The Kolab Now Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Kolab Now 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.
Kolab Now
The Insider’s Guide
Swiss-hosted email, calendars, contacts and tasks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Kolab Now’s own pages.
Made by Apheleia IT AG · 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 Kolab Now’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Kolab Now’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
Kolab Now is a hosted groupware service from Apheleia IT AG in Switzerland. It combines email, contacts, calendars, tasks and notes, with sync to phones and desktop clients over standard protocols. It is built on free and open-source software, and accounts can use a custom domain and add users from an admin panel.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Kolab Now, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You set up your own domain and add users, and phones and desktops sync through clients you pick.
- 1
Best for hosted Swiss email with calendars
The only plan we found is for groups, and its pricing page would not show readable text.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at CHF 9.90 per month (Group Account).
- 3
You can try it first
Free for the first 30 days, per the signup page.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Email with security features
Aliases and identities, full-text search and tagging, spam and virus filtering, and PGP for end-to-end encryption.
- 6
Calendar and tasks
Schedule meetings with internal and external users, create recurring series, assign tasks and track their progress.
- 7
Standard-protocol sync
Uses IMAP, SMTP, Sieve, CalDAV, CardDAV and ActiveSync, so Thunderbird, Outlook, eM Client and Apple apps can connect.
- 8
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.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Kolab Now 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.
Kolab Now at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from CHF 9.90 per month (Group Account)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free for the first 30 days, per the signup page.
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Apheleia IT AG, since 2013
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for hosted Swiss email with calendars
Kolab Now is Swiss-hosted email with calendars, contacts and tasks, starting at CHF 9.90 a month for a group account. The only plan we found is for groups, and its pricing page would not show readable text.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | CHF 9.90 a month is near the middle of what email services charge, and it's for a group account. We found no cheaper single plan. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free for the first 30 days, per the signup page. Whether it wants a card isn't on record. |
| Features | B | Email, calendar, tasks, sharing, documents and a video room, with sync over standard protocols. The listing shows no gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You set up your own domain and add users, and phones and desktops sync through clients you pick. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A hosted web service, with sync to Thunderbird, Outlook, eM Client and Apple apps. No apps of its own. |
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 Kolab Now is for
- Fits if you want hosted email and calendars for a group, kept in Switzerland
- Works for people who'd rather not run a server for a small team
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a single-user plan, as only Group Account appeared in the signup data
- Pricey if you count in dollars, since it's billed in Swiss francs and depends on user count
- Skip it if you want apps of its own, as none are listed
- Watch out: the pricing page would not render, so the price comes from the signup page data
Good to know
Good for
- Small businesses and families who want one hosted mailbox suite with shared calendars
- People who want mail, calendars and tasks synced to their existing apps
- Buyers who prefer Swiss hosting and open-source software
Worth knowing
- The pricing page did not render readable text; the price comes from the plan data the signup page loads.
- Pricing is in Swiss francs, and the page says it depends on user count; other price steps were not found.
- It is a hosted service only, with no apps of its own listed beyond sync to phones and desktop clients.
- Only the Group Account plan appeared in the signup data, so no cheaper individual plan was found.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
1
plan
Kolab Now is a paid product with a free trial, starting at CHF 9.90 per month (Group Account).
Whether it wants a card isn't on record.
Group Account
CHF 9.90
per month; the page says pricing is flexible by user count
Recommended for 1 to 100 users, with your own domains and an admin area to add users. Billed in Swiss francs.
Trying it first
Free for the first 30 days, per the signup page.
Read from kolabnow.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: Web
Swiss-hosted email, calendars, contacts and tasks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, tasks, calendar, email client, video calls.
Email, calendar, tasks, sharing, documents and a video room, with sync over standard protocols.
- Email with security features
- Aliases and identities, full-text search and tagging, spam and virus filtering, and PGP for end-to-end encryption.
- Calendar and tasks
- Schedule meetings with internal and external users, create recurring series, assign tasks and track their progress.
- Standard-protocol sync
- Uses IMAP, SMTP, Sieve, CalDAV, CardDAV and ActiveSync, so Thunderbird, Outlook, eM Client and Apple apps can connect.
- Sharing within an account
- Share mail folders, calendars and task lists with other users in your account, with granular access control.
- Documents and video room
- Attach files from online storage, edit office documents together and use a personal video conferencing room.
- Swiss hosting
- Data is hosted in Switzerland on dedicated hardware, and the company says it is not used for machine learning.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Thunderbird
- Microsoft Outlook
- eM Client
- Apple Mail
- Apple Calendar
Kolab Now is made by Apheleia IT AG, and has been around since 2013.
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
Kolab Now'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 free plan and trial (C, above 9).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Kolab Now’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- CFree plan and trialAbove 9 of 122
- BFeaturesAbove 79 of 122
- CEase of useAbove 20 of 122
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 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 Kolab Now 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. Kolab Now is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Calendar and tasks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- Video calls.
- It plugs into other products, Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook and eM Client among them.
- 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. Kolab Now’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
Fastmail, mailbox, Posteo, Zoho Mail and Proton Mail
The 5 tools Kolab Now is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Fastmail
Free trial · from $3/mo
Paid, ad-free email with calendar, contacts and custom domains.
- Only Fastmail lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Kolab Now is open source, according to its own site.
- Kolab Now also covers tasks and video calls.
- 2.6GPA
mailbox
Free trial · from €1/mo
Paid, ad-free email with cloud storage and office tools from Germany.
- Kolab Now is open source, according to its own site.
- mailbox is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- mailbox also covers documents and file sync.
- 2.0GPA
Posteo
From €1/mo
Ad-free, green-powered email from Berlin for €1 a month.
- Posteo is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Kolab Now also covers tasks and video calls.
- Posteo also covers notes.
- 3.2GPA
Zoho Mail
Free plan · from $1/mo
Ad-free business email hosting with calendar, tasks and notes.
- Zoho Mail has a free plan. Kolab Now does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho Mail lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Kolab Now is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Proton Mail
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland.
- Proton Mail has a free plan. Kolab Now does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Proton Mail lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Proton Mail is end-to-end encrypted, 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 Kolab Now free?
No, Kolab Now is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free for the first 30 days, per the signup page.
How much does Kolab Now cost?
Kolab Now lists one plan. Group Account: CHF 9.90 per month; the page says pricing is flexible by user count.
What platforms does Kolab Now work on?
Kolab Now is available on Web.
Does Kolab Now have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kolab Now is listed for Web.
Does Kolab Now have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kolab Now is listed for Web.
Is Kolab Now open source?
Yes. Kolab Now is open source, according to its own site.
What does Kolab Now integrate with?
Kolab Now's listing names Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Apple Mail and Apple Calendar.
Who makes Kolab Now?
Kolab Now is made by Apheleia IT AG. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Kolab Now?
The closest alternatives to Kolab Now in our directory are Fastmail, mailbox, Posteo, Zoho Mail and Proton Mail.
How does Kolab Now compare with other email apps?
Kolab Now'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 Kolab Now?
To replace Kolab Now 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 Kolab Now’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 Kolab Now's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. The pricing page would not show readable text, so the price rests on the listing.
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 Apheleia IT AG. Prices change, so check kolabnow.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
- Kolab Now, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kolab-now
- 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, "Kolab Now: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kolab-now
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kolab-now/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after Kolab Now, 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 Kolab Now’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. Kolab Now is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Apheleia IT AG. Prices and plans change: check kolabnow.com before you buy.