What listmonk really costs to run

The software is free, so your bill is a server, a PostgreSQL database and an SMTP relay. listmonk has no paid edition and no official hosted version. Download the binary for Linux, Windows, macOS or one of the BSDs, generate a config file, install the tables and open port 9000. The official Docker image and docker-compose file do the same in containers.

Check one thing before you pick a cheap VPS: some hosts block outbound SMTP ports 25 and 465, and the documentation names Hetzner as an example. You will have to ask support to open them before your first send.

How listmonk splits mail across SMTP relays

listmonk hands every email to SMTP servers you configure, either a paid relay or your own mail server.

You can run several SMTP servers side by side, with multi-threaded queues and sliding window rate limits. Since version 6.2.0, listmonk picks the server based on the sender's domain, which lets you keep a cam site and a paysite on separate relays. Failed messages are retried silently on another connection, then logged as errors.

Lists, SQL segments and templates

Single or double opt-in lists. Double opt-in subscribers receive nothing until they confirm.
Segments written as SQL expressions on subscriber attributes.
Go templates with over 100 functions, a drag-and-drop builder, a WYSIWYG editor, Markdown, HTML or plain text.
Open and click tracking, which can be made anonymous.
An interface translated into dozens of languages, Hindi and Brazilian Portuguese included.

Does listmonk support autoresponders?

No. listmonk has no autoresponder, no drip sequence and no automatic welcome email. The maintainer answered a request for automation and sequences in August 2025 by saying it is not possible in listmonk, and the request for a per-list welcome email is still open in October 2026. The workaround is to call the transactional API from your own signup code each time someone joins.

Who maintains listmonk

Kailash Nadh has published listmonk since 2019, and Zerodha lists it among its open source projects. There is no company behind it, no commercial support and no paid plan. The GitHub repository has over 23,000 stars. Version 6.2.0, released in June 2026, fixes several permission checks in multi-user installs, so update if more than one person manages your lists.

listmonk strengths and limitations

Strengths

Free and open source.
Very light on CPU and memory at high volume.
Multiple relays, chosen by sender domain.
SQL segments and anonymous tracking.

Limitations

No welcome email, no sequences.
An SMTP relay to find yourself, and Postmark may refuse pornography.
A server to maintain, SMTP ports included.
No commercial support.

listmonk alternatives with automation

Keila is also AGPLv3 on PostgreSQL and has sent a welcome email to new subscribers since January 2026. Acelle Mail costs $80 once and includes automation workflows.