Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Yahoo Mail

mailcow: dockerized is an integrated mail server suite packaged as a set of Docker containers. It combines core mail components (SMTP/IMAP) with a web-based administration interface to manage domains, mailboxes, and security features.

Key Features

• Containerized stack managed via Docker Compose for reproducible deployments
• SMTP delivery with Postfix and IMAP access via Dovecot
• Webmail and groupware via SOGo
• Built-in spam filtering with Rspamd and antivirus scanning with ClamAV
• ACME/Let’s Encrypt certificate automation for TLS
• Web admin UI for domains, aliases, mailboxes, and access controls (ACL)

Use Cases

• Self-managed mail hosting for individuals, families, and organizations
• All-in-one email platform for small businesses needing webmail and groupware
• Homelab mail server with integrated spam/virus protection and TLS automation

Limitations and Considerations

• Operating a mail server requires careful DNS and deliverability configuration (SPF/DKIM/DMARC, rDNS) and ongoing maintenance
• Resource usage can be higher than minimalist MTAs due to multiple bundled services

mailcow: dockerized provides a cohesive, production-oriented mail stack with a unified management experience. It is well-suited for administrators who want an integrated suite rather than assembling and maintaining separate mail components.

Stalwart Mail Server is an all-in-one mail and collaboration server built to provide a modern, standards-based alternative to assembling multiple separate components. It combines email delivery and storage, groupware protocols, and built-in security controls in a single, scalable service written in Rust.

Key Features

• Multi-protocol email support including SMTP, IMAP4, POP3, and JMAP
• Collaboration protocols including CalDAV, CardDAV, and WebDAV for calendars, contacts, and file storage
• Integrated spam and phishing defenses, including filtering rules, DNS blocklists, greylisting, and a statistical classifier
• Email authentication and transport security features such as DKIM, SPF, DMARC, ARC, MTA-STS, DANE, and TLS reporting
• Flexible backends for storage and search, with support for multiple databases and optional external search engines
• Built-in web-based administration with real-time stats, queue management, reporting views, and log exploration
• Authentication options including LDAP, SQL, and OpenID Connect, plus roles/permissions and ACLs
• Observability via logging/tracing and metrics integrations, with webhook-based event automation

Use Cases

• Replace a traditional MTA + IMAP store + spam filter stack with a single integrated platform
• Run a domain email service with modern clients via JMAP while retaining IMAP/POP3 compatibility
• Provide calendars, contacts, and file sharing for teams using CalDAV/CardDAV/WebDAV

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced scaling and backend options can add operational complexity compared to small single-node deployments

Stalwart Mail Server is well-suited for organizations and individuals who want a secure, standards-compliant email and collaboration platform with modern protocols, integrated protection against abuse, and deployment flexibility from small setups to large clustered environments.

Mailu is a simple yet full-featured email server distributed as a set of Docker images. It provides the core protocols needed to run your own mail infrastructure, plus webmail and an administration interface.

Key Features

• SMTP, Submission, IMAP/IMAP+, and optional POP3 support
• Multiple webmail options and a built-in administration UI
• Aliases, domain aliases, custom routing, auto-forward and auto-reply
• Fetched accounts (fetchmail-style) and ManageSieve support
• Per-domain delegation, global admins, announcements, and mailbox quotas
• Security features including enforced TLS, Let’s Encrypt integration, outgoing DKIM, DMARC/SPF, and anti-spoofing options
• Anti-spam features such as greylisting and auto-learning, plus optional antivirus scanning

Use Cases

• Hosting email for personal domains or small organizations with a web-based admin panel
• Running multi-domain mail hosting with delegated per-domain administration
• Deploying a containerized mail stack with DKIM/DMARC/SPF and spam filtering

Limitations and Considerations

• Deliverability depends on correct DNS configuration (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, rDNS) and IP reputation
• Operating a mail server requires ongoing maintenance (TLS, spam rules, storage quotas, and monitoring)

Mailu focuses on providing a complete, containerized mail stack using standard components rather than a full groupware suite. It is designed to be straightforward to deploy and maintain while offering the security and administrative features expected from a modern mail server.

Roundcube is a browser-based, multilingual IMAP webmail client with an application-like user interface. It provides core email client capabilities through the browser and can be extended and themed via a plugin API and skins.

Key Features

• IMAP client functionality with MIME support
• Address book and contact management
• Folder management and message search
• Spell checking
• Plugin API for extending functionality
• Customizable interface with skins/themes
• Supports multiple database backends for application data storage

Use Cases

• Provide webmail access for an organization’s IMAP mailboxes
• Offer a lightweight browser email client for shared hosting or ISPs
• Deploy a customizable webmail front-end integrated with existing mail infrastructure

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires an existing IMAP server; it is not a full mail server (SMTP/IMAP stack)
• The Git repository snapshot may not correspond to a stable release

Roundcube is a mature webmail interface that fits well when you already operate an IMAP-capable mail system and need a user-friendly, extensible web client. Its plugin ecosystem and skinning support make it adaptable to different environments and branding needs.

Modoboa is an open source mail hosting and management platform that helps you deploy and operate a full email server through a modern web interface. It integrates common mail components (MTA/IMAP, filtering, reputation and policy features) around a central SQL database.

Key Features

• Web-based administration panel for domains, mailboxes, and aliases
• Integrated webmail with a simplified user interface
• Calendar and address book features
• Per-user mail filtering with Sieve and auto-reply messages
• Reputation and deliverability tooling including DNSBL checks and DMARC reporting
• Optional integrations for content filtering/quarantine workflows (for example via Amavis)
• Email traffic statistics and reporting dashboards
• Modular architecture via extensions for adding functionality

Use Cases

• Hosting email for a small business or organization with multiple domains and users
• Replacing third-party email providers while keeping a webmail-based workflow
• Providing managed mail services with admin and migration tooling

Modoboa is a practical choice for teams that want a unified UI to deploy, configure, and manage a standards-based mail stack while keeping control over data and policies.

SOGo is a fast, scalable groupware (collaboration) server that provides webmail, calendars, and address books through a modern web interface and open protocols. It is designed to sit alongside existing mail infrastructure and give users a unified experience across desktop and mobile clients.

Key Features

• AJAX-based web interface for mail, calendars, and contacts
• Standards-based interoperability with existing systems via IMAP, CalDAV, and CardDAV
• Mobile synchronization support via Microsoft ActiveSync
• Resource sharing, delegation, and permission handling for calendars and address books
• Works with many native clients without requiring plugins (depending on client capabilities)

Use Cases

• Provide a webmail and groupware frontend on top of an existing IMAP mail server
• Replace proprietary groupware with an open-standards collaboration server for organizations
• Offer shared calendars/contacts with permission management for teams and communities

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires integration with external mail services (for example IMAP/SMTP servers) rather than being a complete mail server by itself

SOGo is a strong fit for deployments that prioritize open standards, scalability, and broad client compatibility. It can be used as a central collaboration layer to provide consistent mail, calendar, and contact access across many devices and clients.

iRedMail is a packaged, open-source mail server solution that automates deployment and integration of standard mail components on mainstream Linux and BSD distributions. It combines mail transport, delivery, webmail/groupware and anti-spam/antivirus tooling into a reproducible installer and offers optional commercial admin/enterprise editions for extra features and support. (iredmail.org)

Key Features

• Automated installer that configures Postfix as MTA and Dovecot for IMAP/POP3 delivery, including secure defaults (TLS, modern password hashing). (github.com)
• Pluggable backends: supports OpenLDAP and SQL backends including MySQL/MariaDB and PostgreSQL for account storage and policies. (iredmail.org)
• Webmail and groupware options: Roundcube webmail and SOGo groupware (CalDAV/CardDAV/ActiveSync) can be deployed as part of the stack. (iredmail.org)
• Anti-spam and antivirus integration: built-in support for SpamAssassin/Rspamd-style filtering, ClamAV, SPF/DKIM/DMARC and quarantining workflows. (docs.iredmail.org)
• Optional web admin panels and commercial tiers: free iRedAdmin (basic), paid iRedAdmin‑Pro with extended features and an online demo for evaluation. (iredmail.org)
• Multiple deployment options and tooling: documented for several mainstream distros (Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat/CentOS/Rocky/AlmaLinux) and an official dockerized edition is available. (github.com)

Use Cases

• Small-to-medium organizations wanting a self-hosted, privacy-focused mail server with modern mail standards and webmail access.
• Service providers or admins migrating legacy Exchange/hosted systems to an integrated open-source mail stack.
• Teams requiring integrated calendar/contacts (CalDAV/CardDAV/ActiveSync) and per-domain administration via a web panel.

Limitations and Considerations

• Backend choice (OpenLDAP or SQL) is selected at install time and is not trivially switchable after installation; migrating backends requires planned data migration. (forum.iredmail.org)
• Some advanced management features (iRedAdmin‑Pro) and enterprise conveniences are paid; community edition covers core mail functionality but lacks Pro panel features out of the box. (iredmail.org)
• Certain components (notably SOGo groupware) increase resource requirements significantly (larger memory/CPU for ActiveSync/large user bases). (docs.iredmail.org)

In summary, iRedMail is a mature, opinionated integration of proven open-source mail components that simplifies deploying a secure, standards-compliant mail server across mainstream Linux/BSD systems while providing paid options for enhanced management and support. (iredmail.org)

SnappyMail is a simple, modern, and lightweight web-based email client. It is a heavily upgraded and security-focused fork of the RainLoop Webmail Community edition, designed for fast UI performance and easy deployment without requiring a database.

Key Features

• IMAP webmail with a responsive, modern interface and dark mode
• Privacy/GDPR-oriented defaults (removes common third-party integrations and tracking-related features)
• Admin panel for server configuration, domains, and security settings
• Optional address book support (can use MySQL/MariaDB for contacts)
• Sieve script support with an advanced editor for server-side mail filtering rules
• Improved encryption capabilities, including stronger PGP support (supports modern key types)
• Security hardening measures such as syslog logging for auth failures and guidance for fail2ban
• Plugin system, including the ability to load plugins as PHAR packages

Use Cases

• Provide webmail access for a self-hosted or managed IMAP email server
• Offer fast, low-overhead webmail for organizations that want privacy-friendly defaults
• Manage mail filtering rules via Sieve without needing a desktop client

Limitations and Considerations

• POP3 support is removed; IMAP is the primary protocol
• Browser support excludes legacy browsers (for example, Internet Explorer and legacy Edge)

SnappyMail fits well when you need a performant, minimal webmail interface with modern security improvements over the original RainLoop codebase. It is particularly suitable for IMAP-centric setups and users who want a streamlined, privacy-conscious webmail experience.

Nextcloud Mail is the official webmail application for Nextcloud, providing a modern browser-based email client that connects to standard IMAP/SMTP mailboxes. It integrates tightly with other Nextcloud apps to unify email with your personal and team workflows.

Key Features

• Connect multiple IMAP accounts with a unified inbox
• Send mail via SMTP and manage folders/mailboxes (create, rename, delete, subfolders)
• Conversation/thread view for grouped messages
• Integration with Nextcloud apps such as Contacts, Calendar, Files, and Tasks
• Message composition with rich-text editor support
• Optional encryption features including S/MIME support; can also work with browser-based encryption extensions

Use Cases

• Use Nextcloud as a centralized webmail client for personal and work accounts
• Manage email alongside calendars, contacts, files, and tasks in one interface
• Provide a consistent webmail experience for organizations using existing IMAP/SMTP servers

Nextcloud Mail is a strong choice when you want a capable webmail client inside the Nextcloud ecosystem while continuing to use your existing mail server infrastructure.

Cyrus IMAP is a long-running, production-grade server for hosting email along with contacts and calendars. It focuses on security and scalability by keeping mailboxes in server-managed storage and exposing access via standard protocols.

Key Features

• IMAP and JMAP support for mailbox access
• CalDAV and CardDAV support for calendars and contacts
• POP3, NNTP, and WebDAV protocol support (deployment-dependent)
• Mailbox ACLs and quota management for multi-user environments
• Replication and “Murder” aggregation for large and distributed setups
• Flexible server-side mail filtering via Sieve
• Search capabilities (with optional components depending on build)
• Extensive authentication options via Cyrus SASL
• Integrations for antivirus and antispam toolkits
• Deliverability-related support for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC (typically via integration with surrounding mail stack)

Use Cases

• Hosting IMAP/JMAP mailboxes for an organization where users do not need shell access
• Providing CalDAV/CardDAV services for groupware-style deployments
• Building a scalable mail backend for service providers or large enterprises

Limitations and Considerations

• A full email system typically requires integration with an MTA and additional components for webmail, spam filtering, and DKIM signing

Cyrus IMAP is well-suited to administrators who need a robust standards-based messaging platform with strong performance characteristics and operational controls. It is commonly used in demanding environments where scalability, manageability, and protocol support are priorities.

tine is a modular, PHP-based groupware platform that provides integrated collaboration services for organizations. It bundles calendar, contacts, mail, tasks, CRM, time tracking and file management with sync protocols for common clients.

Key Features

• Unified groupware stack: calendar, address book, tasks, email client, CRM, project time tracking and file manager
• Sync protocols: CalDAV, CardDAV, WebDAV and ActiveSync for broad client compatibility
• Authentication and user management with role/permission support and licensing options
• Deployable as OCI/Docker images with support for PHP 8.1–8.3, MySQL/MariaDB and Redis backends
• Modern web UI built with JavaScript and Vue; server-side runs on PHP (php-fpm) behind Nginx or Apache
• Extensible add-on architecture and administrative tooling for operators

Use Cases

• Provide on-premises collaboration for small to medium organizations replacing cloud groupware
• Centralize CRM, email and time tracking for project billing and client management
• Synchronize calendars and contacts across mobile and desktop clients using CalDAV/CardDAV/ActiveSync

Limitations and Considerations

• Official community releases restrict free instances to five user accounts without a licence key
• Production deployments require careful planning for performance, HA and security; operators should be trained
• Some enterprise features and commercial support are available only via paid packages

tine is suitable for organizations that need a self-hosted, full-featured groupware platform with broad client compatibility and an extensible modular architecture. It is designed for administrators who can manage PHP/MySQL-based deployments and prefer on-premise control.

Citadel is an open source groupware and messaging platform that combines email and collaboration services in a single server. It uses a room-based architecture to organize discussions and shared content, and can be accessed via web, desktop/mobile clients, and standard protocols.

Key Features

• Integrated services: email, calendaring, contacts, notes, and collaborative “rooms”
• WebCit web interface for end-user access and administration
• Standards-based access via SMTP, IMAP, and XMPP (Jabber)
• CalDAV/CardDAV-style calendaring and contact access via WebCit (GroupDAV/Webcal)
• Built-in SSL/TLS support for encrypted connections
• Optional text-mode terminal client with a classic BBS-style interface

Use Cases

• Self-managed mail and groupware server for small organizations or families
• Team collaboration spaces organized by rooms (projects, departments, communities)
• Centralized calendars and contacts accessible from compatible clients

Limitations and Considerations

• Full functionality depends on multiple components (Citadel Server plus WebCit for web UI)
• Uses Berkeley DB as the primary datastore, which may not fit environments standardized on SQL databases

Citadel is well suited for users who want a single, cohesive server for email and collaboration with multiple access methods. Its room-based model and broad protocol support make it flexible for both personal and group communication workflows.

b1gMail is a web-based email and collaboration suite designed to let organizations run their own hosted email services. It provides webmail, groupware features and an administration control panel for managing users, domains and server integrations.

(b1gmail.eu)

Key Features

• Full-featured webmail interface with HTML5 features (drag & drop for emails and attachments) and modern UI components.
• Groupware: address book, calendar, tasks/todo lists, notes and a cloud drive integrated into the web UI.
• Administration Control Panel (ACP) for multi-tenant administration, user/group management and setup wizards.
• Extensible plugin system allowing installation of additional features via plugins without modifying core code.
• Spam and virus protection including DNS blacklist filtering, a trainable Bayesian spam filter and ClamAV integration for virus scanning.

(b1gmail.eu)

Use Cases

• Hosting providers or organizations that want to offer branded hosted email and groupware to customers or internal users.
• Small-to-medium organizations needing an integrated webmail, calendar and file drive solution with centralized admin controls.
• Service operators who want an extendable webmail portal with plugin support and configurable filtering/antivirus pipelines.

Limitations and Considerations

• Server requirements and compatibility: recent releases document minimum PHP and database requirements (PHP version constraints and recommended MariaDB; MySQL 8.x has known compatibility issues). Plan platform versions accordingly when deploying or upgrading.
• Third-party components: the product historically uses CKEditor in its web UI (CKEditor 4 was noted as EOL for older releases), and some legacy commercial plugins may be incompatible with newer OSS releases.
• Repository access note: attempts to fetch the Codeberg repository at the provided URL were blocked by robots.txt; documentation and release notes are available on the official site and support pages, and the b1gMailServer add-on has a referenced GitHub mirror for its server component.

(b1gmail.eu)

b1gMail is geared toward operators who need an integrated webmail and groupware portal with administrative controls and extensibility. It is a mature product with documented installation guides, admin manuals and plugin development guidance for deploying and customizing hosted email services.

(b1gmail.eu)

SquirrelMail is a lightweight, standards-based webmail application that provides a browser interface to existing email accounts. It connects to mail servers using IMAP for mailbox access and typically uses SMTP for sending, making it suitable for many traditional email server setups.

Key Features

• IMAP webmail interface for reading and managing folders and messages
• SMTP support for sending mail (commonly combined with SMTP authentication via plugins)
• Extensible plugin system with a large ecosystem (e.g., spam filtering helpers, authentication options, compose enhancements)
• Address book and user preferences storage (file-based or database-backed depending on configuration)
• Emphasis on compatibility and low resource usage with a simple, HTML-based UI

Use Cases

• Provide web access to mailboxes on an existing IMAP server for users without desktop clients
• Add a lightweight webmail option to self-managed mail servers (e.g., Postfix plus Dovecot)
• Deploy a minimal, plugin-extendable webmail interface for intranets or legacy environments

Limitations and Considerations

• The interface is intentionally minimal and may lack modern “groupware” features found in newer webmail suites
• Ongoing compatibility can depend on using appropriate versions/snapshots for newer PHP releases

SquirrelMail remains a practical choice when you need a straightforward, resource-efficient webmail front end that integrates with standard IMAP/SMTP infrastructure and can be customized through plugins.