Apache SpamAssassin

Open-source spam filter that scores email for mail servers.

Open sourceEmail spam filters

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Self-hosted, Linux

Visit Apache SpamAssassin See 5 alternatives

Is Apache SpamAssassin free?

Yes, free and open source

Switch from Apache SpamAssassin to

All 5

Rspamd
Premium plans: From £100 + VAT/month
Proxmox Mail Gateway
Starting price: €540/year per host
SpamTitan
Paid

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Apache SpamAssassin

Apache SpamAssassin is a long-running open-source spam filter used by system administrators and hosting providers. It examines each message's headers and body with a large set of rules, Bayesian filtering, DNS blocklists and collaborative databases, adds up a score, and marks or rejects mail above a threshold. It plugs into most mail setups, including Postfix, Sendmail and qmail, through tools such as spamd and milters, and many control panels and appliances bundle it. Rules and settings are plain text, so admins can add their own. The project belongs to the Apache Software Foundation and is free under the Apache licence; there is no paid tier, and support comes from mailing lists and the community wiki. It is written in Perl and can be slow and memory-hungry on busy servers, which is why some admins move to Rspamd.

Best for: Mail server admins who want a free, well-documented and widely supported spam filter.

What works

Free and open source with no paid tier
Works with most mail transfer agents and control panels
Rules and scores are plain text and easy to extend
Long track record and plenty of documentation

Why people leave

Perl-based and slower than newer engines on busy servers
Needs a mail server and admin skills to set up
Community support only, with no official paid support

Apache SpamAssassin vs Rspamd, Proxmox Mail Gateway and SpamTitan

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	Apache SpamAssassin	Rspamd	Proxmox Mail Gateway	SpamTitan
Pricing	Open source	Open source	Open source	Paid
Verified price	—	From £100 + VAT/month	€540/year per host	—
Free plan	Free app	Free app	Free app	No
Open source	No	No	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No	No	No
Platforms	Self-hosted, Linux	Self-hosted, Linux	Self-hosted, Linux	Web, Self-hosted

Top Apache SpamAssassin alternatives

See all 5

1
Rspamd
Faster C-based engine that can load SpamAssassin rules, so you can migrate gradually.
68.8
2
Proxmox Mail Gateway
Full filtering gateway with a web UI, quarantine and antivirus, built around SpamAssassin.
64.8
3
SpamTitan
Hosted or appliance filtering with sandboxing and vendor support if you'd rather not run it yourself.
61.8
4
Proofpoint
Hosted enterprise email security that replaces running your own filter, adding phishing and malware protection.
59.4
5
Mimecast
Cloud email gateway with spam, impersonation and attachment scanning, so there's no filter server to maintain.
57.5

Why people left Apache SpamAssassin

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Apache SpamAssassin: common questions

What is Apache SpamAssassin?

Apache SpamAssassin: Open-source spam filter that scores email for mail servers. Best for mail server admins who want a free, well-documented and widely supported spam filter. Available for Linux, and you can host it yourself.

Is Apache SpamAssassin free?

Yes. Apache SpamAssassin is free, open-source software.

Is Apache SpamAssassin open source?

No, Apache SpamAssassin is not open source.

What platforms does Apache SpamAssassin run on?

Apache SpamAssassin is available for Self-hosted and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Apache SpamAssassin?

The highest-ranked Apache SpamAssassin alternatives right now are Rspamd, Proxmox Mail Gateway and SpamTitan. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Apache SpamAssassin vs Rspamd: what's the difference?

Both Apache SpamAssassin and Rspamd are free and open source. Both run on Linux.

See all 5 Apache SpamAssassin alternatives

Apache SpamAssassin facts

5 of 5 verified

License: Apache-2.0; Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: Apache-2.0 (Apache License 2.0).”
Owner: Apache Software Foundation; Checked Nov 8, 2026spamassassin.apache.org(opens source in a new tab); “Apache SpamAssassin is a project of the Apache Software Foundation (ASF).”
Detection methods: Rules, Bayesian filtering, DNS blocklists; Checked Nov 8, 2026spamassassin.apache.org(opens source in a new tab); “Bayesian filtering, DNS blocklists, and collaborative filtering databases.”
Latest release: 4.0.2 (30 Aug 2025); Checked Nov 8, 2026spamassassin.apache.org(opens source in a new tab); “Latest News 2025-08-30: Apache SpamAssassin 4.0.2 has been released!”
Integrations: Postfix, Sendmail, qmail and more; Checked Nov 8, 2026spamassassin.apache.org(opens source in a new tab); “procmail , sendmail , Postfix , qmail , and many others .”