Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSMTPD VS Postfix

Compare OpenSMTPD VS Postfix and see what are their differences

OpenSMTPD logo OpenSMTPD

OpenSMTPD is a FREE implementation of the server-side SMTP protocol as defined by RFC 5321, with...

Postfix logo Postfix

Postfix is a mail transfer agent (MTA) that routes and delivers electronic mail.
  • OpenSMTPD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-05
  • Postfix Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

OpenSMTPD features and specs

  • Simplicity
    OpenSMTPD is designed to be simple and straightforward, which makes it easier to configure and manage compared to other mail transfer agents. Its configuration syntax is clean and readable.
  • Security-focused
    One of the main goals of OpenSMTPD is to provide a secure mail transfer agent. It is developed by the OpenBSD team, which is known for its emphasis on security.
  • Lightweight
    OpenSMTPD is a lightweight solution, using minimal system resources, making it suitable for systems with lower hardware capabilities or for those looking to optimize performance.
  • Integration with OpenBSD
    As a project developed by the OpenBSD team, OpenSMTPD integrates well with OpenBSD, taking advantage of the system's security features and optimizations.
  • Active Community
    OpenSMTPD has an active development community, which provides timely updates, patches, and support, helping to keep the software secure and reliable.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSMTPD

  • Feature Limitation
    Compared to more established mail servers like Postfix or Exim, OpenSMTPD may lack some advanced features or integrations that larger enterprises might require.
  • Limited Documentation
    The documentation for OpenSMTPD, while improving, is not as comprehensive as that for more widely-used MTAs, which can create a steeper learning curve for new administrators.
  • Less Third-Party Support
    Due to its lesser adoption compared to other MTAs, there might be fewer third-party tools, plugins, and resources available for extending OpenSMTPD's capabilities.
  • Platform Specific Optimization
    While its integration with OpenBSD is a strength, it may not be as optimized for other operating systems, possibly leading to a less efficient experience outside the BSD ecosystem.
  • Community-Centric Development
    Being a smaller, community-driven project, OpenSMTPD may not offer the same level of support or development resources as more commercially backed mail server solutions.

Postfix features and specs

  • Security
    Postfix is known for its robust security features, including strong defenses against spam and malware.
  • Performance
    Postfix is designed to be efficient under heavy loads, making it suitable for both small and large-scale email servers.
  • Compatibility
    Postfix is compatible with various mail protocols such as SMTP, making it versatile for different email infrastructures.
  • Reliability
    Postfix is highly reliable, offering consistent performance and uptime, which is critical for mail servers.
  • Configuration
    Postfix offers a flexible and understandable configuration system, allowing administrators to fine-tune the server settings as per their needs.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong community and extensive documentation available, providing support and resources for troubleshooting and advanced configurations.
  • Lightweight
    Postfix is relatively lightweight, ensuring that it doesn't consume excessive system resources.

Possible disadvantages of Postfix

  • Complexity
    Despite its powerful features, setting up and configuring Postfix can be complex, especially for beginners who are not familiar with mail servers.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a learning curve associated with understanding its configuration files and parameters, which can be daunting for new users.
  • Limited GUI Options
    Postfix does not come with a built-in graphical user interface, making it less accessible for users who prefer GUI-based management.
  • Dependency on Other Software
    Postfix often relies on additional software (like Dovecot for IMAP/POP) for full functionality, which can complicate setup and maintenance.
  • Debugging Complexity
    Debugging issues with Postfix can be complicated due to its extensive feature set and numerous configuration options.

Analysis of Postfix

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Postfix is considered good due to its reliability, security, and scalability. It is widely used in the industry and is continually maintained and updated, which ensures it remains a dependable choice for mail server needs.

Why this product is good

  • Postfix is recognized for its robust architecture, strong security features, and ease of administration. With its efficient handling of large volumes of email, it is a preferred choice for many system administrators. Additionally, Postfix has comprehensive documentation and an active community for support, making it accessible even for those who might be new to email servers.

Recommended for

    Postfix is ideal for businesses, educational institutions, or individual users who need a robust and secure email server. It is especially recommended for environments requiring high-performance and stable email systems, as well as those looking for a solution that can handle large-scale email distribution efficiently.

OpenSMTPD videos

DAY[0] Episode #31 - kr00k, GhostCat, and more issues from NordVPN, Samsung, OpenSMTPd

Postfix videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSMTPD and Postfix)
SMTP Server
23 23%
77% 77
Email
20 20%
80% 80
MTA
35 35%
65% 65
Self-hosted Email
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenSMTPD and Postfix

OpenSMTPD Reviews

Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Microsoft Exchange Server
OpenSMTPD is an implementation of the server-side SMTP protocol, with some additional standard extensions. Its design goals include security, reliability, ease of configuration, and support for common use cases.

Postfix Reviews

10 Microsoft Exchange Server Alternatives
Postfix is an MTA that allows the user to receive and deliver electronic mail. The platform is open-sourced that is easy to administer, attempts to be fast, and a secure way for the usage of EM. It is also known by the names of IBM Secure Mailer and VMailer. Many of the systems that support Postfix runs such as AIX, BSD, HP-UX, LINUX, macOS, Solaris, Tru64 UNIX, etc. The...
15 Best iRedMail Alternatives 2021
Postfix is very emphatic when it comes to security. Like iRedMail, it is able to encrypt your sessions and perform certificate-based authentication to keep your mail services secure, private, and protected. Postfix also offers stress adaptive features and various content inspection methods to choose from.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenSMTPD should be more popular than Postfix. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSMTPD mentions (2)

  • Has anyone setup a Linux based internal only smtp relay?
    I've had something of the same experience with Postfix, u/0x29aNull. Check out OpenSMTPD. It is lightweight and standards compliant. I know that there are packages for Debian and Alpine Linux. There may also be ones for Fedora/RHEL derivatives. I use it in my environment on OpenBSD. Source: about 2 years ago
  • DKIM Migration: Rpamd instead of DKIMproxy out on OpenBSD / OpenSMTPD
    When I installed Rspamd with on OpenBSD / OpenSMTPD the other day, DKIMProxy out (dkimproxy_out daemon), which had been got via OpenBSD Ports package system, was used to add DKIM signatures to mails in order to improve security on emails. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago

Postfix mentions (1)

  • OVH VPS Postfix can't receive external emails
    Read the documentation on postfix.org and/or buy one of the many available Postfix books (it really helps to understand the Postfix philosophy). Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSMTPD and Postfix, you can also consider the following products

Exim - Exim is a message transfer agent (MTA) developed at the University of Cambridge for use on Unix systems connected to the Internet.

Zimbra - Zimbra is trusted by over 500 million users to increase productivity with a complete set of collaboration tools while maintaining total control over security and privacy.

sSMTP - sSMTP is a simple MTA to deliver mail from a computer to a mail server.

iRedMail - A fully fledged, free email server solution, an open source project (GPL v2).

mailcow - An open source mailserver suite.

Microsoft Exchange Server - Microsoft Exchange Server is a messaging and collaborative software product developed by Microsoft.