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Best Email Server Software in 2026

Mail server software delivers, stores, and provides access to messages for personal domains and organizations. This category covers free, freemium, and paid products for hosted and self-managed deployments.

33 apps
Research read 24 Oct 2026
How the order is worked out

1

Apache James

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.7 Free plan Visit site
2

Axigen

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

7.7 60-day trial Visit site
3

Exim

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

7.5 Free plan Visit site
4

hMailServer

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.5 Free plan Visit site
5

iRedMail

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.4 Free plan · paid from $10/yr Visit site
6

Cyrus IMAP

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

7.3 Free plan Visit site
7

Dovecot

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

7.3 Free plan Visit site
8

mailcow

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2

7.3 Free plan Visit site
9

MailEnable

Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+2

7.3 Free plan · paid from $395 · 60-day trial Visit site
10

Mailu

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.3 Free plan Visit site
11

Maddy Mail Server

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

7.1 Free plan Visit site
12

poste.io

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.1 Free plan · paid from $349/yr Visit site
13

Docker Mailserver

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

7.0 Open source Visit site
14

Mail-in-a-Box

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

7.0 Open source Visit site
15

Modoboa

Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

7.0 Free plan Visit site
16

SmarterMail

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

7.0 Free plan · paid from $500 · 30-day trial Visit site
17

Stalwart Mail Server

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

7.0 Free plan · paid from $2.40/yr · 30-day trial Visit site
18

Zimbra Collaboration

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4

6.9 Free plan Visit site
19

grommunio

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

6.8 Free plan · paid from €1.99/user/mo Visit site
20

Pegasus Mail

Free plan Windows

Pegasus Mail provides a free Windows email client with broad protocol support, offline access, filtering and encryption options. It is focused on desktop Windows use rather than cross-platform access.

6.7 Free plan Visit site
21

Postfix

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

6.6 Open source Visit site
22

KumoMTA

Free plan Linux

6.2 Free plan Visit site
23

Whitemail

Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

6.1 Free plan · pricing on request Visit site
24

OpenSMTPD

Free plan LinuxMac

5.8 Free plan Visit site
25

Stalwart Mail Server
by Stalwart Labs
Free plan

5.7 Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Match your required environment—Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, web, or self-hosting—to the product’s pricing approach. Review the features included in any free tier, the duration of trials, and whether the licence permits inspecting or altering the code.

Questions

Is free email server software available?

The list includes free plans for Apache James, Cyrus IMAP, Dovecot, Exim, hMailServer, Docker Mailserver, iRedMail, and grommunio.

Which email servers offer a free trial?

Axigen advertises a 60-day trial. Trial terms can differ from a free plan, so check the provider’s current conditions.

What platforms are covered?

Linux, self-hosted, web, Windows, iOS, and macOS appear among the listed platform options. Confirm support for your intended setup.

Are any options open source?

Docker Mailserver is identified as open source. Check the licence before reading, changing, or redistributing code.

What paid prices are listed?

The displayed entry prices are $259 (EVO Mail Server), $600 per month (GreenArrow Engine On-Premises), €1.99 per user per month (grommunio), and $10 per year (iRedMail).

Questions

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