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Best Mail Server Software 2026
Facts read 30 Sep 2026 – 12 Oct 2026
Email server products may provide webmail, IMAP/POP3 connections, mobile synchronization and spam filtering. Comparison fields include mailbox capacity and high-availability options.
The standings: top 10
| Name | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 SmarterMail | 6.2 | $500 a year | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 30 Sep 2026 |
| 02 MailEnable | 6.1 | $395 one-time | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 2 Oct 2026 |
| 03 mailcow | 5.9 | €8.90 a month | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Linux | 11 Oct 2026 |
| 04 Stalwart Mail Server | 5.9 | $1.09 a year | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 30 Sep 2026 |
| 05 Axigen | 5.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 10 Oct 2026 |
| 06 iRedMail | 5.7 | $10 a year | Free plan | Web, Linux, API, Self-hosted | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 07 IceWarp | 5.5 | $1.35 a month, billed yearly | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 08 Zimbra Collaboration | 5.5 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 7 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Kolab | 5.4 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 10 Modoboa | 5.4 | €139.30 a year | Free plan | Web, Linux, Self-hosted | 11 Oct 2026 |
Use this guide to compare free plans, paid pricing, licence models and platform support. Entries use the figures makers publish, without a score, so check the details that fit your deployment.
02
MailEnable
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 Record6.1 Visit
03
mailcow
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 Record5.9 Visit
04
Stalwart Mail Server
WebWindowsMac+3 Record5.9 Visit
05
Axigen
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+5 Record5.8 Visit
11
Microsoft Exchange Online
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 $4 a month, billed yearly Record5.0 Visit It suits businesses needing hosted email, calendars, contacts, administration, and compliance controls across major devices.
Before you choose
Compare free and paid plans
Products such as Apache James, Citadel, Courier Mail Server, Cyrus IMAP, Dovecot, Exim, Haraka and hMailServer have free-plan listings.
Trial and request-based pricing notes include 60 days for Axigen, 14 days for IceWarp, and pricing on request for CommuniGate Pro and HCL Domino.
Match the platform to your setup
Platform labels in this list span self-hosted, Linux, web, Windows, API and iOS. HCL Domino's platform listing includes Android as well.
Check the platform details against where you plan to run the server and where users need access.
Check mail access
Look for whether each product includes browser-based webmail, IMAP/POP3 connectivity and synchronization for mobile devices. Together, these indicate access from a browser, a mail client or a mobile device.
Review protection and capacity
Comparison fields include spam protection, mailbox capacity and high-availability features. Review them alongside the licence model before selecting software for your mail service.
Read the licence model
The list identifies free and paid pricing models. When modifying or redistributing code, review the software's licence terms first.
Questions
Which platforms do these mail servers support?
The entries cover self-hosted, Linux, web, Windows, API and iOS environments, while HCL Domino's listing also includes Android.
Do any entries offer a free plan?
The list marks Apache James, Axigen, Citadel, Courier Mail Server, Cyrus IMAP, Dovecot, Exim, Haraka and hMailServer as having free plans.
Which entries list a trial?
A 60-day trial is listed for Axigen, while IceWarp lists 14 days.
What access options should I compare?
Check for webmail interfaces, IMAP/POP3 connections and mobile synchronization to understand browser, mail-client and mobile access.
What operational details are compared?
The comparison covers spam protection, mailbox capacity and high availability, as well as pricing and licence model.
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