Website & Development · Hosting Providers

SmarterMail

Self-hosted email and collaboration server for Windows and Linux, sold as a perpetual license with a free 10-mailbox edition.

Our take: SmarterMail gives small IT teams and hosts a self-run alternative to rented mailboxes, with webmail and groupware that cover the daily basics and a free edition for tiny offices.

Best forSelf-hosted business email

ReviewedOct 2026Freemium

6.75 criteria · see breakdown

Try SmarterMailFree (10 mailboxes); $550 one-time for 50

SmarterMail is self-hosted email and collaboration server software from SmarterTools for Windows, Linux and Docker. It suits IT admins, small businesses and web hosts that want to run their own mail. The Free Edition covers one domain with up to 10 mailboxes; paid licenses start at $550 one-time for 50 mailboxes, and yearly support renewal costs 50% of the license price.

The bottom line

A capable self-hosted mail server with a real free tier; budget for yearly support and sync add-ons.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

Capterra

3.9

10+ reviews

3.9 / 5 aggregate · across 1 source

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isWindows and Linux mail server software you host yourself, licensed once per mailbox tier.

Our takeSmarterMail gives small IT teams and hosts a self-run alternative to rented mailboxes, with webmail and groupware that cover the daily basics and a free edition for tiny offices.

Read the price list carefully: support renewal is 50% of the license each year, and Outlook and phone sync are separate annual add-ons. It makes sense when you already run servers and want control over your mail.

Why we rate itBroad mail and groupware features with published prices and a usable free edition.

The catchYearly Maintenance and Support at 50% of the license, and paid MAPI/EWS and ActiveSync add-ons for Outlook and phones.

Best / not good for

Best for

Small offices with 10 or fewer mailboxes
Web hosts and ISPs
Teams that want to keep mail on their own servers

Not good for

Teams without anyone to run a server
Buyers who want no recurring costs for Outlook sync

Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

Time to value
Hours to days: install, DNS records, certificates and spam settings come before the first mailbox works.
Scale breakpoint
An 11th mailbox or a second domain ends the free edition; Outlook or phone sync adds annual add-on fees.
Walled garden
Low: standard protocols (IMAP, POP, CalDAV, CardDAV) work with most mail clients.

Still a fit?

If none of these block you, start on the free plan.

Try SmarterMail

SmarterMail license prices (one-time, per mailbox tier)

Mailboxes	Professional	Enterprise	Enterprise MAPI/EWS add-on
50	$550	$700	$325
250	$950	$1,200	$450
500	$1,200	$1,500	$650
1,000	$1,500	$1,800	$775
2,000	$1,800	$2,200	$900
Unlimited	$2,500	$3,200	$1,200

From SmarterTools' pricing page, checked 4 October 2026. Licenses include 12 months of Maintenance and Support; renewal is 50% of the new product price per year. Add-ons and Exchange ActiveSync ($325 for 25 mailboxes up to $1,675 for 300) are licensed annually. High Availability costs $250/month per hub and $300/month per node.

Which edition fits

Edition	Limits	Notable inclusions
Free	1 domain, up to 10 mailboxes, standalone	Most Enterprise features; no MAPI/EWS, EAS or premium add-ons
Professional	Mailbox tier you buy	Webmail-focused; POP, IMAP, DAV, CalDAV, CardDAV; file storage
Enterprise	Mailbox tier you buy	Voice and video chat, online meetings, built-in archiving; MAPI/EWS and EAS as add-ons
High Availability	Unlimited users and domains	Clustered hubs and nodes; MAPI and EWS included

From SmarterTools' edition comparison, downloads and pricing pages, checked 4 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SmarterMail free?

Partly. The Free Edition covers one domain with up to 10 mailboxes on a standalone server and includes most Enterprise features, but not Outlook (MAPI/EWS) or ActiveSync sync. Bigger setups need a paid license (checked 4 October 2026).

How much does SmarterMail cost?

Licenses are one-time per mailbox tier: Professional from $550 for 50 mailboxes to $2,500 for unlimited, Enterprise from $700 to $3,200. The first 12 months of Maintenance and Support are included; renewal costs 50% of the new license price each year (checked 4 October 2026).

How do I log in to SmarterMail?

Conversion Gems is a review site, not SmarterTools. SmarterMail runs on each organization's own server, so there is no central sign-in page. Use the webmail address your email host or IT team gave you, or ask them for it.

What is SmarterMail?

It is email and collaboration server software from SmarterTools. You install it on Windows, Linux or Docker, and it provides webmail, shared calendars, contacts, tasks and notes, plus chat and meetings on the Enterprise edition.

What are the pros and cons of SmarterMail?

Pros: a free 10-mailbox edition, published one-time prices and perpetual licenses. Cons: yearly support renewal at half the license price, paid add-ons for Outlook and phone sync, and the work of running your own mail server.

Is SmarterMail better than Gmail?

They solve different problems. Gmail is a hosted service you rent per user. SmarterMail is software you run yourself, which gives you control over the server and data but makes you responsible for updates, security and deliverability.

SmarterMail alternatives

Other email options to compare:

Showing 1–3 of 4

Sources checked October 4, 2026: SmarterMail pricing, SmarterMail downloads (free edition, versions), SmarterMail edition comparison, SmarterMail overview, Maintenance and Support renewal terms, SmarterTools licensing information.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.