The SOGo Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SOGo 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.
SOGo
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source groupware with webmail, calendars and contacts
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from SOGo’s own pages.
Made by Alinto · 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 SOGo’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SOGo’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
SOGo is a groupware server with a browser interface for mail, calendars and address books. It is released under the GPL and LGPL and is run on your own servers. Native clients connect through CalDAV, CardDAV and Microsoft ActiveSync. Paid support contracts from Alinto unlock the official production package repositories.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about SOGo, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and wire it to your own mail and database servers.
- 1
Best for groupware you run yourself
SOGo is open-source groupware with webmail, calendars and contacts that you install on your own server.
- 2
It is free
SOGo has no paid plan at all. The software is free to download and run yourself, with community support through a mailing list.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Web interface for mail and groupware
An AJAX-based interface for email, shared calendars and address books across an organization.
- 5
Standards-based sync
Supports CalDAV, CardDAV and GroupDAV, with IMAP and SMTP for mail, so many native clients can connect.
- 6
ActiveSync for phones
iPhone, Android and Windows Phone devices can sync email, contacts, events and tasks through Microsoft ActiveSync.
- 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
SOGo is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
SOGo at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Alinto
- Category
- Email Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for groupware you run yourself
SOGo is open-source groupware with webmail, calendars and contacts that you install on your own server. Production-ready builds sit behind a paid support contract starting at 500 euros a year, and the free nightly builds aren't meant for production.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free only if you host it yourself, which needs a mail server and a database. Production builds need a support contract from 500 euros a year. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The software is free to download, but the free route is nightly builds that the project calls untested. |
| Features | B | Webmail, calendars, contacts, ActiveSync and Outlook and Thunderbird support, and the listing shows no gap in the groupware job. |
| Ease of use | D | You install it and wire it to your own mail and database servers. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | A web interface, plus ActiveSync, Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Calendar connections. There's no desktop app 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 SOGo is for
- Fits if you run mail for an organisation and want webmail with shared calendars
- Works for admins who already run IMAP and database servers
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as it gives you no hosted mailbox
- Skip it if you want production builds without paying, since those need a support contract
- Watch out: support contracts are priced in euros, 500 to 7,500 a year
- Watch out: the price list is dated September 2024
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
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
SOGo is free to use.
Free only if you host it yourself, which needs a mail server and a database.
Community
$0
Free software you host yourself, with nightly builds, mailing-list help and documentation. No official releases or bug fixes.
The free plan
The software is free to download and run yourself, with community support through a mailing list.
Read from sogo.nu 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
Open-source groupware with webmail, calendars and contacts. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, calendar, email client.
Webmail, calendars, contacts, ActiveSync and Outlook and Thunderbird support, and the listing shows no gap in the groupware job.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Microsoft Outlook
- Thunderbird
- Apple Calendar
- Android
SOGo is made by Alinto.
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
SOGo'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).
SOGo has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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. SOGo’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
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. SOGo 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
SOGo 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: 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.
- 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. SOGo’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
Zimbra, Roundcube, Horde, Kopano and Open-Xchange
The 5 tools SOGo is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
Zimbra
Paid
Self-hosted email, calendar and file sharing for organizations.
- SOGo has a free plan. Zimbra does not.
- Only Zimbra lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Zimbra also covers tasks.
- 2.0GPA
Roundcube
Free
Free open-source webmail client you host yourself.
- SOGo also covers calendar.
- 2.4GPA
Horde
Free
Free open-source webmail, calendar, contacts and tasks suite.
- Horde also covers notes and tasks.
- 2.2GPA
Kopano
Free trial
Container-based business email and calendar for hosting providers.
- SOGo has a free plan. Kopano does not, though it has a free trial.
- SOGo is open source, according to its own site.
- Kopano also covers tasks.
- 1.8GPA
Open-Xchange
Paid
OX App Suite email platform sold to providers and governments.
- SOGo has a free plan. Open-Xchange does not.
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 SOGo free?
Yes. SOGo is free to use.
How much does SOGo cost?
SOGo lists one plan. Community: $0.
What platforms does SOGo work on?
SOGo is available on Web.
Does SOGo have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SOGo is listed for Web.
Does SOGo have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SOGo is listed for Web.
Is SOGo open source?
Yes. SOGo is open source, according to its own site.
What does SOGo integrate with?
SOGo's listing names Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Calendar and Android.
Who makes SOGo?
SOGo is made by Alinto.
What are the alternatives to SOGo?
The closest alternatives to SOGo in our directory are Zimbra, Roundcube, Horde, Kopano and Open-Xchange.
How does SOGo compare with other email apps?
SOGo's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 29 of the 122 other email apps we grade, and level with 24.
Is SOGo good value for money?
ToolGPA grades SOGo C for value for money. SOGo has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of SOGo?
SOGo 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 SOGo’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 Alinto'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 Alinto. Prices change, so check sogo.nu 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
- SOGo, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sogo
- 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, "SOGo: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sogo
Know someone choosing between email apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sogo/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email apps after SOGo, 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 SOGo’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. SOGo is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Alinto. Prices and plans change: check sogo.nu before you buy.