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Horde VS hMail Server

Compare Horde VS hMail Server and see what are their differences

Horde logo Horde

Horde Groupware is a free, enterprise ready, browser based collaboration suite.

hMail Server logo hMail Server

hMailServer is a free e-mail server for Microsoft Windows.
  • Horde Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-22
  • hMail Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

Horde features and specs

  • Open Source
    Horde Groupware is free and open-source, allowing users to modify and customize the software according to their needs without any license fees.
  • Wide Range of Features
    It includes a comprehensive set of tools such as email, calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, and file management, making it a versatile solution for group collaboration.
  • Web-Based Interface
    The web-based interface enables users to access groupware functionalities from any device with an internet connection, enhancing remote work and collaboration.
  • Active Community Support
    Being open-source, Horde Groupware has a community of developers and users who contribute to forums, documentation, and code improvements.
  • Modular Architecture
    Its modular design allows users to enable or disable components and integrate additional functionalities according to their requirements.

Possible disadvantages of Horde

  • Complex Setup
    The installation and configuration process can be complex and time-consuming, requiring a certain level of technical expertise to set up correctly.
  • User Interface
    The user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as some commercial alternatives, potentially resulting in a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Integration
    The default setup may have limited integration with third-party apps or services, potentially requiring additional customization to meet specific needs.
  • Server Resources
    Running Horde Groupware can be resource-intensive, necessitating adequate server capabilities to ensure smooth performance for all users.
  • Community-Driven Support
    While there is community support, users may find it less reliable than commercial support options, with responses sometimes slower and less definitive.

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.

Analysis of Horde

Overall verdict

  • Horde is generally considered a good choice for users or organizations that require a flexible and open-source web application framework. Its longstanding presence in the market and extensive feature set make it a viable option for those who can invest time in customizing and maintaining it.

Why this product is good

  • Horde is a web application framework that offers a wide array of web applications and services, focusing on email and groupware solutions. It is open-source, highly customizable, and has been in development for many years, providing a reliable and robust platform for organizations seeking a comprehensive suite of collaborative tools.

Recommended for

  • Organizations seeking open-source email and groupware solutions.
  • Users who need a platform that can be customized extensively.
  • IT teams that have the expertise to manage and maintain a self-hosted solution.
  • Developers looking for a framework to build customized web applications.

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.

Horde videos

The Horde - Movie Review (2009)

More videos:

  • Review - Undead Horde Review | Is This Game Worth Your time? | Ps4 | Xbox One | Gameplay
  • Review - They Are Billions Can't Handle the Horde | Review
  • Demo - Horde Email and Groupware Tutorials
  • Review - Horde Webmail

hMail Server videos

No hMail Server videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Horde and hMail Server)
Email
62 62%
38% 38
Email Clients
100 100%
0% 0
SMTP Server
0 0%
100% 100
Email Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Horde Reviews

Top 15 Self-hosted open-source free web-based email clients
Horde is an open-source groupware solution for teams and communities. It offers a webmail edition, a responsive interface and customizable dashboard.
Source: medevel.com
15 Best iRedMail Alternatives 2021
The Horde platform offers a PHP framework with applications and libraries for creating a customized environment that suits your workflow. Your Horde webmail supports POP3 and IMAP protocols and HTML message composition.
Top 10 Webmail Clients in 2021
Horde Horde is more just a mail client, it is an enterprise-focused groupware. Horde is capable to read, send and organize mail correspondence, fully manage contacts, calendars, tasks and various notes. Horde is using its own PHP framework with libraries to insure possibility of building custom solutions.
Source: www.plesk.com
5 open source webmail clients for browser-based email
More than just a mail client, Horde is full-fledged enterprise-ready groupware. The Horde suite is browser based, and includes web apps for reading, sending and organizing email, managing and sharing calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes. In addition, the Horde project provides a PHP framework with libraries and apps for building out a customized working environment.
Source: opensource.com
6 Contenders for Best Microsoft Exchange Alternative
Horde is a fully open source webmail client and “enterprise-ready, browser-based communication suite.” Although its functionality isn’t quite as advanced as that of Office 365 or G Suite, it does offer more productivity features than the traditional webmail client, as well as advanced access controls for more granular user permissions. At the exceptionally low cost of free,...

hMail Server Reviews

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What are some alternatives?

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

HEY - Email at its best, new from Basecamp.

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

Roundcube - Web-based IMAP email client

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.

Mailo - Mailo is an email client where you can send and receive emails to and from anyone with an email address.

mailcow - An open source mailserver suite.