Proxmox Mail Gateway review
A focused self-hosted gateway with broad filtering controls and predictable per-host pricing.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Proxmox Mail Gateway is an open-source mail proxy for organizations that need to filter and control email before it reaches an internal mail server. It sits between the firewall and mail server, analyzing inbound and outbound traffic for spam, viruses, Trojans, phishing, and other email threats. The product is suited to self-hosted teams running dedicated hardware or a virtual appliance, particularly where per-host pricing is easier to forecast than per-user licensing.
Its standout strength is the breadth of gateway controls. SpamAssassin and ClamAV provide spam and virus detection, while SMTP filtering adds receiver verification, SPF, DNSBL, SURBL, and greylisting. Administrators can apply object-oriented rules based on senders, recipients, time, content, and actions, then manage blocklists, allowlists, quarantine, and configurable mail handling. Message Tracking Center and unified log search support operational review, while high-availability clustering centralizes configuration for larger deployments.
Pricing is structured around four annual plans, all billed per host. Community costs €190 and includes the complete feature set, stable and secure updates, and community support. Basic costs €540 and adds five support tickets per year plus Customer Portal support. Standard costs €1,260 and adds 15 tickets, a four-hour response time, and remote support. Premium costs €1,900 with unlimited tickets, a two-hour response time, and remote support. Choose Proxmox Mail Gateway for self-hosted infrastructure, detailed SMTP policy control, and integrations with Postfix, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, ClamAV, and SpamAssassin. Teams seeking a primarily cloud-managed workspace service should consider a different fit.
Proxmox Mail Gateway pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Scans inbound and outbound mail with SpamAssassin and ClamAV
- Detailed SMTP filtering, rules, quarantine, and mail actions
- High-availability clustering with web, CLI, and API administration
- Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosted deployment between the firewall and mail server
- Annual subscriptions are priced per host rather than per user
- Support response times and ticket allowances vary by plan
Proxmox Mail Gateway fact sheet, pricing and score →
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