Dovel is a free, open-source, Go-based SMTP server for self-hosting email. See 2026 features, setup, configuration, and how it compares to other options.
Category
Communication
Pricing
Free / Open Source, from Free
Verified
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Last updated
July 18, 2026
Web AppOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
Dovel is a free, open-source SMTP server written in Go, built to let developers self-host basic email sending and receiving with minimal configuration. It was introduced via a Show HN post on Hacker News in early 2023 as a way to self-host email in three steps.
Dovel is not backed by a company; it is an independently maintained open-source project distributed through public git repositories at dovel.email under the LGPL-3.0 license, with no headquarters, funding, or commercial ownership structure.
Key Features
Dovel listens on standard SMTP ports (25, 465, 587), supports TLS encryption, per-user DKIM signing, and can serve multiple domains from a single instance, all configured through one JSON file.
Incoming and outgoing mail is processed through a hook system, executing user-defined scripts that receive each message in mbox format, giving operators full flexibility over storage and routing rather than a fixed mailbox format.
Pricing
Dovel is entirely free and open source under the LGPL-3.0 license, with no paid tiers. The only costs are the server it runs on and standard domain/DNS setup required for email deliverability.
Key Features
Lightweight Go SMTP server — A small, dependency-light SMTP implementation that uses only a few megabytes of RAM.
Standard port support — Listens on ports 25, 465, and 587 to handle both traditional and modern TLS-encrypted mail submission.
Per-user DKIM signing — Signs outbound mail per user to improve deliverability and reduce the chance of messages being marked as spam.
Hook-based message handling — Pipes received and sent messages to user-defined scripts in mbox format for fully customizable storage or routing.
Multi-domain support — Can handle email for multiple domains from a single running instance.
Single JSON configuration file — All server settings are defined in one minimal configuration file rather than a complex admin panel.
Optional web interface — Provides a basic browsable view of received emails without requiring a separate mail client.
TLS encryption — Supports encrypted connections for secure mail transmission.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source with no company, subscription, or license fees involved.
Extremely lightweight, using only a few megabytes of RAM to run.
Minimal, single-file configuration makes setup fast for technically comfortable users.
Hook-based architecture gives full flexibility over how mail is stored or processed.
Cons
No built-in IMAP support, so it cannot replace a full mailbox server on its own.
Small, individually maintained project with limited documentation and no commercial support.
No graphical admin panel; setup and mail handling require writing shell scripts and editing JSON config.
Very limited public adoption data, making long-term maintenance and community support harder to gauge.
Pricing
Open Source (Self-Hosted) Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dovel free?
Yes. Dovel is fully free and open source under the LGPL-3.0 license, with no paid tiers or company behind it.
What is Dovel used for?
Dovel is a lightweight, self-hosted SMTP server that lets developers send and receive email for one or more domains with minimal configuration, typically for personal or small-scale technical use cases.
Does Dovel support IMAP?
No. Dovel focuses specifically on SMTP for sending and receiving mail; it does not include built-in IMAP support for full mailbox management.
What programming language is Dovel written in?
Dovel is written in the Go programming language and distributed as a Go module.
Who maintains Dovel?
Dovel is an independent, community-maintained open-source project rather than a product backed by a company; it was first shared publicly via a Show HN post on Hacker News in 2023.
How does Dovel handle received emails?
Dovel uses a hook system that pipes each received or sent message, in mbox format, to a user-defined script, giving operators full control over how mail is stored or processed.