Axigen vs Zimbra (2026): which should you pick?
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Where they differ
- Zimbra is open source, according to its own site.
- Zimbra also covers tasks.
In commonWindowsLinuxWebSelf-hostableCalendarEmail client
At a glance
| Axigen | Zimbra | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| 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 | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Axigen | Synacor |
| Price read from | axigen.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Axigen
- Small teams that fit within 10 free users
- Businesses replacing an Exchange-style mail server on Windows or Linux
- Service providers that need MSP or ISP editions
Zimbra
- Companies and schools that need to keep email on servers they control
- Hosting providers offering white-labeled email to customers
- Teams moving off Microsoft Exchange who want Outlook compatibility
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.
Zimbra
- Pricing is not published; Zimbra is licensed, and renewals go through an account manager.
- The FAQ calls the Open Source Edition end of life, with no updates or support.
- Features such as backup and restore, Zimbra Office and large-scale mobile sync need the commercial license.
- Chat and real-time collaboration are protected in transit only, not end-to-end encrypted.
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.
Zimbra
- Mail, calendar and contacts
- A web client with advanced and attachment search, personal and global address lists, group and resource scheduling, and tasks.
- Two editions
- Zimbra Daffodil (v10) needs a license, sold as Professional or Standard. Professional has additional features over Standard.
- Desktop and mobile access
- Zimbra Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux, a Connector for Outlook on Windows, and ActiveSync on iOS and Android.
- Standards-based clients
- Works with IMAP, POP, CalDAV and CardDAV, so Thunderbird, Apple Mail and similar clients can connect.
- Security and admin controls
- Built-in anti-spam and antivirus, two-factor sign-in, LDAP or Active Directory, SAML sign-in and delegated administration.
- Deployment options
- Install on your own servers, run it in the cloud on AWS or OCI, or use a hosting partner, with multiple domains per install.
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.
Zimbra
Pricing could not be confirmed. See zimbra.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Axigen or Zimbra?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Axigen publishes no starting price, and Zimbra has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Axigen or Zimbra?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Axigen has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
Which platforms do Axigen and Zimbra run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Zimbra lists macOS, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app and Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- 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.