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Newsletter platform built to help creators easily start, grow, and monetize email newsletters
Mailtrain
Self-hosted newsletter platform with advanced automation and segmentation
Node.js-based newsletter application offering subscriber management, list segmentation, custom templates, automation, and built-in mail delivery for complete control over email campaigns.
Overview
Overview
Mailtrain v2 is a self-hosted newsletter application built on Node.js (v14+) and MySQL (v8+) or MariaDB (v10+). Designed for organizations that need full control over their email marketing infrastructure, it provides enterprise-grade features without vendor lock-in or per-subscriber pricing.
Core Capabilities
The platform delivers comprehensive subscriber list management with advanced segmentation and custom fields. Users can create email templates using MJML, build custom reports, and deploy triggered campaigns or RSS-based automation. Multi-user support includes granular permissions and hierarchical namespaces suitable for enterprise deployments.
A standout feature is the built-in Zone-MTA integration, enabling near-zero-configuration mail delivery without relying on third-party SMTP services. The architecture separates trusted (admin), sandbox (template editor), and public (subscriber) endpoints to prevent XSS attacks in multi-user environments.
Deployment
Mailtrain runs on CentOS 7, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, or via Docker Compose. Recommended hardware includes 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM. Installation scripts support both public HTTPS deployments with Let's Encrypt certificates and local HTTP setups for development. The platform requires three DNS endpoints pointing to the same IP address for secure operation.
Highlights
Built-in Zone-MTA for independent mail delivery without external SMTP
Multi-user support with granular permissions and hierarchical namespaces
Advanced automation including triggered campaigns and RSS feeds
Three-endpoint architecture (trusted/sandbox/public) preventing XSS attacks
Pros
- Complete control over email infrastructure and subscriber data
- No per-subscriber pricing or vendor lock-in
- Enterprise-ready with hierarchical namespaces and user permissions
- MJML template support for responsive email design
Considerations
- Requires server administration knowledge and infrastructure management
- Minimum 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPU hardware requirements
- Three separate DNS endpoints needed for secure deployment
- Complete rewrite from v1 requires fresh installation
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Fit guide
Great for
- Organizations requiring full data sovereignty and infrastructure control
- Enterprises needing multi-tenant deployments with hierarchical permissions
- Teams wanting to eliminate per-subscriber SaaS costs
- Users with technical resources to manage self-hosted applications
Not ideal when
- Non-technical users without server administration experience
- Small projects unable to dedicate 4 GB RAM minimum
- Teams requiring immediate deployment without DNS configuration
- Organizations preferring managed SaaS solutions over self-hosting
How teams use it
Enterprise Multi-Brand Newsletters
Manage multiple brand newsletters with hierarchical namespaces, granular user permissions, and centralized reporting while maintaining data sovereignty.
Automated Customer Onboarding
Deploy triggered email campaigns based on subscriber actions, custom fields, and list segments without relying on external automation platforms.
RSS-to-Email Content Distribution
Automatically convert RSS feeds into formatted email campaigns, enabling consistent content delivery to subscriber lists without manual intervention.
High-Volume Sending with Built-in MTA
Send large email volumes using integrated Zone-MTA without configuring external SMTP services or paying per-email fees to third-party providers.
Tech snapshot
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Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade from Mailtrain v1 to v2?
Mailtrain v2 is a complete rewrite. Back up your v1 database and use it with v2; the system should automatically upgrade the schema to the new format.
Why does Mailtrain require three DNS endpoints?
The trusted, sandbox, and public endpoints provide security isolation to prevent XSS attacks in multi-user environments. All three DNS records point to the same IP address.
What databases does Mailtrain v2 support?
Mailtrain v2 requires MySQL v8+ or MariaDB v10+. The Docker Compose setup includes MariaDB by default.
Does Mailtrain include mail delivery capabilities?
Yes, Mailtrain includes built-in Zone-MTA for near-zero-configuration mail delivery. You can also configure external SMTP services if preferred.
What are the minimum hardware requirements?
Mailtrain requires at least 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM. Actual requirements depend on subscriber count and sending volume.
Project at a glance
Stable- Stars
- 5,716
- Watchers
- 5,716
- Forks
- 710
LicenseGPL-3.0
Repo age9 years old
Last commit4 months ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageJavaScript
Last synced yesterday