SmarterMail vs. Its Competitors
There are many email, groupware, and collaboration servers on the market, but SmarterMail differentiates from its competitors in several ways.
Protocol support: Native support for MAPI, the protocol that powers Microsoft Exchange and Outlook, while others only "emulate" Exchange functionality through Outlook Connectors or other software add-ons. SmarterMail also includes support for EWS, EAS, POP, IMAP, WebDAV, and more.
Flexible installation: Simple installation and availability on both Windows and Linux give SmarterMail an edge where seamless client compatibility and scalable deployment are non-negotiable priorities. All licenses are server-based and yearly - no subscriptions.
Robust feature set: Secure email, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes, audio/video and text chat, Online Meetings for conferencing, and more.
Affordability: No ongoing per-seat subscription fees, simple licensing, and lower hardware requirements mean a significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership, making SmarterMail ideal for ISPs, web hosts, small-to-medium businesses, and enterprise organizations where managing per-domain or per-seat costs would otherwise add up fast.
| Platform | Available only on Windows Server |
| Licensing | Requires a Client Access License (CAL) for each user or device, along with a subscription |
| Ease of Deployment | Complex deployment, requires Active Directory integration and multiple server roles |
| Tech Support | Support is costly, tiered, and often automated |
| Audio / Video Chat | Requires Teams (separate license) |
| Email Archiving | No built-in audio or video chat, but Teams and Zoom links are supported in calendars |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, while stronger layers are available through add-ons |
Microsoft Exchange
Exchange is an industry-leading mail and calendaring server that runs exclusively on Windows Server operating systems. Available as both an on-premises installation as well being the backbone of Microsoft 365, Exchange is a popular platform for businesses of all sizes.
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Axigen is a modern mail and calendaring server designed for cross-platform environments, with straightforward deployment on virtual machines and containers. Available for on-premises and private/public cloud installations, Axigen brings webmail, calendars, contacts, and integrated security under a single admin console, making it a choice for organizations and service providers of all sizes.
See How SmarterMail Compares| Platform | Available on Linux, Windows, and Docker/VMware environments |
| Licensing | Platform is subscription-based and offered in edition tiers |
| Ease of Deployment | Docker images and guides are provided for faster rollout |
| Tech Support | Technical support is available 24×7 through subscription tiers |
| Audio / Video Chat | No built-in audio or video chat, but Teams and Zoom links are supported in calendars |
| Email Archiving | Email Archiving is included or integrated with third-party solutions |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, while stronger layers are available through add-ons |
| Platform | Available only on Windows Server |
| Licensing | Licensing is based on a core server license with additional paid add-ons such as EAS and Anti-virus |
| Ease of Deployment | Deployment requires a manual setup on Windows infrastructure |
| Tech Support | Only available through Paid tiers |
| Audio / Video Chat | No built-in audio or video chat, but Teams and Zoom links are supported in calendars |
| Email Archiving | Email Archiving requires third-party solutions |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, while stronger layers are available through add-ons |
MailEnable offers an end-to-end solution for secure email and collaboration services that runs exclusively on Windows Server operating systems. It provides services that are similar to Microsoft Exchange, including support for EAS, IMAP, SMTP, and POP3 as well as CalDAV and CardDAV.
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IceWarp is a modern mail and collaboration server available for both Windows and Linux, with the flexibility to run self-hosted on-premises or in the cloud. IceWarp unifies business email with shared calendars, webmail, team chat, video conferencing, and document collaboration in a single interface.
See How SmarterMail Compares| Platform | Available on Windows and Linux environments |
| Licensing | Licensing is offered through a subscription model with additional suite modules |
| Ease of Deployment | Deployment requires a manual setup on both Windows and Linux infrastructure |
| Tech Support | Only available through Paid tiers |
| Audio / Video Chat | No built-in audio or video chat, but Teams and Zoom links are supported in calendars |
| Email Archiving | Email Archiving requires third-party solutions |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, while stronger layers are available through add-ons |
| Platform | Available only on Windows Server |
| Licensing | Platform is subscription-based and offered in edition tiers |
| Ease of Deployment | Handled through a Windows installer with management available via console or web admin |
| Tech Support | Support is provided through a ticketing system, with additional paid support tiers available |
| Audio / Video Chat | No built-in audio or video chat, but Teams and Zoom links are supported in calendars |
| Email Archiving | Email Archiving requires third-party solutions |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, while stronger layers are available through add-ons |
Progress iMail Server is a scalable Windows email server that was designed specifically for small-to-medium businesses. It offers all the features and functionality a business needs, including instant messaging, archiving, collaboration between team members, mobile and desktop synchronization as well as complete spam detection and antivirus capabilities
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KerioConnect is a scalable Windows, Linux, and MacOS email server that was designed for small-to-medium businesses. It offers the features and functionality a business needs, including chat, limited archiving, collaboration between team members, mobile and desktop synchronization as well as spam detection and antivirus capabilities
See How SmarterMail Compares| Platform | Available on Windows and Linux environments |
| Licensing | Licensing is offered through a per user subscription model with additional suite modules, but only through resellers |
| Ease of Deployment | Deployment available via VMWare or manual setup on both Windows and Linux infrastructure |
| Tech Support | Help documentation available through the GFI website; Tech support handled by certified resellers |
| Audio / Video Chat | Built-in XMPP server for chat but no audio or video chat |
| Email Archiving | Email Archiving available to local drives or remote email address |
| Data Security | Includes basic anti-virus and anti-spam with TLS/SSL, IP blocking, and some malware protection; no add-ons available |