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Mailtrain
What it is
Mailtrain is a free, self-hosted newsletter application built on Node.js and MySQL or MariaDB. It manages subscriber lists with segmentation and custom fields, and supports triggered and RSS-based campaign automation. Users can work with email templates, including MJML-based templates, and create custom reports. Multiple users can be assigned granular permissions and share access flexibly; hierarchical namespaces support organization across larger setups. Mailtrain includes Zone-MTA to simplify mail delivery setup. Its security design separates trusted, sandbox, and public endpoints to help avoid XSS attacks in multi-user settings. The Docker configuration supports LDAP authentication and CAS, as well as an optional API access token setting. Deployment options include Docker Compose or direct installation on CentOS 7 or Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Version 2 requires Node.js 14 or later and MySQL 8 or later, or MariaDB 10 or later; recommended minimum hardware is 2 vCPU and 4096 MB RAM. The software is distributed under GPL-V3.0. Docker users should set ADMIN_PASSWORD because the default is test.
For and against
For
- Supports subscriber segmentation and custom fields.
- Includes triggered and RSS campaign automation.
- Provides granular permissions and hierarchical namespaces.
- Free and distributed under GPL-V3.0.
Against
- Requires Node.js 14 or later and a supported database.
- Recommended minimum hardware is 2 vCPU and 4096 MB RAM.
- Docker users should change the default admin password.
The verdict
Mailtrain provides newsletter management and campaign features for self-hosted deployments. Plan for the stated software and hardware requirements, and set a non-default Docker admin password.
Who it suits
Mailtrain suits people or organizations that want to run their own newsletter system and manage subscriber segments, campaigns, and user permissions. It is for users able to meet its server and database requirements.
Plans and prices
Mailtrain v2
Self-hosted; recommended minimum 2 vCPU · 4096 MB RAM
Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API
- The Docker configuration has an optional setting for an API access token.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- The Docker configuration supports LDAP authentication and CAS.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Campaigns
- Mailtrain includes triggered and RSS campaign automation.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The project documents deployment with Docker Compose and direct installation on CentOS 7 or Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Enterprise organization
- It supports hierarchical namespaces for enterprise-level situations.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- The recommended minimum hardware is 2 vCPU and 4096 MB RAM.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- Mailtrain is distributed under the GPL-V3.0 license.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Lists
- Mailtrain supports subscriber list management, list segmentation, and custom fields.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Mail delivery
- Mailtrain includes Zone-MTA for close-to-zero setup of mail delivery.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Notable setup requirement
- The project warns that Docker users should set ADMIN_PASSWORD because the default password is test.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- Mailtrain is a self-hosted newsletter application built on Node.js and MySQL or MariaDB.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Reporting
- Mailtrain includes custom reports.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Reports
- It includes custom reports.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Mailtrain v2 requires Node.js 14 or later and MySQL 8 or later, or MariaDB 10 or later.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project says its separate trusted, sandbox, and public endpoints help avoid XSS attacks in multi-user settings.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security design
- Mailtrain separates trusted, sandbox, and public endpoints to help avoid XSS attacks in multi-user settings.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Templates
- Mailtrain supports email templates, including MJML-based templates.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- User access
- It supports multiple users with granular permissions, flexible sharing, and hierarchical namespaces.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
