docker-mailserver vs phpList
| Tagline | Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a single container | Battle-tested open-source newsletter and email marketing platform |
| Category | Email & Newsletters | Email & Newsletters |
| Replaces | Gmail / Google Workspace | Mailchimp, ConvertKit (Kit) |
| GitHub stars | 18k | 800 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Self-host difficulty | 4/5 Involved | 2/5 Easy |
| Deploy options | Docker Docker Compose Manual | Docker Manual |
| Managed hosting | ||
| Last updated | 17 days ago | 1 month ago |
| View repo | View repo |
Where each falls short
The honest trade-offs — what you give up with each, versus the proprietary tools they replace.
docker-mailserver
- No admin web UI — all config is via files and the CLI
- No bundled webmail or groupware (calendar/contacts)
- Deliverability, DNS, and TLS setup are entirely your responsibility
- Not a newsletter/marketing tool — mailboxes only
phpList
- UI feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
- No native drag-and-drop email builder; requires third-party plugins
- Automation/drip sequences require community plugins and are limited
Bottom line
Choose phpList if you want the lower-effort setup; choose docker-mailserver for the larger community and ecosystem. docker-mailserver has seen more recent development. Open each guide below for deploy steps and the full feature gap.
docker-mailserver
Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a single container