# Mox — Modern Full-Featured Self-Hosted Mail Server

> A secure, low-maintenance mail server written in Go that handles SMTP, IMAP, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and automatic TLS in a single binary, designed to make self-hosting email practical.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Mox — Modern Full-Featured Self-Hosted Mail Server

## Quick Use
```bash
# Download and set up mox
useradd -m -s /bin/bash mox
cd /home/mox
curl -OL https://beta.gobuilds.org/github.com/mjl-/mox@latest/linux-amd64-latest/mox
chmod +x mox
./mox quickstart you@yourdomain.com
# Follow DNS record instructions from output
```

## Introduction
Mox is a modern, self-hosted mail server that bundles all essential email protocols and security features into a single Go binary. It reduces the operational complexity of running your own mail infrastructure by handling SMTP, IMAP, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MTA-STS, and automatic TLS out of the box.

## What Mox Does
- Sends and receives email via SMTP with automatic TLS certificate management
- Provides IMAP4 access for reading mail from any email client
- Implements SPF, DKIM signing, and DMARC policy enforcement
- Includes a built-in webmail interface for browser-based access
- Offers automatic junk mail filtering with Bayesian classification

## Architecture Overview
Mox is a single Go binary that runs all mail services in one process. It stores messages in its own database format on the filesystem, with per-account directories. The server manages its own TLS certificates via ACME (Let's Encrypt), handles DNS-based authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and implements JMAP alongside IMAP for modern client support.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Run the quickstart command to generate configuration and DNS record instructions
- Requires a VPS with a public IP, reverse DNS configured, and ports 25, 443, 993 open
- Configuration lives in mox.conf and domains.conf files (auto-generated on quickstart)
- Automatic daily backups can be configured to a local directory or remote storage
- Add accounts via CLI commands; each account gets isolated storage

## Key Features
- Single binary deployment with no external database dependency
- Built-in webmail UI with HTML and plain-text message rendering
- Automatic ACME TLS certificate provisioning and renewal
- Reputation-based rate limiting for outbound delivery
- DANE and MTA-STS enforcement for secure transport between mail servers

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Mail-in-a-Box** — Bundles multiple packages (Postfix, Dovecot, Roundcube) with a setup script; mox is a single binary with fewer moving parts
- **Maddy** — Similar single-binary approach; mox adds built-in webmail and more complete MTA-STS/DANE support
- **Stalwart Mail** — Rust-based alternative with JMAP focus; mox offers a simpler quickstart experience and Go ecosystem familiarity
- **iRedMail** — Install script for traditional mail stack; mox avoids the complexity of managing Postfix, Dovecot, and ClamAV separately

## FAQ
**Q: Will my emails end up in spam?**
A: Mox implements all modern authentication standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MTA-STS). Following the DNS setup instructions and using a VPS with clean IP reputation gives good deliverability.

**Q: Can mox handle multiple domains?**
A: Yes, add domains via the admin interface or CLI. Each domain gets its own DKIM keys and DMARC policy.

**Q: How does the junk filter work?**
A: Mox uses per-account Bayesian filtering that learns from messages you mark as junk or not-junk, combined with reputation tracking of sending IPs.

**Q: What are the hardware requirements?**
A: Mox is lightweight. A VPS with 512MB RAM and 10GB storage is sufficient for personal use with a few accounts.

## Sources
- https://github.com/mjl-/mox
- https://www.xmox.nl

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-3f680194
Author: Script Depot