hMailServer vs SmarterMail (2026): which should you pick?

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 SmarterMail if

• Fits if you run up to 10 mailboxes on one domain and want a free server
• Works for small hosts who need webmail and shared calendars

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to know the licence term, as the pricing page doesn't say one-time or annual
• Pricey if you add ActiveSync, MAPI/EWS or the antispam and antivirus engines
• Tight if you need meetings, chat or archiving, which are Enterprise only
• Watch out: antispam and antivirus add-ons need an annual licence with active maintenance

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.

SmarterMail

• ActiveSync (from $325 for 25 mailboxes), MAPI/EWS and the antispam and antivirus engines are paid add-ons.
• The pricing page does not say whether base licenses are one-time or annual.
• Antispam and antivirus add-ons need an annual license with active maintenance and support.

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.

SmarterMail

Webmail

A browser interface the vendor compares to Outlook on the web, with calendars, contacts, notes and tasks.

Shared collaboration

Shared calendars, contacts, tasks and notes, plus file storage under your own control.

Meetings and chat

Enterprise adds online meetings with screen sharing, scheduling and voice and video chat.

Archiving

Built-in archiving of email and chats for regulatory needs such as SOX and HIPAA.

Outlook and mobile sync

Enterprise can add MAPI and EWS for Outlook and Exchange ActiveSync for phones, both priced separately.

High availability

A clustered edition with hubs, nodes and centralized storage for fault tolerance.

hMailServer

• hMailServer$0

  Free to download and run on your own Windows server under the AGPLv3 license.

SmarterMail

• Free$0

  One domain, up to 10 mailboxes; the vendor says it has 99% of Enterprise functionality.

• Professional$550

  for 50 mailboxes; billing term not shown

  Webmail, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, file storage. $2,500 for unlimited.

• Enterprise$700

  for 50 mailboxes; billing term not shown

  Adds meetings, scheduling, chat and archiving. $1,500 at 500 mailboxes.

• Enterprise, unlimited$3,200

  for unlimited mailboxes; billing term not shown

  Enterprise edition with no mailbox cap.

• High Availability$250

  per hub / month; nodes $300 per month

  Clustered hubs and nodes for unlimited users and domains; first 30 days free.