Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Sendmail VS sSMTP

Compare Sendmail VS sSMTP and see what are their differences

Sendmail logo Sendmail

Sendmail is a general purpose internetwork email routing facility that supports many kinds of...

sSMTP logo sSMTP

sSMTP is a simple MTA to deliver mail from a computer to a mail server.
  • Sendmail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-11
  • sSMTP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04

Sendmail features and specs

  • Established Reputation
    Sendmail has been in operation since the early days of email, providing a solid foundation and reliability in Unix-based email systems. Its long-standing presence indicates a mature and well-understood system.
  • Highly Configurable
    Sendmail offers extensive configuration options, allowing administrators to customize their setup to accommodate complex email routing and handling requirements.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source software, Sendmail offers transparency in its operations, enabling community contributions and adaptations to specific needs without licensing costs.
  • Wide Compatibility
    Sendmail is compatible with a variety of email standards and protocols, which facilitates integration with different email systems and services.

Possible disadvantages of Sendmail

  • Complex Configuration
    The extensive configurability of Sendmail comes at the cost of a steep learning curve; its configuration files are complex and can be challenging for beginners.
  • Security Concerns
    Historically, Sendmail has had several vulnerabilities, partly due to its complexity and pervasive use. It requires diligent updates and security management.
  • Less User-Friendly
    Compared to more modern solutions, Sendmail lacks a user-friendly interface, making it harder for less technically inclined users to manage and configure.
  • Performance Limitations
    Sendmail can be less efficient than some modern mail transfer agents in terms of resource usage and performance, especially in high-volume environments.

sSMTP features and specs

  • Lightweight
    sSMTP is a minimalistic SMTP client that is significantly lighter than most full-fledged mail transfer agents (MTAs). This makes it ideal for systems with limited resources.
  • Easy Configuration
    sSMTP requires minimal configuration to send emails. Configuration is typically straightforward and involves editing a single file.
  • Secure Email Sending
    sSMTP supports TLS/SSL, allowing for secure email transmission which is essential for protecting sensitive information.
  • Simplified Use Case
    Designed purely for forwarding emails to a mail hub, reducing complexity for specific use cases like sending system alerts or reports.

Possible disadvantages of sSMTP

  • Limited Functionality
    sSMTP lacks advanced features found in full MTAs like mail queuing, multiple email server support, and local email delivery.
  • Unmaintained
    The sSMTP project is no longer actively maintained, which can lead to potential security risks and compatibility issues over time.
  • No Authentication Handling
    sSMTP does not handle email authentication beyond basic username and password; it does not support modern authentication mechanisms like OAuth.
  • No Receiving Capability
    sSMTP is incapable of receiving and storing emails, limiting its use to just sending outgoing mail.

Sendmail videos

breve configuracion de sendmail

sSMTP videos

Debian Package of the Day S01E13 - #13: ssmtp

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Sendmail and sSMTP)
Email
54 54%
46% 46
SMTP Server
50 50%
50% 50
MTA
46 46%
54% 54
Email Clients
60 60%
40% 40

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Sendmail seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Sendmail mentions (1)

  • Sendmail and Exchange online - 550 5.1.10 RESOLVER.ADR.RecipientNotFound; Recipient not found by SMTP address lookup
    We are using sendmail and Exchange online with to different identies. We are experience problem that we want to receive Teams invitation to our @ sendmail.com address, when I forward teams invitation fromexchange online identite to "sendemail" identetie we are getting error. Source: about 4 years ago

sSMTP mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of sSMTP yet. Tracking of sSMTP recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Sendmail and sSMTP, you can also consider the following products

Postfix - Postfix is a mail transfer agent (MTA) that routes and delivers electronic mail.

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

msmtp - msmtp is an SMTP client.

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

sendEmail - sendEmail is a lightweight, command line SMTP email client.

Mutt - Mutt is a small but very powerful text-based mail client for Unix operating systems.