hMailServer vs MDaemon (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MDaemon grades higher than hMailServer: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
hMailServer grades higher on the free plan. MDaemon grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick hMailServer if
- Fits if you already run a Windows server and want mail on it
- Works for admins who add Roundcube or SquirrelMail on top
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't run Windows, as there's no Linux or macOS build
- Skip it if you want webmail included, since it's a server only
- Skip it if you want direct help from the developers, as support is a community forum
- Watch out: 5.7.1 is the latest stable, with 5.7.2 still a beta
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
| 1.8GPAhMailServerWeak | 2.0GPAMDaemonFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree, but it needs a Windows server of your own. | 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 | BFree under the AGPL with no paid plans. You supply the Windows machine. | 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 | CStandard mail protocols, spam and virus filtering, domains, routing and backup. It's a server only, with no webmail, so you add one. | CMail, webmail and client, Outlook support, ActiveSync, hosted and MSP options. The Outlook Connector, ActiveSync and AntiVirus are separately licensed. |
| Ease of use | DYou install and administer a server yourself, and add a webmail separately. | DNo store rating on record. It is a server you install and administer, a D. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only. The site lists no Linux or macOS build. | BWindows server with webmail and a Mac client listed, plus Outlook, ActiveSync and MailStore. |
| Best for | a free mail server for Windows | 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: hMailServer and MDaemon. How we grade
Where they differ
- hMailServer is open source, according to its own site.
- hMailServer also covers workflow automation.
- MDaemon also covers calendar and email client.
In commonWindowsSelf-hostable
At a glance
| hMailServer | MDaemon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the AGPLv3 license, with no paid plans. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free 30-day trial of MDaemon Email Server |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | hMailServer | MDaemon Technologies, Ltd. |
| Price read from | hmailserver.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
hMailServer
- Runs on Microsoft Windows only; the site lists no Linux or macOS build.
- It is a server only, with no built-in webmail, so a separate webmail or mail client is needed.
- Support comes through a community forum, not from the developers directly.
- The latest stable release on the download page is 5.7.1; 5.7.2 is listed as a beta.
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
hMailServer
- Standard mail protocols
- Supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP4, so it works with most email clients and with webmail systems that use IMAP and SMTP.
- Spam and virus filtering
- Built-in score-based spam checks include SPF and SURBL, and it can attach to ClamAV, SpamAssassin or ASSP.
- Administration tools
- hMailServer Administrator adds domains and accounts and changes settings. A web front end, hMailServer WebAdmin, covers the same tasks.
- Domains, routing and backup
- Lists virtual domains, routing, MX backup, multihoming, server-side rules, built-in backup and an SQL backend among its features.
- COM library
- A COM library lets scripts and other software drive the server, for example to create mailboxes for new employees automatically.
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
hMailServer
hMailServer$0
Free to download and run on your own Windows server under the AGPLv3 license.
MDaemon
Pricing could not be confirmed. See mdaemon.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, hMailServer or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, hMailServer is free, and MDaemon has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, hMailServer or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only hMailServer has a free plan. MDaemon does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do hMailServer and MDaemon run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only MDaemon lists a web app and a macOS app. Both list 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.