Side by side
Hermes Secure Email Gateway vs MailScanner
Both stand on email security gateways. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Hermes if you need a self-hosted email gateway or mail server with filtering, authentication controls, encryption, and bundled collaboration. Look elsewhere if you require malware sandboxing or direct vendor support without Pro coverage or purchased incidents.
Visit Hermes Secure Email GatewayMailScanner provides gateway-level scanning for email and links to setup guidance for several mail transfer agents and Linux families. Administrators should expect to configure it through files rather than rely on MailWatch for automated setup.
Visit MailScannerThe facts
| Hermes Secure Email Gateway | MailScanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | hermesseg.io | github.com |
| On email security gateways | #1 of 35 | #4 of 35 |
Hermes Secure Email Gateway: what it does well
- Supports gateway, full-server, and hybrid deployments.
- Filters inbound mail with SpamAssassin and ClamAV.
- Supports SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and ARC.
- Offers SMTP TLS, S/MIME, PGP, and encrypted PDF fallback.
- Bundles Nextcloud collaboration and Authelia single sign-on.
What to know first
- Requires a Linux host with Docker Engine 24.0 or later and Docker Compose v2.
- Malware sandboxing is not included.
- Direct vendor support requires eligible Pro coverage or purchased incidents.
- Pro is priced at $750 a year per server.
MailScanner: what it does well
- Scans for spam, viruses, phishing, and malware.
- Works with ClamAV and SpamAssassin.
- Guides cover Sendmail, Postfix, and Exim.
- Installation instructions cover several Linux families.
- Free open-source software under GPL version 2.
What to know first
- Requires server-level installation and configuration.
- MailWatch does not automate installation or configuration.
- The install guide recommends a minimal operating system.
Alternatives to Hermes Secure Email Gateway Alternatives to MailScanner The whole list