Cuttlefish vs Haraka
Self-host pick — both replace SendGrid (Transactional email API).
Both Cuttlefish and Haraka self-host as a replacement for SendGrid (Transactional email API). Pick Cuttlefish if you want the lighter footprint — 30min docker-compose (Rails app + Postgres), $10 vps — rails + postgres + a sender process; you still want an upstream relay for deliverability. Pick Haraka if you need engineers who want a programmable SMTP layer and are comfortable shipping a small amount of glue code — 1h (Haraka is a framework — you wire plugins for your routing rules) and $5 vps; you compose haraka with your own node plugins, so cost is whatever you build.
| Cuttlefishopen-source | Harakaopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Setup time | 30min docker-compose (Rails app + Postgres) | 1h (Haraka is a framework — you wire plugins for your routing rules) |
| Monthly cost | $10 VPS — Rails + Postgres + a sender process; you still want an upstream relay for deliverability. | $5 VPS; you compose Haraka with your own Node plugins, so cost is whatever you build. |
| GitHub | mlandauer/cuttlefish | haraka/Haraka |
| Replaces | SendGrid | SendGrid |
Good fit for
Cuttlefish
Rails / Ruby shops that prefer SMTP + an inspectable web UI over an HTTPS API.
Weak at:Smaller community than Postal; no native HTTPS send API — you go through SMTP.
Haraka
Engineers who want a programmable SMTP layer and are comfortable shipping a small amount of glue code.
Weak at:No GUI, no batteries-included dashboard; deliverability tooling is what you build.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli sendgrid prints SendGrid's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Cuttlefish or Haraka?
Cuttlefish: 30min docker-compose (Rails app + Postgres). Haraka: 1h (Haraka is a framework — you wire plugins for your routing rules).
What does each cost to run?
Cuttlefish: $10 VPS — Rails + Postgres + a sender process; you still want an upstream relay for deliverability.. Haraka: $5 VPS; you compose Haraka with your own Node plugins, so cost is whatever you build.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Cuttlefish and Haraka replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to SendGrid.