Docker Mailserver vs Roundcubemail
Docker Mailserver and Roundcubemail are both email server software. Docker Mailserver is open source under MIT, with 20k GitHub stars. Roundcubemail is open source under GPL-3.0, with 7.3k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick Docker Mailserver when
- You want a simple self-hosted mail server without a web admin panel.
- Pick Roundcubemail when
- You run an IMAP server and need a dependable webmail front end.
Side by side
A single container mail server with SMTP, IMAP, anti-spam, antivirus and LDAP support, configured by files and environment variables.
A browser-based IMAP webmail client with address book, folders, filters and plugins, widely bundled with hosting control panels.
No GUI or webmail, and self-hosted mail brings deliverability and security work.
A frequent target for attacks, so it must be kept patched.
Production-ready (both)
Self-hosted server (both)
Docker, Postfix, Dovecot and Rspamd
PHP and JavaScript
Open source, MIT (permissive)
Open source, GPL-3.0 (strong copyleft)
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
Use inside your business is unrestricted, but anything you distribute that includes it must be released under the same license.
20k GitHub stars
7.3k GitHub stars
Established: started 11 years ago, latest release v16.0.1.
Established: started 14 years ago, latest release 1.7.5.
Other comparisons
More email servers and webmail
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.