7 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Gmail
The best open-source alternatives to Gmail are Mailcow, Mailu and Stalwart Mail Server.
About Gmail: Google's email service with web and mobile apps.
Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Gmail without giving up the features you rely on.
Top picks
- Rank 1:
Mailcow
mailcow/mailcow-dockerized
Mail server suite based on Dovecot, Postfix and other open source software, that provides a modern Web UI for administration.
Email ServersJavaScriptDocker - Rank 2:
Mailu
Mailu/Mailu
Simple yet full-featured mail server as a set of Docker images.
Email ServersPythonDocker - Rank 3:
Stalwart Mail Server
stalwartlabs/stalwart
All-in-one mail server with JMAP, IMAP4, and SMTP support and a wide range of modern features.
Email ServersRustDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off Gmail
Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.
Own your data
Your data lives on a server you control, not on Gmail's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Open-source alternatives to Gmail are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.
Customize and extend
Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.
Full ranking
All 7 Gmail alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
Mailcow
Mail server suite based on Dovecot, Postfix and other open source software, that provides a modern Web UI for administration.
Email ServersDocker - 2
Mailu
Simple yet full-featured mail server as a set of Docker images.
Email ServersDocker - 3
Stalwart Mail Server
All-in-one mail server with JMAP, IMAP4, and SMTP support and a wide range of modern features.
Email ServersDocker - 4
docker-mailserver
Production-ready fullstack but simple mail server (SMTP, IMAP, LDAP, Antispam, Antivirus, etc.) running inside a container. Only configuration files, no SQL database.
Email ServersDocker - 5
Mail-in-a-Box
Turns any Ubuntu server into a fully functional mail server with one command.
Email Servers - 6
Roundcube
Browser-based IMAP client with an application-like user interface.
Email Servers - 7
SnappyMail
Simple, modern, lightweight & fast web-based email client (fork of RainLoop).
Email Servers
What is the best open-source alternative to Gmail?
Mailcow is the most popular open-source alternative to Gmail, with 13,563 GitHub stars. Mailu and Stalwart Mail Server are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to Gmail?
Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Gmail replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.
Can I self-host an alternative to Gmail?
Yes. Mailcow, Mailu and Stalwart Mail Server ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.
How do I migrate from Gmail?
Start by exporting your data from Gmail, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.