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The Best Email Anti-Spam Software in 2026

We researched email anti-spam software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core filtering job, value for money, and verified features such as threat detection, quarantine controls, platform support, and retention limits.

Our top picks

  1. Top ranked

    A strong email archive for compliance workflows, but not a primary anti-spam filter.

    Pricing on request

  2. Runner-up

    A broad endpoint management suite, but not a focused email anti-spam product.

    Pricing on request

  3. Top-ranked free plan

    MX Guarddog#3 of 27
    8.7/10

    A low-cost cloud gateway for domain owners who run their own email servers.

    Free plan · 30-day trial

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

The full ranking 27 tools, best first

27 tools
  1. Best forOrganizations needing email archiving, not filtering

    A strong email archive for compliance workflows, but not a primary anti-spam filter.

    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit Barracuda
  2. Best forIT teams managing endpoint software and patches

    A broad endpoint management suite, but not a focused email anti-spam product.

    9.3/10★★★★★
    Contact Broadcom
  3. Best forBudget-conscious domain owners

    A low-cost cloud gateway for domain owners who run their own email servers.

    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit MX Guarddog
  4. Best forMSPs managing multiple protected mail environments

    A broad, MSP-focused email security service with filtering, continuity, archiving, and multitenant control.

    8.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit N-able
  5. Best forBusinesses needing cloud gateway sandboxing

    A cloud gateway combining email filtering, sandboxing, quarantine and routing controls.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Forcepoint
  6. Best forEnterprises wanting mature secure email infrastructure

    A broad email-security suite for organizations protecting complex mail environments.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Mimecast Email Security verdict → Visit Mimecast
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Mimecast
  7. Rspamd

    Best forTechnical teams building programmable filtering

    A configurable gateway for teams building spam, phishing, and malware controls.

    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Rspamd
  8. Best forSelf-hosted teams wanting a full mail gateway

    A full mail gateway for teams that want self-hosted scanning, rules, quarantine, and logs.

    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Proxmox
  9. Best forOrganizations needing broad, modern email protection

    Broad cloud email protection spanning phishing, malware, impersonation, DLP, and encryption.

    Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Sophos Email verdict → Visit Sophos Email
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Sophos Email
  10. JetEmail

    Best forTeams needing email marketing with basic delivery tools

    A flexible email marketing platform with basic delivery tools, not a dedicated anti-spam product.

    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit JetEmail
  11. Best forMicrosoft-centric hybrid email environments

    A flexible email gateway for Microsoft and SMTP environments, with filtering, encryption and routing controls.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    Pricing on request Our NoSpamProxy verdict → Visit NoSpamProxy
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit NoSpamProxy
  12. Best forMulti-domain providers using cPanel or WHM

    A focused cloud gateway for multi-domain email protection through cPanel and WHM.

    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit MailChannels
  13. Best forHybrid environments needing advanced threat detection

    A broad email security gateway for hybrid teams that need layered threat detection.

    Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Libraesva Email Security verdict → Visit Libraesva
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Libraesva
  14. SpamSieve

    Best forMac users wanting local Bayesian filtering

    A focused local Bayesian filter for Mac users who want detailed mail controls.

    • Attachment scanning
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit SpamSieve
  15. Cleanmail

    Best forBusinesses needing two-way filtering and continuity

    A two-way email gateway with continuity, quarantine, archiving, and outbound controls.

    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    Pricing on request Our Cleanmail verdict → Visit Alinto
    7.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Alinto
  16. Best forSecurity teams needing forensic email controls

    A forensic-focused email gateway for organizations managing complex or hybrid mail systems.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    7.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Retarus
  17. Best forMicrosoft 365 teams needing post-delivery defense

    A focused Microsoft 365 defense layer for phishing, malware, and post-delivery threats.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    6.9/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Vade
  18. Best forOrganizations needing inbound and outbound controls

    A gateway for organizations that need inbound, outbound, and impersonation controls.

    6.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Mailprotector
  19. Best forTeams wanting broad protection with quarantine control

    Broad email protection with quarantine controls for teams and administrators.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    6.7/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Mailinblack
  20. Best forIndividuals wanting inexpensive mailbox-side filtering

    A mailbox-side filter with broad account support, practical controls, and no quarantine access.

    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    Free plan · 30-day trial Our MailWasher verdict → Visit MailWasher
    6.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit MailWasher
  21. Zerospam

    Best forSmall businesses wanting simple cloud filtering

    A simple cloud gateway for businesses that want core email threat filtering.

    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    6.2/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Zerospam
  22. Best forCisco-centric teams managing network infrastructure

    A capable Cisco network management system, but not an email anti-spam product.

    6.0/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Cisco
  23. Best forSelf-hosters wanting configurable filtering

    A flexible self-hosted filter for administrators who want configurable spam controls.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    5.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site
  24. Best forWindows users wanting free mailbox spam filtering

    A Windows-focused spam filter with a free home edition and paid business options.

    • Attachment scanning
    • Phishing detection
    • Malware scanning
    Free plan · 10-day trial Our SPAMfighter verdict → Visit SPAMfighter
    5.0/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit SPAMfighter
  25. Best forSmall businesses wanting transparent gateway pricing

    A domain-priced gateway for filtering, quarantine, archiving, and outbound email.

    4.5/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit SpamHero
  26. Best forBusinesses seeking affordable gateway protection

    Affordable gateway protection with outbound scanning, sandboxing, and broad directory integration.

    From $1.95/user/mo (annual) Our SpamTitan Gateway verdict → Visit SpamTitan
    4.4/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit SpamTitan
  27. Best forCloud-native teams securing containers

    A container security platform for teams running Kubernetes and cloud container services.

    Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Trend Vision One Container Security verdict → Visit Trend Micro
    4.3/10★★☆☆☆
    Visit Trend Micro

No tools match those filters.

Compare at a glance

#ToolFree planPaid fromMalware scanningScore
1Barracuda Message ArchiverNo9.4
2Symantec IT Management Suite9.3
3MX GuarddogYes$0.25/unit/moYes8.7
4N-able Mail AssureNo8.6
5Forcepoint Email Security CloudYes7.9
6Mimecast Email SecurityNoYes7.9
7RspamdYes£100/mo7.9
8Proxmox Mail GatewayNo€190/yr7.9
9Sophos EmailNo7.9
10JetEmailYes$29/mo7.9
11NoSpamProxyYes7.9
12MailChannels Inbound FilteringYes7.9
13Libraesva Email SecurityNo7.8
14SpamSieveNo$39.99 one-timeNo7.8
15CleanmailYes7.1
16Retarus Email SecurityYes7.0
17Vade for Microsoft 365Yes6.9
18Mailprotector6.8
19Mailinblack ProtectYes6.7
20MailWasherYes$55.50/yrYes6.5
21ZerospamNoYes6.2
22Cisco Catalyst Center6.0
23Apache SpamAssassinFreeYes5.5
24SPAMfighterYesYes5.0
25SpamHero Business Email SecurityNo$7/site/mo4.5
26SpamTitan GatewayNo$1.95/user/mo4.4
27Trend Vision One Container SecurityNo4.3

Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →

Explore other topics All topics →

How we rank email Anti-Spam software

Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update