The hMailServer Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about hMailServer in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
hMailServer
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source mail server that runs on Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from hMailServer’s own pages.
Made by hMailServer · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from hMailServer’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on hMailServer’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade
hMailServer is a mail server for Windows that handles IMAP, POP3 and SMTP. It has no mail interface of its own, so users read mail in an email client or in a separate webmail system. It is released under the AGPLv3 license and managed through an administration tool or a web front end.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about hMailServer, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install and administer a server yourself, and add a webmail separately.
- 1
Best for a free mail server for Windows
hMailServer is a free open-source mail server that runs on Windows.
- 2
It is free
hMailServer has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the AGPLv3 license, with no paid plans.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
Standard mail protocols
Supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP4, so it works with most email clients and with webmail systems that use IMAP and SMTP.
- 5
Spam and virus filtering
Built-in score-based spam checks include SPF and SURBL, and it can attach to ClamAV, SpamAssassin or ASSP.
- 6
Administration tools
hMailServer Administrator adds domains and accounts and changes settings. A web front end, hMailServer WebAdmin, covers the same tasks.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 2 of 122
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
hMailServer is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
hMailServer at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- hMailServer
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for a free mail server for Windows
hMailServer is a free open-source mail server that runs on Windows. It has no built-in webmail, support is a community forum, and the latest stable release is 5.7.1.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free, but it needs a Windows server of your own. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free under the AGPL with no paid plans. You supply the Windows machine. |
| Features | C | Standard mail protocols, spam and virus filtering, domains, routing and backup. It's a server only, with no webmail, so you add one. |
| Ease of use | D | You install and administer a server yourself, and add a webmail separately. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only. The site lists no Linux or macOS build. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who hMailServer is for
- Fits if you already run a Windows server and want mail on it
- Works for admins who add Roundcube or SquirrelMail on top
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Administrators who want a free mail server on Windows
- Small businesses, schools and hobbyists hosting their own domains
- Setups that pair the server with Roundcube or another webmail
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
hMailServer is free to use.
Free, but it needs a Windows server of your own.
hMailServer
$0
Free to download and run on your own Windows server under the AGPLv3 license.
The free plan
Free and open source under the AGPLv3 license, with no paid plans.
Read from hmailserver.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Free open-source mail server that runs on Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, workflow automation.
Standard mail protocols, spam and virus filtering, domains, routing and backup.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- ClamAV
- SpamAssassin
- ASSP
- Roundcube
- SquirrelMail
hMailServer is made by hMailServer.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/122
Other email apps it is graded above
hMailServer's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 69 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
hMailServer has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. hMailServer’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- BFree plan and trialAbove 69 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. hMailServer is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
hMailServer is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 112 of the 122 other email apps grade higher.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. hMailServer’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MDaemon, SmarterMail, Axigen, IceWarp and iRedMail
The 5 tools hMailServer is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
MDaemon
Free trial
Email server for Windows with webmail and Outlook connector.
- hMailServer has a free plan. MDaemon does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MDaemon lists a web app.
- Only MDaemon lists a macOS app.
- 2.2GPA
SmarterMail
Free plan · from $550
Business mail server for Windows and Linux with webmail.
- Only SmarterMail lists a web app.
- Only SmarterMail lists a Linux app.
- hMailServer is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Axigen
Free plan
Mail server with calendars and webmail for Windows and Linux.
- Only Axigen lists a web app.
- Only Axigen lists a Linux app.
- hMailServer is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
IceWarp
Free trial · from $1.50/mo
Business email, chat, files and meetings, cloud or self-hosted.
- hMailServer has a free plan. IceWarp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only IceWarp lists a web app.
- Only IceWarp lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- 1.8GPA
iRedMail
Free plan · from $499/yr
Open-source mail server installer for Linux and BSD.
- Only hMailServer lists a Windows app.
- Only iRedMail lists a Linux app.
- hMailServer also covers workflow automation.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is hMailServer free?
Yes. hMailServer is free to use. Free and open source under the AGPLv3 license, with no paid plans.
How much does hMailServer cost?
hMailServer lists one plan. hMailServer: $0. Prices were read from hmailserver.com on Nov 13, 2026.
What platforms does hMailServer work on?
hMailServer is available on Windows.
Does hMailServer have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. hMailServer is listed for Windows.
Does hMailServer have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. hMailServer is listed for Windows.
Is hMailServer open source?
Yes. hMailServer is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
What does hMailServer integrate with?
hMailServer's listing names ClamAV, SpamAssassin, ASSP, Roundcube and SquirrelMail.
Who makes hMailServer?
hMailServer is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to hMailServer?
The closest alternatives to hMailServer in our directory are MDaemon, SmarterMail, Axigen, IceWarp and iRedMail.
How does hMailServer compare with other email apps?
hMailServer's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 2 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is hMailServer good value for money?
ToolGPA grades hMailServer C for value for money. hMailServer has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of hMailServer?
hMailServer is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from hMailServer’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the hMailServer project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by hMailServer. Prices change, so check hmailserver.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- hMailServer, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hmailserver
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "hMailServer: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hmailserver
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hmailserver/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after hMailServer, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 126 email apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft Outlook Insider's GuideMicrosoft's email and calendar app for desktop, mobile and web3.6 GPA
- AOL Mail Insider's GuideFree webmail with news and weather in a companion mobile app3.2 GPA
- BlueMail Insider's GuideCross-platform email client with a unified inbox and built-in AI3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what hMailServer’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. hMailServer is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by hMailServer. Prices and plans change: check hmailserver.com before you buy.