The SmarterMail Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SmarterMail 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.
SmarterMail
The Insider’s Guide
Business mail server for Windows and Linux with webmail
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from SmarterMail’s own pages.
Made by SmarterTools · 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 SmarterMail’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SmarterMail’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
SmarterMail is a mail server from SmarterTools for Windows and Linux, with webmail, calendars, contacts, tasks and file storage. It comes in Free, Professional, Enterprise and High Availability editions, and licenses are priced by number of mailboxes.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about SmarterMail, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is a server to install and administer, so a D.
- 1
Best for a mail server for Windows or Linux priced by mailbox
The pages don't say if licences are one-time or yearly, and ActiveSync, MAPI/EWS and the antispam and antivirus engines cost extra.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $550 for Professional with 50 mailboxes; license term not stated.
- 3
There is a free plan
SmarterMail Free: one domain with up to 10 mailboxes, on Windows or Linux.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, Linux and Web.
- 5
Webmail
A browser interface the vendor compares to Outlook on the web, with calendars, contacts, notes and tasks.
- 6
Shared collaboration
Shared calendars, contacts, tasks and notes, plus file storage under your own control.
- 7
Meetings and chat
Enterprise adds online meetings with screen sharing, scheduling and voice and video chat.
- 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 SmarterMail 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.
SmarterMail at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $550 for Professional with 50 mailboxes; license term not stated
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- SmarterTools
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a mail server for Windows or Linux priced by mailbox
SmarterMail has a free edition for one domain with 10 mailboxes, and paid editions priced by mailbox count. The pages don't say if licences are one-time or yearly, and ActiveSync, MAPI/EWS and the antispam and antivirus engines cost extra.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Professional is $550 for 50 mailboxes and Enterprise $700, with the billing term not shown. A price that unclear is a C, and the add-ons are extra. |
| Free plan and trial | B | SmarterMail Free covers one domain and up to 10 mailboxes on Windows or Linux. No trial is listed for paid editions. |
| Features | C | Webmail, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, files, and Enterprise adds meetings, chat and archiving. ActiveSync from $325 for 25 mailboxes, MAPI/EWS and antispam are extra. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. It is a server to install and administer, so a D. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Linux and web, with Outlook, Active Directory and LDAP, plus mobile sync as a paid add-on. |
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 SmarterMail is for
- Fits if you run up to 10 mailboxes on one domain and want a free server
- Works for small hosts who need webmail and shared calendars
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need to know the licence term, as the pricing page doesn't say one-time or annual
- Pricey if you add ActiveSync, MAPI/EWS or the antispam and antivirus engines
- Tight if you need meetings, chat or archiving, which are Enterprise only
- Watch out: antispam and antivirus add-ons need an annual licence with active maintenance
Good to know
Good for
- SMBs and ISPs replacing Exchange with a cheaper server
- Small setups that fit the free 10-mailbox edition
Worth knowing
- ActiveSync (from $325 for 25 mailboxes), MAPI/EWS and the antispam and antivirus engines are paid add-ons.
- The pricing page does not say whether base licenses are one-time or annual.
- Antispam and antivirus add-ons need an annual license with active maintenance and support.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$550
To start. There is a free plan too
SmarterMail has a free plan. Paid plans start at $550 for Professional with 50 mailboxes; license term not stated.
A price that unclear is a C, and the add-ons are extra.
Free
$0
One domain, up to 10 mailboxes; the vendor says it has 99% of Enterprise functionality.
Professional
$550
for 50 mailboxes; billing term not shown
Webmail, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, file storage. $2,500 for unlimited.
Enterprise
$700
for 50 mailboxes; billing term not shown
Adds meetings, scheduling, chat and archiving. $1,500 at 500 mailboxes.
Enterprise, unlimited
$3,200
for unlimited mailboxes; billing term not shown
Enterprise edition with no mailbox cap.
High Availability
$250
per hub / month; nodes $300 per month
Clustered hubs and nodes for unlimited users and domains; first 30 days free.
The free plan
SmarterMail Free: one domain with up to 10 mailboxes, on Windows or Linux.
Read from smartertools.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
3
Places it runs: Web, Windows and Linux
Business mail server for Windows and Linux with webmail. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, calendar, email client, file sharing.
Webmail, shared calendars, contacts, tasks, files, and Enterprise adds meetings, chat and archiving.
- Webmail
- A browser interface the vendor compares to Outlook on the web, with calendars, contacts, notes and tasks.
- Shared collaboration
- Shared calendars, contacts, tasks and notes, plus file storage under your own control.
- Meetings and chat
- Enterprise adds online meetings with screen sharing, scheduling and voice and video chat.
- Archiving
- Built-in archiving of email and chats for regulatory needs such as SOX and HIPAA.
- Outlook and mobile sync
- Enterprise can add MAPI and EWS for Outlook and Exchange ActiveSync for phones, both priced separately.
- High availability
- A clustered edition with hubs, nodes and centralized storage for fault tolerance.
Where it runs
- Web
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Microsoft Outlook
- Active Directory
- LDAP
SmarterMail is made by SmarterTools.
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
SmarterMail'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 free plan and trial (B, above 69 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. SmarterMail’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
- 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 SmarterMail 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.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: HIPAA.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. SmarterMail’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
Axigen, MDaemon, IceWarp, Zimbra and GFI KerioConnect
The 5 tools SmarterMail is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Axigen
Free plan
Mail server with calendars and webmail for Windows and Linux.
- SmarterMail also covers file sharing.
- 2.0GPA
MDaemon
Free trial
Email server for Windows with webmail and Outlook connector.
- SmarterMail has a free plan. MDaemon does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SmarterMail lists a Linux app.
- Only MDaemon lists a macOS app.
- 2.6GPA
IceWarp
Free trial · from $1.50/mo
Business email, chat, files and meetings, cloud or self-hosted.
- SmarterMail has a free plan. IceWarp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SmarterMail lists a Linux app.
- Only IceWarp lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
Zimbra
Paid
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations.
- SmarterMail has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
- Only Zimbra lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Zimbra is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
GFI KerioConnect
Free trial
Self-hosted business mail server with calendar, chat and local AI.
- SmarterMail has a free plan. GFI KerioConnect does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SmarterMail lists a web app.
- Only GFI KerioConnect lists a macOS app.
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 SmarterMail free?
SmarterMail has a free plan. SmarterMail Free: one domain with up to 10 mailboxes, on Windows or Linux.
How much does SmarterMail cost?
SmarterMail lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does SmarterMail work on?
SmarterMail is available on Windows, Linux and Web.
Does SmarterMail have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SmarterMail is listed for Windows, Linux and Web.
Does SmarterMail have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SmarterMail is listed for Windows, Linux and Web.
Is SmarterMail open source?
SmarterMail is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Can SmarterMail be self-hosted?
Yes. SmarterMail's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
What does SmarterMail integrate with?
SmarterMail's listing names Microsoft Outlook, Active Directory and LDAP.
Who makes SmarterMail?
SmarterMail is made by SmarterTools.
What are the alternatives to SmarterMail?
The closest alternatives to SmarterMail in our directory are Axigen, MDaemon, IceWarp, Zimbra and GFI KerioConnect.
How does SmarterMail compare with other email apps?
SmarterMail'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 SmarterMail?
To replace SmarterMail 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 SmarterMail’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 SmarterMail'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 SmarterTools. Prices change, so check smartertools.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
- SmarterMail, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/smartermail
- 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, "SmarterMail: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/smartermail
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/smartermail/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after SmarterMail, 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 SmarterMail’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. SmarterMail is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by SmarterTools. Prices and plans change: check smartertools.com before you buy.