DovelvsForward Email
Two self-hosted Sendgrid alternatives, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Dovel | Forward Email | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 57/100 | 62/100 |
| Rank in category | #36 of 106 in Email | #18 of 106 in Email |
| GitHub stars | — | 1 694 |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 89 |
| Latest release | — | v2.18.12 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Other |
| Main language | — | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
Forward Email scores 62/100 against 57/100 for Dovel, so it is the safer default.
Forward Email ships more often: 89 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Dovel.
If you want the quickest setup, Dovel is easier to run; Forward Email needs more configuration.
Forward Email is growing faster right now (+19 stars in 30 days).
Dovel details →Forward Email details → All Sendgrid alternatives →
Swap a project
Keep Dovel, compare it with
Keep Forward Email, compare it with