Mail-in-a-Box
One-click deploy your own email server with automatic DNS, TLS, and web control panel.
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Turn a fresh Ubuntu machine into your own fully automated mail server in one command.
Core Features
- Single-command installation, everything just works
- Automatic DNS records: SPF, DKIM, DMARC, DNSSEC, DANE, MTA-STS
- Let's Encrypt TLS certificates auto-renewed
- Web control panel for users, aliases, DNS, and backups
- Daily health monitoring with email alerts
What It Can't Do
- •Your emails may be filtered by other services; configure reverse DNS and warm up IP reputation,Does not support SMTPUTF8 (non-ASCII email addresses),Advanced Exchange ActiveSync features (like push) may not fully work,Requires a static public IP, domain name, and port 25 unblocked by your cloud provider
Use Cases
- Individuals and small teams wanting to own their email infrastructure
- Privacy-conscious users avoiding big tech email scanning
- Anyone needing a self-hosted mail server with minimal manual configuration
Mail-in-a-Box is an open-source project that transforms a bare Ubuntu 22.04 LTS machine into a complete, self-hosted email server with just one command. It integrates Postfix (SMTP), Dovecot (IMAP), Nextcloud (CardDAV/CalDAV), Roundcube (webmail), SpamAssassin, and more. It automatically configures DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, DNSSEC, DANE, MTA-STS), provisions Let's Encrypt TLS certificates, and includes a web-based control panel for user management, backups, and monitoring. The goal is to make decentralized email easy for individuals, not to create an NSA-proof fortress or a customizable power-user tool.
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Getting Started
Download installer
Click the button above to download the installer for your system
Install the software
Double-click the downloaded installer and follow the prompts
Start with a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 64-bit machine (cloud or VM)
SSH in, clone the repo and checkout the latest release: git clone https://github.com/mail-in-a-box/mailinabox && cd mailinabox && git checkout $(git tag -l | tail -1)
Run the installer: sudo setup/start.sh, follow prompts for domain and admin email
- Start with a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 64-bit machine (cloud or VM)
- SSH in, clone the repo and checkout the latest release: git clone https://github.com/mail-in-a-box/mailinabox && cd mailinabox && git checkout $(git tag -l | tail -1)
- Run the installer: sudo setup/start.sh, follow prompts for domain and admin email
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Open Source Transparency
View GitHub SourceUninstall Info
Uninstalling is not straightforward; you would need to manually remove all components or reinstall the OS. It's best used on a dedicated fresh machine.
No Extra Dependencies
Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.
Having issues? Check the FAQ below
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