Axigen vs MDaemon (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Axigen grades higher than MDaemon: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Axigen grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Axigen if
- Fits if you have up to 10 mailboxes to run and want a free server edition
- Works for small firms that will move to the paid business edition later
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want the price up front, because paid prices come from a configurator
- Pricey if you add antimalware, antispam and blacklists, which are separate add-ons
- Tight if you need support: it is sold as support packs that include maintenance
- Not for you if you want a hosted service with nothing to install in the listing
- Watch out: the free edition is for home, small business and test use only
Pick MDaemon if
- Fits if you run Windows servers and want an Exchange replacement for 5 to 2,500 users
- Works for resellers who want hosted and MSP options
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price to compare, as none is shown
- Pricey if you add the Outlook Connector, ActiveSync and AntiVirus, which are separate licences
- Tight if you need phone support: it is $120 per incident unless you agree to the vendor's priority terms
- Not for you if you want a free plan, as only a 30-day trial is offered
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAAxigenFair | 2.0GPAMDaemonFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CBusiness plans start at 10 users, but prices come from an online configurator and are not on a page we could read, so this is a C. MSP plans start from 150 users. | CNo price on the pages we could read; they come from an order configurator. Licences cover 5 to 2,500 users and 1 to 3 years. With nothing published it is a C. |
| Free plan and trial | BA free edition covers 10 domains, 10 users and 10 groups with webmail and calendaring, and a 60-day full trial exists. You need a server to run it. | CA free 30-day trial is offered. The page we read doesn't say whether it needs a card, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | CMail, calendars, tasks, notes, contacts and sync with clients. Antimalware, antispam and premium blacklists are separate add-ons. | CMail, webmail and client, Outlook support, ActiveSync, hosted and MSP options. The Outlook Connector, ActiveSync and AntiVirus are separately licensed. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. It is a server you install and administer, through WebAdmin or the command line. | DNo store rating on record. It is a server you install and administer, a D. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Linux and web, with sync for Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail, plus Active Directory and OpenLDAP. | BWindows server with webmail and a Mac client listed, plus Outlook, ActiveSync and MailStore. |
| Best for | a mail server with a free 10-user edition | an Exchange-style mail server for Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Axigen and MDaemon. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonWindowsWebSelf-hostableCalendarEmail client
At a glance
| Axigen | MDaemon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Free Mail Server: 10 domains, 10 users, 10 groups, aliases and public folders, for home, small business and test use. | None |
| Free trial | Full-featured 60-day evaluation of the business mail server | Free 30-day trial of MDaemon Email Server |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Axigen | MDaemon Technologies, Ltd. |
| Price read from | axigen.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Axigen
- Paid prices are not published on pages we could read; they come from a configurator.
- Antimalware, antispam and premium blacklists are separate add-ons.
- Technical support is sold as support packs that include maintenance.
MDaemon
- Prices are set in an order configurator and could not be read as page text, so none are listed.
- Priority phone support needs agreeing to the vendor's terms; otherwise phone support is $120 per incident.
- Outlook Connector, ActiveSync and AntiVirus are separately licensed add-ons.
Key features
Axigen
- Calendars and collaboration
- Calendars, tasks, notes and contacts with folder sharing and sending on behalf of other users.
- Webmail
- Axigen WebMail has keyboard shortcuts, drag and drop, filters and is localized in over 25 languages.
- Sync with clients
- Works with Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail, and syncs over CalDAV, CardDAV and Exchange ActiveSync.
- Security tools
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC compliance, 2-step verification and optional Bitdefender-powered AntiMalware and AntiSpam apps.
- WebAdmin and CLI
- A web administration console, a command-line interface and LDAP or Active Directory sync.
- Cloud-native option
- The site lists Docker and Kubernetes cluster deployment among its platforms.
MDaemon
- Email server for Windows
- The product page describes a powerful email server for Windows, deployable on physical or virtual servers.
- Webmail and client
- The page highlights a Windows and macOS email client and MDaemon Webmail.
- Outlook support
- MDaemon Connector for Outlook adds groupware features for people who prefer Microsoft Outlook.
- ActiveSync
- An add-on syncs email, calendar, contacts and tasks with ActiveSync devices.
- AntiVirus add-on
- MDaemon AntiVirus adds anti-spam, anti-virus, anti-phishing and anti-malware features.
- Hosted and MSP options
- MDaemon can also be delivered hosted, and the vendor describes SaaS licensing for service providers.
Plans
Axigen
Free Mail Server$0
10 domains, 10 users and 10 groups with webmail, calendaring, rules and filters.
BusinessCustom
Starting from 10 users; priced in the online configurator, not on a page we could read.
MSPCustom
Multi-customer plans starting from 150 users.
MDaemon
Pricing could not be confirmed. See mdaemon.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Axigen or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Axigen publishes no starting price, and MDaemon has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Axigen or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Axigen has a free plan. MDaemon does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Axigen and MDaemon run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Axigen lists a Linux app and only MDaemon lists a macOS app. Both list a web app and a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.