Mail-in-a-Box

mailinabox.email · checked 11 Oct 2026

#9 · Email Server Software #13 · Mail Server Software

Visit mailinabox.email ↗ Alternatives Mail-in-a-Box vs Exim

How it plugs in

YesPublic API

NoOpen source

YesFree tier

Signal on Email Server Software6.1#9 of 33

Mail-in-a-Box turns a fresh cloud computer into a mail server that lets users run their own email service.

Near it

All alternatives →

Runs on

Web
Windows
Mac
Linux
iOS
Android

Facts

Website: mailinabox.email
Price: Free tier
Free trial: Not stated
Administration and API: A web control panel manages accounts, aliases, DNS records, and backups, and its functionality is also available through a RESTful HTTP API.
Backups: It supports automated backups to Amazon S3 and compatible services, and its setup guide says backups are encrypted.
Contacts and calendar: It includes contacts and calendar synchronization.
Cost estimate: The setup guide estimates about $12 per month for the service, primarily for a virtual machine connected to the internet, and says domain registration is about $17 per year depending on the TLD.
Cost to operate: The setup guide estimates running a box will cost about $12 per month, mostly for a cloud machine connected to the internet.
Deliverability: The project warns that other mail services may block or spam-filter mail sent from a self-run Mail-in-a-Box server.
DNS and TLS: It can configure mail-related DNS records including SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MTA-STS, and automatically provisions TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt.
Email tools: It provides webmail and an IMAP/SMTP server for mobile devices and desktop mail software.
Founded: 2013
Hosting: A box can host mail for multiple users and domains, and can also host a simple static website.
Hosting requirements: It requires a fresh, dedicated Ubuntu 22.04 x64 machine; containers and modified images are not supported.
License and intended users: Mail-in-a-Box is dedicated to the public domain under CC0 and describes its goal as making it easy to deploy a mail server for people who want to control their own email.

On these boards

Built Mail-in-a-Box?

Claim the page, then edit your card yourself from your member desk: its name, words, logo, screenshots, plans and links. Your desk shows how many readers open it.

Claim Mail-in-a-Box