Kopano vs MDaemon (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kopano grades higher than MDaemon: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kopano grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kopano
Container-based business email and calendar for hosting providers
Free trial
Which one is for you
Pick Kopano if
- Fits if you are a hosting provider that wants to resell business mail
- Works for a managed-service company that already runs containers
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are an individual buyer, as the site is written for partners
- Skip it if you want a price first, since access starts with a demo and a proof of concept
- Watch out: Kopano Groupware reached end of life in 2024 and was replaced by Kopano Cloud
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
| 2.2GPAKopanoFair | 2.0GPAMDaemonFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices are published, so there's nothing to compare. | 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 | CA free 30-day trial for up to ten users, through a demo environment. You go through a demo first. | 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 | BWeb mail and calendar, Outlook and mobile connectivity, multi-tenant administration and branding. The listing shows no gap in the job. | CMail, webmail and client, Outlook support, ActiveSync, hosted and MSP options. The Outlook Connector, ActiveSync and AntiVirus are separately licensed. |
| Ease of use | DIt's a container deployment that a provider sets up, and the site is written for partners. | DNo store rating on record. It is a server you install and administer, a D. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, with Outlook, ActiveSync, IMAP, POP3, LDAP and Active Directory connections. | BWindows server with webmail and a Mac client listed, plus Outlook, ActiveSync and MailStore. |
| Best for | business email and calendar for hosting providers | 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: Kopano and MDaemon. How we grade
Where they differ
- Kopano also covers tasks.
In commonWebSelf-hostableCalendarEmail client
At a glance
| Kopano | MDaemon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free 30-day trial for up to ten users, through a demo environment | Free 30-day trial of MDaemon Email Server |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | NHe4a GmbH | MDaemon Technologies, Ltd. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Kopano
- No prices are published; access starts with a demo, a meeting and a proof of concept.
- The site is written for partners and managed service providers, not for individual buyers.
- The earlier Kopano Groupware product reached end of life in 2024 and was replaced by Kopano Cloud.
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
Kopano
- Web mail and calendar
- A browser client covers email, calendar, contacts and tasks, with out-of-office replies, mail filters, shared folders and free/busy scheduling.
- Outlook and mobile connectivity
- Outlook connects natively through autodiscover, phones and tablets use ActiveSync, and other clients can use IMAP, POP3 or EWS.
- Container deployment
- The stack ships as OCI (Docker) containers that are meant to be deployed and updated in the customer's own environment.
- Multi-tenant administration
- A multi-tenant design with a self-management interface for tenant admins, a REST API for automation and an agent for LDAP or Active Directory sync.
- Branding
- Central branding settings let a provider change colors in the web interface and optionally supply branded end-user documentation.
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
Kopano
Pricing could not be confirmed. See kopano.cloud.
MDaemon
Pricing could not be confirmed. See mdaemon.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kopano or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kopano has no price we could confirm, and MDaemon has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Kopano or MDaemon?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Kopano nor MDaemon has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Kopano and MDaemon run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only MDaemon lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a web 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.