Deploy server, backup, and mail solutions with Proxmox open-source server products.
Mail-in-a-Box
Set up a personal mail server with Mail-in-a-Box, an easy-to-deploy server package.
About Mail-in-a-Box
Mail-in-a-Box is a self-hosted mail server package. It is installed on a fresh cloud computer running Ubuntu 22.04 x64, and it turns that machine into a working mail server with webmail, an IMAP/SMTP server for mobile and desktop mail software, contacts and calendar synchronization, and a web-based control panel.
The package includes spam filtering, greylisting, mail filter rules, and automated backups to Amazon S3 and other services. When the box is set as the domain's nameserver, it can configure DNS records for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MTA-STS. DNSSEC is available when enabled. TLS certificates are provisioned from Let's Encrypt, which involves an external service and its terms. The project states that it offers few configuration options and that configuration files cannot be changed after installation. Containers and modified images are not supported. Other mail services may still block or filter mail sent from the server, and the maintainers work on the project in their limited free time.
Key features
- Webmail, plus an IMAP/SMTP server for mobile and desktop mail clients
- Contacts and calendar synchronization through Nextcloud Contacts
- Web control panel for mail accounts, aliases, DNS records, and backups
- Spam filtering, greylisting, and mail filter rules
- Automatic DNS setup for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MTA-STS when serving as nameserver
- TLS certificates provisioned automatically from Let's Encrypt
Best for: People who want to run their own personal or small-scale email server on a domain they control and are willing to set up a fresh cloud server.
Good for
- Designed as a turn-key setup that does not require deep technology expertise, according to the project
- Includes status checks for DNS records and system activity, and TOTP two-factor login
- Supports multiple users and multiple domain names on one server
Watch out for
- Offers basically no configuration options, and configuration files cannot be tweaked after installation
- Other mail services may block or spam-filter email sent from the server
- Requires a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 x64 cloud machine; containers and modified images are not supported
Mail-in-a-Box at a glance
- Website
- mailinabox.email
- Category
- Development › Self-Hosting
- Type
- Online tool
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Mail-in-a-Box alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Deploy applications and services on your server with Easypanel, a self-hosted platform for managing deployments.
Set up an open-source mail server with iRedMail on supported Linux and BSD systems.
Manage Linux servers and deploy apps, databases, and containers with 1Panel, an open-source control panel.
Open source
22 alternatives
Run an SMTP and IMAP mail server with Docker Mailserver, which includes LDAP, anti-spam, and anti-virus components.
Stalwart provides mail and collaboration server software supporting IMAP, JMAP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, and WebDAV.
Open source
5 alternativesPopular in Self-Hosting
Well-known listings from the same topic.
Cosmoscosmos-cloud.ioopenmediavaultopenmediavault.orgZincSearchzincsearch-docs.zinc.devWebminwebmin.comDashydashy.to
Mail-in-a-Box FAQ
Can I change the server's configuration after installation?
The project states that there are basically no configuration options and that you cannot tweak the machine's configuration files after installation. For more advanced needs, it suggests iRedMail or Modoboa.
Will email sent from my server always reach its recipients?
No. The project states that other mail services might block or spam-filter email sent from a Mail-in-a-Box. It notes this challenge applies to anyone running their own mail server.
What do I need before installing?
You need a domain name and a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 x64 machine running in the cloud. Containers and modified images are not supported. The project also advises accepting the Let's Encrypt terms before beginning.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.