Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

hMail Server VS Zimbra

Compare hMail Server VS Zimbra and see what are their differences

hMail Server logo hMail Server

hMailServer is a free e-mail server for Microsoft Windows.

Zimbra logo Zimbra

Zimbra is trusted by over 500 million users to increase productivity with a complete set of collaboration tools while maintaining total control over security and privacy.
  • hMail Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22
  • Zimbra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-06

Zimbra is the trusted email and collaboration platform and productivity suite that includes contacts, calendar, tasks, chat and file sharing, plus videoconferencing, document editing, and file storage. Built on an open source core, it features a modern interface, pre-integrations with popular third-party apps like Zoom, Slack and Dropbox, and can be deployed in the cloud or in on-prem and hybrid environments. Enterprises, governments, financial institutions, service providers and remote teams around the world rely on Zimbra to support complex privacy, data sovereignty and security requirements. Today, Zimbra powers hundreds of millions of mailboxes on desktop and mobile devices in more than 140 countries, and is offered by more than 500 BSPs and 2,000 channel partners. Also available now for small and medium-sized business is Zimbra Cloud, starting at $2.95 per month for 30 GB of storage. Visit www.zimbra.com to learn more and begin a free trial.

hMail Server features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    hMailServer is completely free to use, which makes it an attractive option for small businesses and organizations with limited budgets. It also has a source code available for customization.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    It is compatible with Windows operating systems, making it suitable for a variety of deployment environments, especially those already running on Windows.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    hMailServer supports various protocols like SMTP, POP3, and IMAP, which cover most of the functionalities required for email servers.
  • Built-in Anti-Spam and Anti-Virus
    The server includes robust anti-spam and anti-virus features that help in reducing unwanted emails and protecting against malicious attacks.
  • Administrator-Friendly
    It has an intuitive web-based administration interface that simplifies server management tasks, from user settings to email rules and more.

Possible disadvantages of hMail Server

  • Platform Limitation
    hMailServer is designed specifically for Windows, which limits its usability for organizations that prefer or exclusively use Unix/Linux-based systems.
  • Limited Scalability
    While adequate for small to medium-sized deployments, hMailServer may not be as scalable as some enterprise-level mail servers, potentially limiting its use for very large organizations.
  • Community Support
    Support primarily comes from the community via forums. There is no dedicated customer support team, which could be a constraint in urgent or complex troubleshooting scenarios.
  • Dependency on External Tools
    Though feature-rich, some advanced functionalities like detailed logging and backup may require additional external tools or scripts, complicating the setup.
  • Periodic Updates
    The frequency of updates and patches may not be as regular as those for commercial products, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities if the software is not monitored closely.

Zimbra features and specs

  • Open Source
    Zimbra offers an open-source solution for email, calendar, and collaboration tools, allowing users to modify and customize the software according to their needs.
  • Cost-Effective
    Zimbra can be a more affordable option compared to proprietary email solutions, especially for small and mid-sized businesses.
  • Scalability
    Zimbra is capable of scaling to meet the needs of both small businesses and large enterprises, making it a versatile option for organizations of different sizes.
  • Feature-Rich
    Zimbra includes a wide range of features such as email, calendar, contacts, task management, and file sharing, which can enhance productivity and collaboration.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Zimbra supports various platforms including Windows, Mac, and Linux, and offers web-based access, which enhances its accessibility.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Zimbra can integrate with other enterprise applications and services, including Microsoft Outlook, enhancing its utility within an existing IT infrastructure.

Possible disadvantages of Zimbra

  • Complex Installation and Maintenance
    Setting up and maintaining Zimbra requires a certain level of technical expertise, which can be a barrier for organizations without dedicated IT staff.
  • Resource Intensive
    Zimbra can be resource-intensive, requiring significant server resources to run effectively, which can be a drawback for organizations with limited IT infrastructure.
  • Limited Support
    While community support is available, the extent and quality can be inconsistent. Paid support options are available but add to the overall cost.
  • Learning Curve
    The wide range of features and customization options in Zimbra can result in a steep learning curve for new users, which may impact initial productivity.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users have reported experiencing performance issues with Zimbra, particularly when handling large volumes of emails or during peak usage times.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Although Zimbra supports integration, there can be compatibility issues with certain third-party applications or specific versions of software, which might require additional troubleshooting.

Analysis of hMail Server

Overall verdict

  • hMailServer is a good choice for certain use cases.

Why this product is good

  • hMailServer is a reliable and free email server for Windows that provides essential features such as support for IMAP, SMTP, and POP3. It is open-source, which allows for community-driven improvements and transparency. The server is lightweight, and it is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses or individuals looking for an adequate email server solution without high resource demands. Additionally, it has built-in anti-spam features, integration with ClamWin or other anti-virus software, and a flexible scripting interface using VBScript.

Recommended for

    hMailServer is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, tech-savvy individuals, or developers who are looking for an easy-to-manage, open-source email server solution on Windows. It's ideal for users who need a simple setup without the complexity and cost associated with larger, enterprise-level servers.

Analysis of Zimbra

Overall verdict

  • Zimbra is generally considered a good choice for businesses and educational institutions seeking a reliable email server solution with strong collaboration tools. Its versatility, security features, and scalability make it suitable for various organizational needs.

Why this product is good

  • Zimbra is known for its robust set of email server features, including support for both web-based and desktop email clients, calendar and address book integration, and strong security features. It also offers good customization options, scalability, and is available with open-source options, which makes it an attractive choice for both small and large organizations. Additionally, Zimbra provides mobile access and collaboration tools, which enhance productivity.

Recommended for

    Zimbra is recommended for businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations that require a comprehensive email and collaboration platform. It's particularly suitable for those who need customization options and value open-source solutions. It can be an excellent fit for IT departments seeking to manage their own email infrastructure rather than relying on third-party service providers.

hMail Server videos

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Zimbra videos

Modern Collaboration: Discover why Zimbra is the open source leader in Email and Collaboration

More videos:

  • Review - Zimbra #01 introduction of Open Source Email Collaboration Solution
  • Review - Zimbra Review: Why The University of Pennsylvania Likes Zimbra Email?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to hMail Server and Zimbra)
Email
26 26%
74% 74
SMTP Server
34 34%
66% 66
Self-hosted Email
43 43%
57% 57
Email Clients
0 0%
100% 100

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare hMail Server and Zimbra

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Zimbra Reviews

Alternative to Zimbra - atmail versus Zimbra - email for telcos
If you’re tired of Zimbra email, talk to us instead. We have more than 20 years of global email expertise and power 170 million mailboxes worldwide. We can be trusted to keep your platform secure, stable, scalable and private. Our modern, white label, multitenant and monetisable solutions are available both on-premises and in the cloud. We also won’t make you go through a...
Source: www.atmail.com
Overview of 5 Best Microsoft Exchange Server Alternatives
If you are an enterprise-level company that is looking for a solution based on open-source technologies, then Zimbra might be what you are looking for. As per the team behind Zimbra, this collaboration platform encompasses multiple open source projects under one supported and certified open-source collaboration application tailored to satisfy the needs of enterprises.
Source: jatheon.com
15 Best iRedMail Alternatives 2021
Zimbra has a calendar feature like iRedMail with a simple web and mobile UI that lets you manage your calendars and address books. Similarly, it also supports POP, IMAP, CardDAV, and CalDAV protocols.
Top 10 Webmail Clients in 2021
Zimbra Zimbra also works in web browsers. But it isn’t like PHP web clients as it uses the AJAX set of web technologies instead. It offers email and calendar functionality and you can view messages and conversation formats. Its approach to visual search is particularly effective in making short work of managing the largest inboxes. Zimbra is one of the open-source webmail...
Source: www.plesk.com
5 open source webmail clients for browser-based email
Zimbra is a well-maintained project that has been hosted at a number of different corporate entities through the years, and was acquired by Synacore in 2016. It features most of the things you've come to expect in a modern webmail client, from webmail to folders to contact lists to a number of pluggable extensions, and generally works very well. I have to admit that I'm most...
Source: opensource.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing hMail Server and Zimbra, you can also consider the following products

iRedMail - A fully fledged, free email server solution, an open source project (GPL v2).

mailcow - An open source mailserver suite.

Microsoft Exchange Server - Microsoft Exchange Server is a messaging and collaborative software product developed by Microsoft.

Roundcube - Web-based IMAP email client

Kerio Connect - KerioConnect is a commercial mail and groupware server.

Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a free email application that's easy to set up and customize - and it's loaded with great features!