Forward EmailvsKeila
Two self-hosted Mailchimp alternatives, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Forward Email | Keila | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 62/100 | 59/100 |
| Rank in category | #18 of 106 in Email | #28 of 106 in Email |
| GitHub stars | 1 694 | 2 256 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +38 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 89 | 9 |
| Latest release | v2.18.12 · 28 Oct 2026 | 0.30.3 · 6 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Elixir |
Which one should you pick?
Forward Email scores 62/100 against 59/100 for Keila, so it is the safer default.
Forward Email ships more often: 89 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for Keila.
If you want the quickest setup, Keila is easier to run; Forward Email needs more configuration.
Forward Email details →Keila details → All Mailchimp alternatives →