Mailoney

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  SMTP credential and message capture
• Paid from
  Free
• Deployment model
  Self-hosted
• Facts checked
  22 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Captures SMTP authentication attempts, credentials, and DATA messages
  • Stores structured session data in SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MySQL/MariaDB
  • Supports Docker and records destination IP and port details

• Where it doesn't

  • Focused on SMTP rather than broader honeypot protocol coverage
  • Self-hosted deployment requires local operational management
  • Low-interaction simulation is narrower than a full mail-server environment

Our verdict on Mailoney

Mailoney is an open-source, low-interaction SMTP honeypot from phin3has. It simulates a vulnerable mail server, accepts connections on port 25, and records unauthorized access attempts, credential harvesting, and SMTP activity. Its intended audience is operators monitoring email abuse in controlled environments, especially those who need to capture authentication attempts, credentials, message DATA, and session metadata rather than operate a general-purpose honeypot platform.

The product’s main strength is the depth of its SMTP capture. It can log destination IP and port information, store session data in a database, and retain captured message bodies when configured. Structured session data supports later analysis and integration, while SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL/MariaDB provide database choices for different self-hosted environments. Docker deployment is also supported, giving teams a container-based installation path alongside local Python deployment.

Mailoney’s focused scope is both its clearest advantage and its main boundary. For teams investigating SMTP credential attacks, message capture, and email-based abuse, its application-level decoy is closely aligned with the task. Teams seeking coverage across multiple protocols or a broader decoy environment should look elsewhere. It is best suited to operators comfortable managing self-hosted software, database storage, and controlled monitoring infrastructure; it is less suitable for buyers looking for a commercial service or a wider honeypot suite.

Your product? Our editors can test Mailoney in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Mailoney pricing

Mailoney fact sheet

Mailoney integrations

Mailoney lists 3 integrations on its own site.

• SQLite
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL/MariaDB

Alternatives to Mailoney

• BeelzebubA flexible self-hosted honeypot runtime with adaptive interactions and deep security integrations.9.4
• CowrieA mature, deep SSH and Telnet honeypot for self-hosted threat monitoring.9.2
• TPT-PotA broad self-hosted honeypot platform for teams that want many decoys and built-in analysis.9.0

See all Mailoney alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Mailoney is listed in our Honeypot Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/mailoney/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/mailoney.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update