — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.
Mail-in-a-Box vs alternatives
| Mail-in-a-Box | docker-mailserver | Dovecot | EmailRelay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. | Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. | Freemium — a free tier lets you start, and paid plans are available if you need more. | Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. |
| Focus areas | email, mail server, self hosted, ubuntu | mail server, docker, email, self hosted | email, imap, mail server, self hosted, open source | email, smtp, mail server, self hosted |
| Official site | mailinabox.email | docker-mailserver.github.io | dovecot.org | emailrelay.sourceforge.net |
| Directory status | Listed | Listed | Listed | Listed |
Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.
About the Communication & Collaboration category
Chat, video meetings, and messaging apps that keep teams connected. The Communication & Collaboration category on Tools Hub currently lists 565 tools. Alongside Mail-in-a-Box, it includes Modoboa, SimpleLogin, Cyrus IMAP, chasquid.
Alternatives to Mail-in-a-Box
Tools in the same Communication & Collaboration category that share focus areas with Mail-in-a-Box — worth comparing before you commit:
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Communication & Collaboration
The secure, high performance email server
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Communication & Collaboration
Lightweight SMTP store-and-forward mail server with POP access
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Communication & Collaboration
Full-featured open-source mail server solution based on Postfix and Dovecot
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Communication & Collaboration
The mailserver suite with the 'moo'
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Communication & Collaboration
Open-source mail hosting and management platform with a modern web interface
More in Communication & Collaboration
Comparing tools in the Communication & Collaboration category? These related listings are worth a look: Modoboa — Open-source mail hosting and management platform with a modern web interface; SimpleLogin — Email aliases that protect your real address, by the Proton team; Cyrus IMAP — A free, open-source email, contacts and calendar server.
MCommunication & Collaboration
Open-source mail hosting and management platform with a modern web interface
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Communication & Collaboration
Email aliases that protect your real address, by the Proton team
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Communication & Collaboration
A free, open-source email, contacts and calendar server
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Communication & Collaboration
An SMTP server focused on simplicity, security and ease of operation
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Communication & Collaboration
The Exim Internet Mailer, a flexible message transfer agent
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Communication & Collaboration
The classic open-source mail transfer agent, maintained by Proofpoint