core component·

📧 Postfix vs Dovecot Core Function Comparison

This guide compares the core roles of each component—SMTP mail transfer vs. IMAP access and helps you take back control of your inbox with a self-hosted solution.

🧭 Why Build Your Own Email Server?

  • Filter out spam from Gmail and other email providers
  • Prevent third parties from permanently storing your emails, protect privacy
  • Full control over your email data without relying on third-party services

🔍 Postfix vs Dovecot: In-Depth Core Function Comparison

📮 Postfix: Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)

Role: Responsible for sending and receiving emails

  • Receive external emails (SMTP): Accept emails from other mail servers (e.g., Gmail)
  • Send local emails to external (SMTP): Users sending emails to the outside world
  • Deliver emails to local mailbox directories (e.g., Maildir): For user viewing

🧠 Analogy: Like a postal worker, responsible for sorting, receiving, and delivering mail.

📚 Dovecot: Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) + Mail Access Server (IMAP/POP3)

Role: Responsible for letting users read emails

  • Provides mail access protocols (IMAP/POP3): Allows email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, mobile mail apps) to access server emails
  • User authentication: Verifies username and password
  • Reads locally stored emails (Maildir or mbox): Enables clients to display email content

🧠 Analogy: Like a librarian, fetching “books” (emails) on request and showing them to you.

🧾 Summary Comparison Table:

FeaturePostfixDovecot
Main RoleSend and receive emails (SMTP)Provide mail access services (IMAP/POP3)
Service TypeMTA (Mail Transfer Agent)MDA + IMAP/POP3 server
User InterfaceNot directly user-facingProvides user access interface (email clients)
Mail StorageOptional (usually handled by Dovecot)Reads and serves mail

👉 If you want to build an email server, these two components must work together:

  • Postfix handles sending and receiving mail;
  • Dovecot handles user mail reading and access.

🛠️⚙️ How to configure and set up

Click here How to Build a Secure Email Server with Postfix and Dovecot: Step-by-Step Guide

📖 Authoritative References

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