SmarterMail vs. Progress IMail Server

SmarterMail delivers a modern, secure email and groupware platform without reliance on outdated protocols or add-ons. This page contrasts IMail with SmarterMail using a narrative, 250‑user baseline and clear cost visuals.

An Aging Platform With a Closing Roadmap

Progress IMail Server is a Windows-based messaging platform tailored for small to mid-sized organizations. IMail Server supports core communication features such as SMTP, POP, IMAP, LDAP, spam filtering, antivirus, shared calendars, and instant messaging. Basic archiving and mobile sync are included and administration can be done from both a console or web interface. However, Outlook integration is limited to Exchange ActiveSync and lacks protocol support like MAPI or EWS.

Update: In May of 2022, Progress IMail Server customers were informed that "Progress will be officially discontinuing the Progress IMail product effective November 30, 2024 (referred to as the EOL date)." As a result, current IMail Server customers will need to either continue using IMail knowing that support for the product will eventually come to an end, or switch to a more active and continually updated Windows mail server product.

What makes SmarterMail stand out?

SmarterMail runs cross-platform on Windows Server, multiple Linux distributions, or as a containerized deployment in Docker. Out of the box, SmarterMail includes enterprise-grade security built-in anti-spam and antivirus, IDS protection, brute force detection without requiring extra add-ons. Licensing is simple and predictable, with clear pricing that avoids the per-user complexity of CALs, making migrations from legacy servers straightforward and minimally disruptive. Designed for lean administration, SmarterMail reduces configuration overhead while scaling reliably from small businesses to multi-tenant enterprises. SmarterMail can be deployed on bare-metal servers, in virtual environments, or in the cloud, and works seamlessly with any desktop or mobile client, including Outlook, so users keep the inbox experience they already know.

SmarterTools is also committed to ongoing innovation. In 2022 alone, four new versions of SmarterMail were released, with the goal of delivering at least one update per month. Some updates are larger, others smaller, but every release reflects a consistent focus on fixes, improvements, and new features, ensuring SmarterMail continues to evolve alongside the needs of modern organizations.

  • Cross-platform Deployment
  • Built-in Security
  • Simple, Predictable Licensing
  • Easy Migration
  • Admin-Friendly Operations

Affordable Enterprise Email Without Compromise

SmarterMail is a modern mail and collaboration server built to give organizations enterprise-class features without the complexity and cost of Exchange. SmarterMail unifies email, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, and file sharing alongside real-time communication tools like team chat and online meetings, all within a single platform. SmarterMail runs on Windows, Linux, or Docker and includes built-in anti-spam, antivirus, intrusion detection, and brute force protection out of the box. With simple, predictable licensing and seamless compatibility across Outlook, mobile devices, and standard protocols, SmarterMail makes scaling easy while keeping administration light for IT teams and workflows familiar for end users.

SmarterMail Key Benefits:
  • Native MAPI support without Outlook plugins or connectors
  • Cross-platform deployment: Windows, Linux, Docker
  • Simple, affordable licensing with no CALs required
  • Built-in anti-virus and anti-spam, intrustion detection, brute force detection, and more
  • Lower maintenance overhead and flexible deployment

The Hidden Constraints

While IMail Server has long been used as a lightweight Windows-based mail platform, its relevance is fading as newer solutions evolve. The product officially reached End of Life in November 2024, meaning no ongoing development or long-term support. Core functionality like SMTP, POP, and IMAP works, but performance gaps, limited integration, and reliance on older protocols leave it trailing behind more modern, feature-rich alternatives. For IT teams, that means higher risk, fewer updates, and greater pressure to migrate sooner rather than later.

IMail Server Key Limitations:
  • Officially discontinued with no guaranteed support
  • Outlook integration limited to ActiveSync, which lacks MAPI/EWS
  • Add-on dependence for security features like antivirus/spam filtering
  • Slower performance and integration challenges reported by users
  • Outdated release cycle, with no new major updates since 2019

Why SmarterMail Delivers More for Less

SmarterMail offers transparent pricing with everything you need bundled: email, mobile sync, collaboration, security, and protocol support, for just $900/year at the 250-user level. IMail Server, by comparison, starts at $2,495, and typically adds extra charges for features like anti-spam, antivirus, and ActiveSync. This makes SmarterMail nearly 3x more cost-effective at the 250-user level, while also including modern features and active development, unlike IMail which has been discontinued.

All in all, SmarterMail delivers full enterprise capability in a single, predictable price. For organizations that value simpler budgeting and fewer licensing layers, it’s a much clearer, smarter path to reliable messaging infrastructure.

Bar graph showing the SmarterMail vs IMail Server price comparision
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