Compare software

Postfix vs Postal: catalog facts
Postfix	Postal
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source to run on your own server.
macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Security-focused design Runs on many Unix-like systems	Self-hosted alternative to hosted transactional email services Handles both sending and receiving mail
Transfer agent only; needs a separate IMAP server for mailboxes Configuration requires mail server knowledge	Requires running and maintaining your own mail server Deliverability depends on your own server reputation and setup
Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.