· 6 min read
Cloudron Review (2026): Self-Hosted Apps With Email Built In
Cloudron runs self-hosted apps on your own server and includes a full mail server. Here is what the email side does, what it costs and who it suits.
Live facts
- Free plan
- Yes, up to 2 apps
- Based in
- Germany
- Encryption
- Standard
- Own domain
- Yes
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Cloudron isn’t just a mail server. It is a platform for running self-hosted apps such as Nextcloud, WordPress or Vaultwarden on your own server, with one-click installs, updates and backups. A full mail server comes built in, so your apps and your email live in the same place and share the same accounts.
This review looks at Cloudron as an email option: what the mail server does, what it costs, where it falls short and how it compares with Stalwart, Mail-in-a-Box and mailcow. Features and prices were checked on Cloudron’s own website and documentation on 31 October 2026.
Short answer: if you want to self-host several apps and email, Cloudron is the most polished way to do it. DNS records are set up for you, backups and updates are automatic, and passkeys and two-step sign-in are built in. It is paid software for anything beyond two apps, and if email is all you want, a free mail server does the job for less.
How I tested: Cloudron only installs on a full Ubuntu server, not inside Docker or a container, so I couldn’t run it in my test setup. This review is based on Cloudron’s pricing page, installation guide and email, backup and profile documentation, all read on 31 October 2026. Cloudron runs a public demo if you want to try the dashboard first.
At a Glance: Who Cloudron Is (and Isn’t) For
| Who it suits | How well | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small business self-hosting several apps plus email | Ideal | One dashboard for apps, users, email, backups and updates, with single sign-on across them. |
| Agency running apps and email for clients | Strong fit | The Max plan adds user groups, roles, a directory server and multiple backup sites. |
| Homelab user trying self-hosting | Strong fit | The free plan covers two apps, with the mail server included. |
| Anyone who only wants email | Partial fit | It works, but free mail servers like Mail-in-a-Box or Mailu cost nothing. |
| Anyone who needs fully open-source software | Alternative needed | Cloudron is commercial software, even though the apps it runs are open source. |
| Non-technical user who just wants email that works | Alternative needed | A managed provider such as Fastmail or mailbox.org is far less work. |
What Cloudron Is
Cloudron is made by Cloudron UG, a small, self-funded company in Germany that has been building it since 2014. You install it on a server, and it runs each app in its own container behind one dashboard at my.yourdomain.com. The mail server is part of the platform rather than an app, and the documentation lists a long set of features.
| Email feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Domains and mailboxes | Several domains, mailboxes for users and groups, and shared mailboxes |
| DNS | MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records set automatically when your DNS provider is supported |
| Webmail | Roundcube and SnappyMail apps come set up to use the mail server |
| Spam | SpamAssassin, trained when people mark mail as spam, plus Spamhaus checks and custom rules |
| Addresses | Aliases with wildcards, catch-all, plus addressing, and forwarding to up to 64 addresses |
| Filters | Sieve filters and out-of-office replies, full-text search including attachments, and per-domain signatures |
| Sending | Directly, or through a relay such as Amazon SES, Postmark, Mailgun or SendGrid when your host blocks port 25 |
| Mail apps | IMAP, SMTP and ManageSieve, with POP3 if you switch it on for a mailbox |
Setting It Up: What the Docs Show
You run a setup script on a fresh Ubuntu server, open the server’s IP address in a browser, enter your domain and DNS provider, and create the admin account. Email is then switched on per domain, and Cloudron writes the DNS records itself if it can reach your DNS provider.
| Step | What the documentation says |
|---|---|
| Server | A fresh Ubuntu 26.04 server with at least 2 GB of memory and 20 GB of disk. ARM, LXC, Docker and OpenVZ aren’t supported |
| One-click hosts | Also available ready-made on AWS, DigitalOcean, Hostinger, Linode, Vultr and others |
| DNS | Records are updated automatically for supported DNS providers, or you add them yourself |
| Firewall | Managed for you. You open the mail ports in any cloud firewall in front of the server |
| Sign-in | One platform password for apps and email, with app passwords for mail apps, two-step sign-in and passkeys |
| Backups | Automatic, to Amazon S3, Backblaze B2 and other storage, with optional encryption |
Webmail counts as an app: Roundcube and SnappyMail are installed as apps. On the free plan, which allows two apps, webmail uses one of them.
Know the limits: there is no antivirus scanner mentioned in the email documentation, no calendar in the mail server itself (you add an app such as Nextcloud or SOGo), and Cloudron must have the server to itself.
What It Takes to Run
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Server | A fresh Ubuntu 26.04 (x64) machine with nothing else on it |
| Memory and disk | At least 2 GB and 20 GB. More for each app you add |
| Network | Ports 80 and 443 open, plus port 25 in both directions for mail, or a relay for sending |
| Certificates | Let’s Encrypt, handled for you |
| Updates | Platform and app updates are pulled automatically, with a backup taken first |
Cloudron’s own install guide warns that many email providers block mail from VPS and home IP addresses, and suggests a relay if needed. That is honest, and true of every self-hosted server: a poor IP reputation sends mail to spam however good the software is.
Security
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Sender checks | SPF, DKIM and DMARC, with records set automatically. ARC headers keep forwarded mail trustworthy |
| Sign-in | Passkeys and authenticator-app codes, which an admin can make mandatory, plus app passwords for mail apps |
| Firewall | Managed automatically, opening only the ports apps need |
| Backups | Optional encryption with a password |
| Server access | Cloudron says it has no access to your server. Updates are pulled, not pushed |
| Stored mail | Not encrypted on disk |
Who Is Behind It
Cloudron UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is registered in Ergoldsbach, Germany, and run by Johannes Zellner. It describes itself as bootstrapped, sponsors open-source projects it relies on, such as SnappyMail and Thunderbird, and publishes a data processing agreement. Support is through the forum and Cloudron’s support page.
Cloudron Pricing in 2026
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | Two apps |
| Pro | €15 a month paid yearly, or €30 a month paid monthly | Unlimited apps |
| Max | €25 a month paid yearly, or €50 a month paid monthly | Unlimited apps, user groups and roles, directory server, multiple backup sites, VPN-only app access |
Prices exclude VAT where it applies. Every plan includes app updates, per-app backups, the firewall, the email server and single sign-on. On top of that you pay for your server: 2 GB of memory is the minimum, and a few apps plus email will want more.
Comparative Matrix: Cloudron vs. the Alternatives
| Feature | Cloudron | Mail-in-a-Box | mailcow | Stalwart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for two apps, then from €15 a month | Free | Free | Free (paid Enterprise) |
| Recommended memory | 2 GB minimum | 1 GB | 6 GB minimum | About 2 GB |
| Runs other apps | Yes, that’s the point | No | No | No |
| Two-step sign-in | Yes, plus passkeys | Control panel only | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full Review | You are here | Coming soon | Read the review | Read the review |
Pros and Cons
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Email and apps in one polished dashboard | Paid for more than two apps |
| DNS records written for you | Webmail uses one of the two free apps |
| Automatic updates and backups | Commercial software, not open source |
| Passkeys, two-step sign-in and app passwords | No antivirus scanner documented for email |
| Relay support when your host blocks port 25 | Needs a whole Ubuntu server to itself |
| Small German company with a DPA | Overkill if email is all you need |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudron free?
The free plan runs two apps and includes the email server. Unlimited apps cost €15 a month paid yearly, or €30 a month paid monthly.
Does Cloudron include an email server?
Yes. A full mail server is built into every plan, with webmail available through the Roundcube or SnappyMail apps.
Can I use Cloudron just for email?
Yes, and the free plan is enough for email plus webmail. But if email is all you want, a free mail server such as Mail-in-a-Box or Mailu does the same job without the platform.
Is Cloudron open source?
No. Cloudron is commercial software from Cloudron UG. The apps it installs are open source.
Can Cloudron send mail if my host blocks port 25?
Yes. You can send through a relay such as Amazon SES, Postmark, Mailgun or SendGrid, set per domain.
Final Verdict
Cloudron is the best way here to run email alongside other self-hosted apps. The dashboard handles DNS, certificates, updates and backups, sign-in is modern, and a small European company stands behind it. For a business that wants its own Nextcloud, password manager and email on one server, it is easy to recommend.
As an email-only choice it makes less sense. You are paying for a platform, the mail server itself is solid but not unusual, and the free mail servers in this series do the same job for nothing. If you want email you never have to think about, your email is too important to run on goodwill, and a managed provider will serve you better.
Sources: Cloudron pricing, email documentation, installation guide, backups, profile and sign-in, imprint.
Note: This article contains no affiliate links. I have no connection with Cloudron. Checked on 31 October 2026. Prices and features may change.
Paul O'Brien
I've spent over 25 years working hands-on with email, DNS and cloud infrastructure. I test email providers and privacy tools for real, then tell you what they're good at and where they fall short.
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