SmarterMail
The Exchange alternative: email, groupware, and collaboration server for Windows, Linux, and Docker
About SmarterMail
SmarterMail is a self-hosted email, groupware, and collaboration server from SmarterTools, positioned as a lower-cost alternative to Microsoft Exchange. It supports native MAPI, EWS, and ActiveSync so Outlook and mobile clients work without plug-ins, and adds shared calendars, contacts, tasks, online meetings, chat, and archiving. It runs on Windows Server, Linux, or Docker and is built for multi-tenant use by web hosts, ISPs, and businesses.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One of the few non-Microsoft servers with native MAPI and EWS, so Outlook works without connectors or plug-ins
- Perpetual licenses cost far less than on-premises Exchange, and the free edition covers a 10-mailbox domain
- Runs on Windows, Linux, or Docker, giving teams full control over where mail data lives
- Multi-tenant administration suits web hosts and ISPs reselling email
- Bundles groupware, online meetings, chat, and archiving that other mail servers sell separately
- Long track record with frequent feature updates, according to long-time reviewers
Cons
- Self-hosted: you run, patch, and secure the server yourself; SmarterTools does not sell a hosted SmarterMail plan directly
- Critical vulnerabilities in early 2026 (CVE-2026-23760 auth bypass, CVE-2026-24423 RCE) were exploited by ransomware groups, so prompt patching is essential
- MAPI, EWS, ActiveSync, and premium antispam are paid annual add-ons on Enterprise
- Some reviewers report weak blacklist and whitelist control and uneven MAPI/EWS behavior
- Maintenance renewal costs 50% of the license price each year to keep receiving updates
Key Features
Native MAPI and EWS
Server-level support for the protocols behind Exchange, so Outlook for Windows and macOS connects natively without plug-ins (Enterprise add-on, included in HA).
Exchange ActiveSync
Syncs mail, calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes to iOS and Android clients such as Outlook Mobile, iOS Mail, and Gmail.
Full-featured webmail
Browser client with email, calendars, tasks, notes, file storage, shares, chat, and online meetings in one interface.
Online meetings and chat
Built-in group video meetings with screen sharing plus individual audio, video, and text chat.
Groupware and scheduling
Shared and organizational calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes, resource and room booking, appointment scheduling, and account delegation.
Message archiving
Archives every inbound and outbound message before it reaches the spool, per server or per domain, for SOX and HIPAA-style retention.
Built-in security
Spam filtering, antivirus, intrusion detection (IDS) blocks, and automated SSL certificates, with optional Cyren and Message Sniffer add-ons.
Multi-tenant administration
System admins manage the whole server from the browser, while domain admins manage their own domains from the same interface as their inbox.
High Availability clustering
Hub-and-node clusters with centralized storage and hot-standby nodes for unlimited domains and users.
Marketplace integrations
In-app add-ons for Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, ownCloud, Collabora Online, OnlyOffice, RocketChat, and ChatGPT.
Pricing
- One domain, up to 10 mailboxes
- About 99% of Enterprise functionality
- Windows or Linux
- 50 mailboxes ($950 for 250, $2,500 unlimited)
- Webmail, POP, IMAP, CalDAV, CardDAV, WebDAV
- Calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, file storage
- Mailing lists
- Free installation and configuration
- 12 months of Maintenance and Support included
- 50 mailboxes ($1,200 for 250, $3,200 unlimited)
- Online meetings, voice and video chat, scheduling
- LDAP and Active Directory integration
- Email and chat archiving
- Optional MAPI/EWS (from $325/year) and EAS (from $325/year)
- 12 months of Maintenance and Support included
- Hubs $250/month, nodes $300/month
- Unlimited domains and users
- MAPI and EWS included
- EAS at $0.20 per mailbox per month
- Standby nodes not billed
- First 30 days free
Best For
Replacing Microsoft Exchange
Organizations that want Outlook-compatible mail, calendars, and contacts on their own servers without Exchange licensing costs.
Web hosts and ISPs
Hosting providers offer branded, multi-tenant email and collaboration to customers, scaling with High Availability clusters.
Data sovereignty and compliance
Businesses that must keep email in their own data center or region use built-in archiving to meet retention requirements.
Small business mail server
Small teams run a single domain on the free or Professional edition with webmail and standard IMAP clients.
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