SOGo vs Zimbra (2026): which should you pick?

SOGo

• Organizations replacing Exchange with a self-hosted groupware server
• Admins who need Outlook and phone sync without MAPI connectors
• Teams comfortable running their own IMAP and SMTP servers

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

SOGo

• It is software to install: you supply the mail and database servers, and it provides no hosted mailbox.
• Production-build package repositories require a paid support contract from Alinto; free users get nightly builds.
• Nightly builds are described as untested and not recommended for production use.
• Support contracts are priced in euros per year: 500, 1,500, 5,000 or 7,500, per a price list dated September 2024.

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.

SOGo

Web interface for mail and groupware

An AJAX-based interface for email, shared calendars and address books across an organization.

Standards-based sync

Supports CalDAV, CardDAV and GroupDAV, with IMAP and SMTP for mail, so many native clients can connect.

ActiveSync for phones

iPhone, Android and Windows Phone devices can sync email, contacts, events and tasks through Microsoft ActiveSync.

Outlook and Thunderbird support

Outlook works through the free CalDAV Synchronizer plugin. Thunderbird has SOGo Connector and Integrator extensions.

Built for large deployments

The site says SOGo has run in production with thousands of users and focuses on scalability and open standards.

Paid support tiers

Yearly Alinto contracts cost 500 to 7,500 euros and add production repositories, incident tickets and response times.

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.

SOGo

• Community$0

  Free software you host yourself, with nightly builds, mailing-list help and documentation. No official releases or bug fixes.

Zimbra

Pricing could not be confirmed. See zimbra.com.