GFI KerioConnect vs SmarterMail (2026): which should you pick?

Pick GFI KerioConnect if

• Fits if you want to run your own mail server for a business and keep the mail in-house
• Works for offices already on Outlook and ActiveSync phones that need a shared calendar

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you don't want to install and administer a server
• Skip it if you want a price to compare, as none is published and you go through a reseller
• Tight if you want a free plan, since all you get is a 30-day trial
• Watch out: the product is now branded GFI KerioConnect and its pages moved to gfi.ai

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

GFI KerioConnect

• No prices are published; the Buy now page sends visitors to a certified GFI reseller for a quote.
• It is a server product that the buyer installs and administers, not a hosted mailbox service.
• The product is now branded GFI KerioConnect and its pages sit on gfi.ai.

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.

GFI KerioConnect

Mail, calendar and collaboration

Email sits beside shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, shared and public folders, and room booking with attendee availability.

Client and mobile support

Works with Outlook on Windows and Mac, native Mac apps and other IMAP or POP clients. Phones sync by Microsoft ActiveSync or IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV.

Local AI features

The AI edition summarizes emails, drafts replies and flags phishing or compliance risks, and the vendor says it runs on on-premise models with no cloud APIs.

Built-in security

SSL encryption, S/MIME, spam filtering, an antivirus engine, attack blocking, automated backup with granular restore and server-wide archiving.

Chat

Integrated instant messaging is XMPP-compatible, so third-party chat apps can connect, with online status for colleagues.

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.

GFI KerioConnect

Pricing could not be confirmed. See gfi.ai.

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.