The GFI KerioConnect Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about GFI KerioConnect 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.
GFI KerioConnect
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted business mail server with calendar, chat and local AI
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from GFI KerioConnect’s own pages.
Made by GFI USA, LLC · 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 GFI KerioConnect’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on GFI KerioConnect’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
2.2
GPA, above 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade
GFI KerioConnect is a mail and collaboration server that organizations install on their own hardware or in a partner-hosted cloud. It combines email, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes and XMPP chat, and works with Outlook, IMAP and POP clients and ActiveSync phones. An AI add-on runs on local language models.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about GFI KerioConnect, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No prices are published, you get a quote from a reseller, and someone has to administer it.
- 1
Best for a self-hosted business mail server
GFI KerioConnect is a mail server with calendar, chat and local AI that you install and run yourself, on Windows, Mac or Linux.
- 2
You can try it first
30-day free trial with a download link and licence key sent by email
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Mail, calendar and collaboration
Email sits beside shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, shared and public folders, and room booking with attendee availability.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 29 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
To replace GFI KerioConnect you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
GFI KerioConnect at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial with a download link and licence key sent by email
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- GFI USA, LLC
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a self-hosted business mail server
GFI KerioConnect is a mail server with calendar, chat and local AI that you install and run yourself, on Windows, Mac or Linux. No prices are published, you get a quote from a reseller, and someone has to administer it. If you want a hosted mailbox, this isn't one.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published. The Buy now page sends you to a GFI reseller for a quote, so we can't place it against the $8 email middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 30-day trial with a download link and licence key sent by email. The listing doesn't say whether a card is needed, and there's no free plan. |
| Features | B | Mail, calendar, contacts, chat, security tools and local AI features in one server. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | D | It is a server you install and administer yourself, not a hosted service. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and works with Outlook, ActiveSync phones, Spark and CalDAV and CardDAV clients. |
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 GFI KerioConnect is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Organizations that want to run their own mail server
- Managed service providers, for which a separate MSP licensing option is listed
- Companies that need AI email help without sending data to a cloud service
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
GFI KerioConnect's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
The listing doesn't say whether a card is needed, and there's no free plan.
We could not confirm GFI KerioConnect’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. gfi.ai has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Self-hosted business mail server with calendar, chat and local AI. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, AI features, calendar, email client, shared inbox.
Mail, calendar, contacts, chat, security tools and local AI features in one server.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft ActiveSync
- Spark
- XMPP
- CalDAV
- CardDAV
GFI KerioConnect is made by GFI USA, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
29/122
Other email apps it is graded above
GFI KerioConnect's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 24.
It stands best on features (B, above 79 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. GFI KerioConnect’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- CFree plan and trialAbove 9 of 122
- BFeaturesAbove 79 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 57 of 122
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
To replace GFI KerioConnect you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 69 of the 122 other email apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Calendar: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- One mailbox that several people work at once.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft ActiveSync and Spark among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. GFI KerioConnect’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, IceWarp, SmarterMail, Axigen and Zimbra
The 5 tools GFI KerioConnect 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.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a Linux app.
- Only MDaemon lists a web app.
- GFI KerioConnect also covers shared inbox.
- 2.6GPA
IceWarp
Free trial · from $1.50/mo
Business email, chat, files and meetings, cloud or self-hosted.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a Linux app.
- Only IceWarp lists a web app.
- Only IceWarp lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
SmarterMail
Free plan · from $550
Business mail server for Windows and Linux with webmail.
- SmarterMail has a free plan. GFI KerioConnect does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a macOS app.
- Only SmarterMail lists a web app.
- 2.2GPA
Axigen
Free plan
Mail server with calendars and webmail for Windows and Linux.
- Axigen has a free plan. GFI KerioConnect does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a macOS app.
- Only Axigen lists a web app.
Zimbra
Paid
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations.
- Only Zimbra lists a web app.
- Only Zimbra lists iOS and Android apps.
- Zimbra is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 GFI KerioConnect free?
No, GFI KerioConnect is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial with a download link and licence key sent by email.
What platforms does GFI KerioConnect work on?
GFI KerioConnect is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does GFI KerioConnect have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. GFI KerioConnect is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does GFI KerioConnect have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. GFI KerioConnect is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is GFI KerioConnect open source?
GFI KerioConnect is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Can GFI KerioConnect be self-hosted?
Yes. GFI KerioConnect's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
What does GFI KerioConnect integrate with?
GFI KerioConnect's listing names Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft ActiveSync, Spark, XMPP, CalDAV and CardDAV.
Who makes GFI KerioConnect?
GFI KerioConnect is made by GFI USA, LLC.
What are the alternatives to GFI KerioConnect?
The closest alternatives to GFI KerioConnect in our directory are MDaemon, IceWarp, SmarterMail, Axigen and Zimbra.
How does GFI KerioConnect compare with other email apps?
GFI KerioConnect's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 24.
Could I make my own version of GFI KerioConnect?
To replace GFI KerioConnect you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from GFI KerioConnect’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 GFI KerioConnect'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 GFI USA, LLC. Prices change, so check gfi.ai 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
- GFI KerioConnect, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kerio-connect
- 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, "GFI KerioConnect: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kerio-connect
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kerio-connect/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after GFI KerioConnect, 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 GFI KerioConnect’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. GFI KerioConnect is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by GFI USA, LLC. Prices and plans change: check gfi.ai before you buy.