Specifiction
For vendors
AdvertiseTop spots, featured rows, home sponsor Get listedAdd a product we don't cover yet Claim a listingFree: verify the domain, then correct your page Vendor dashboardNumbers, orders and placements
List your tool
Vendor dashboard
Tech riderRev. 4 Oct 2026

Sympa

Ch 057.0of 29Newsletter Platforms
  1. 1Runs onAPI, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web
  2. 2CostsFree plan
  3. 3Newsletter websiteYes
  4. 4Custom domainYes
  5. 5API accessYes
5 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: sympa.community
Visit site Alternatives
The Sympa homepage

Overview

Sympa is mailing list management software for administering lists on Linux, macOS, and other POSIX-based Unix-like systems. It is open source and free: the listed Sympa plan is 0.00 USD per free, with no paid tiers stated. Users can manage lists through a web interface, email, command line, or SOAP. List owners can handle membership and configuration, and moderators can review messages when moderation is enabled. Membership can be drawn from local or remote files, other Sympa lists, LDAP searches, and SQL queries. Sympa keeps searchable text and web archives with configurable access, message removal, and ZIP export. Its SOAP/HTTP service supports operations such as checking memberships and managing subscriptions, subject to access controls. Database options include MySQL or MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, and SQLite. Self-hosting requires Perl and a mail server; the web interface also requires an HTTP server. Sympa explicitly does not support Windows. Security documentation covers DKIM signing and verification, and ARC seals for forwarded messages from version 6.2.72 onward.

Who it is for

Sympa suits system administrators deploying and maintaining a mailing-list server, and listmasters managing its service. It is a fit for teams prepared to manage the required mail, database, and web server components.

What is good

  • Free and open source, with no paid tiers stated.
  • Supports web, email, command-line, and SOAP interfaces.
  • Membership can use LDAP, SQL, files, or other lists.
  • Archives offer search, access controls, removal, and ZIP export.
  • Documented database options include SQLite and PostgreSQL.

What to know first

  • Requires Perl and a mail server.
  • Web interface requires an HTTP server.
  • Microsoft Windows is not supported.
  • Self-hosting requires administrator-managed server components.

Verdict

Sympa offers detailed list administration, membership, archive, and integration options for self-hosted deployments. Its server requirements and lack of Windows support are important constraints to weigh before choosing it.

Sympa plans and pricing

All plans
Sympa Free No paid tiers stated; server software requires administrator-managed mail, database, and web server components sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on newsletter platforms

Newsletter website
Yessympa.community
Custom domain
Yessympa.community
API access
Yessympa.community

Facts

Purpose
Sympa is mailing list management software for administering mailing lists.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Interfaces
Sympa provides a web interface and supports email, command-line, and SOAP interfaces.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
List management
List owners can manage members and list configuration, while moderators can moderate messages on lists configured for moderation.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Dynamic memberships
List subscribers, owners, and moderators can be included from local or remote files, other Sympa lists, LDAP searches, and SQL queries.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Archives
Sympa maintains text and web archives with search, configurable access controls, message removal, and ZIP export.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Integration
The SOAP/HTTP service exposes functions for listing lists, checking memberships, managing subscriptions, and other operations, subject to access controls.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Security
Sympa documents configurable DKIM signature verification and signing, plus ARC seals for forwarded messages on version 6.2.72 or later.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Security advisories
The official security page lists advisories covering issues reported from 2012 through 2021.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Self-hosting requirements
Sympa requires a mail server and Perl; its web interface requires an HTTP server, and the documentation recommends restricting unnecessary inbound network access.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Supported systems
Sympa supports POSIX-based Unix-like operating systems including Linux distributions and macOS, and explicitly does not support Microsoft Windows.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Database support
Documented database options include MySQL or MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, and SQLite.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Support
The community support page links to Sympa mailing lists and GitHub.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026
Intended users
The administration manual is aimed at system administrators who deploy and maintain servers and listmasters who manage the mailing-list service.sympa.community · 4 Oct 2026

Best Sympa alternatives

See all 20
All accessCh 01 phpList Free planFree trialAPI Free to start7.6 All accessCh 02 Curated Free planFree trialAPI from $39/mo7.3 All accessCh 03 listmonk Free planAPILinux Free to start7.2 All accessCh 04 Substack Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.0 All accessCh 06 Email Fast Free planAPIWeb from $9.90/mo6.9 All accessCh 07 Audienceful Free planAPIWeb from $29/mo6.8

Where it ranks on Specifiction

Is Sympa yours?

Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.

Claim it free Promote Sympa

Sources