OpenSMTPD vs Postfix

Struggling to choose between OpenSMTPD and Postfix? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

OpenSMTPD is a Network & Admin solution with tags like smtp, mail-server, email, linux, bsd, open-source.

It boasts features such as Open source SMTP server, Supports SMTP over TLS/SSL, Milter support for spam and virus filtering, Daemon mode for background operation, IPv4 and IPv6 support, SMTP AUTH login, plain and cram-md5, STARTTLS support, DKIM signing and verification, SMTP pipelining, Queue control and delivery modes, Virtual domains and users, SMTP client mode and pros including Free and open source, Secure - supports encryption and authentication, Extensible and customizable via filters, Lightweight and high performance, Cross-platform - runs on Linux and BSD.

On the other hand, Postfix is a Network & Admin product tagged with mail-transfer-agent, mta, email-routing, email-delivery.

Its standout features include Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) for routing and delivering email, High performance and efficient email delivery, Easy administration with main configuration file postfix.cf, Built-in security features like SMTP authentication and TLS encryption, Compatible with Sendmail and easy migration from Sendmail, Modular design allowing third-party plugins and add-ons, Support for virtual domains, aliases, forwarding, etc, Content filtering with third-party products, Backward compatible with Sendmail configuration files, and it shines with pros like Very fast and efficient, Easy to install, configure and maintain, Highly secure and stable, Great flexibility and extensibility, Excellent compatibility with Sendmail and other MTAs, Active development and support community.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

OpenSMTPD

OpenSMTPD

OpenSMTPD is an open source SMTP server daemon for Linux and BSD operating systems. It aims to be a free, secure, and featureful SMTP server for both hosting providers and end users.

Categories:
smtp mail-server email linux bsd open-source

OpenSMTPD Features

  1. Open source SMTP server
  2. Supports SMTP over TLS/SSL
  3. Milter support for spam and virus filtering
  4. Daemon mode for background operation
  5. IPv4 and IPv6 support
  6. SMTP AUTH login, plain and cram-md5
  7. STARTTLS support
  8. DKIM signing and verification
  9. SMTP pipelining
  10. Queue control and delivery modes
  11. Virtual domains and users
  12. SMTP client mode

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Secure - supports encryption and authentication

Extensible and customizable via filters

Lightweight and high performance

Cross-platform - runs on Linux and BSD

Cons

Limited user interface/admin dashboard

Steeper learning curve than commercial options

Requires more technical expertise to setup and manage

Lacks some enterprise features found in commercial SMTP servers


Postfix

Postfix

Postfix is a popular open source Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) that routes and delivers email. It is a fast, easy to administer, and secure alternative to Sendmail. Postfix handles basic email routing and delivery well.

Categories:
mail-transfer-agent mta email-routing email-delivery

Postfix Features

  1. Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) for routing and delivering email
  2. High performance and efficient email delivery
  3. Easy administration with main configuration file postfix.cf
  4. Built-in security features like SMTP authentication and TLS encryption
  5. Compatible with Sendmail and easy migration from Sendmail
  6. Modular design allowing third-party plugins and add-ons
  7. Support for virtual domains, aliases, forwarding, etc
  8. Content filtering with third-party products
  9. Backward compatible with Sendmail configuration files

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Very fast and efficient

Easy to install, configure and maintain

Highly secure and stable

Great flexibility and extensibility

Excellent compatibility with Sendmail and other MTAs

Active development and support community

Cons

Less user-friendly configuration than some alternatives

Limited built-in spam filtering capabilities

Steeper learning curve than some other MTAs

Not as feature-rich as some commercial MTAs

Requires more technical knowledge to manage