Haraka

Self-Hosted

High-performance, Node.js-based open-source Mail Transfer Agent

Overview

Haraka is a high-performance, Node.js-powered open-source Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) built for scalability and flexibility. It leverages a plugin-based architecture to enable extensibility—supporting features like spam filtering, DKIM/DMARC validation, TLS encryption, and custom routing via JavaScript plugins. Designed to handle high email volumes efficiently, it’s lighter than traditional MTAs like Postfix while maintaining compliance with modern email standards. Deployment is straightforward on any server running Node.js, with minimal dependencies, making it ideal for self-hosted email infrastructure, SaaS platforms, or small to enterprise-level email systems.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  haraka:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: haraka
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Plugin-based architecture for extensibility
High-performance Node.js runtime for scalability
Supports modern email security standards (DKIM, DMARC, TLS)
Customizable with JavaScript plugins
Lightweight footprint compared to traditional MTAs

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Haraka hard to install?

Haraka is easy to install with Node.js and npm: run `npm install -g haraka` then initialize an instance with `haraka -i /path/to/instance`. Basic config uses text files, but advanced plugin work needs JavaScript skills.

? Is Haraka a good alternative to Postfix?

Yes—Haraka excels at flexibility (via JS plugins) and speed for high volumes. Unlike Postfix (config-file focused), it lets developers add custom logic easily. It’s lighter but has less enterprise adoption than Postfix.

? Is Haraka completely free?

Absolutely—Haraka is open-source under the MIT License. It’s free to use, modify, and distribute for personal or commercial purposes with no hidden fees or subscriptions.

Top Alternatives

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Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Communication - Email - Mail Transfer Agents

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Open-source (MIT License, no cost)
⊕ Fast and scalable for high email volumes
⊕ Flexible plugin system for custom logic

Cons

⊖ Requires Node.js knowledge for advanced customization
⊖ Less mainstream than Postfix (fewer pre-built guides)
⊖ Needs manual setup for production-grade security (SPF/DKIM)