Sympa

Self-Hosted

Open-source mailing list management software for organizations

Overview

Sympa is a robust open-source tool for creating, moderating, and scaling mailing lists. It offers advanced features like subscription moderation, bounce handling, SpamAssassin integration, multi-domain support, and both web and email-based interfaces for owners, moderators, and subscribers. Deployable via Docker, Linux packages (Debian/RHEL), or source, it integrates with LDAP/Active Directory for authentication. Ideal for universities, NGOs, and enterprises needing privacy-compliant, customizable email communication solutions with granular control over list operations.

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:
  sympa:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: sympa
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Advanced moderation & subscription controls
Spam filtering and bounce management
LDAP/Active Directory integration
Multi-domain support
Web and email-based interface access

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Sympa hard to install?

Sympa can be installed via Docker (simpler for beginners), pre-built Linux packages (Debian/RHEL), or source. Docker reduces setup complexity, but configuring advanced features like LDAP integration requires basic server administration skills.

? Is Sympa a good alternative to Google Groups?

Yes—Sympa offers more granular moderation, multi-domain support, and self-hosted privacy (no third-party data sharing). Unlike Google Groups, it’s fully open source and customizable for compliance needs.

? Is Sympa completely free?

Sympa is 100% free under the GPLv2 license. There are no fees for using the software, though you may incur costs for hosting the server it runs on.

Top Alternatives

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Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Communication - Email - Mailing Lists and Newsletters

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Self-hosted for full privacy control
⊕ No licensing fees (100% open source)
⊕ Scalable for large organizations
⊕ Extensive customization options

Cons

⊖ Requires server administration knowledge
⊖ Steeper learning curve for advanced features
⊖ Outdated UI compared to modern SaaS tools