The Best Secure Email Gateway Software in 2026
We researched secure email gateway products through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings reflect the category’s core protection job, value for money and verified capabilities such as filtering, malware analysis, policy controls and continuity features, helping buyers shortlist secure email gateway software.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Mimecast Email Security#1 of 189.3/10A cloud email gateway with MX and API protection, sandboxing, URL analysis, and continuity options.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial
-
Runner-up
Check Point Email Security#2 of 189.2/10Email and collaboration protection with sandboxing, attachment sanitization, and DLP.
Pricing on request · 14-day trial
-
Top-ranked free plan
Cloudflare Gateway#14 of 185.0/10Useful for traffic filtering, but not designed as an email gateway in its described scope.
Free plan
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 18 tools, best first
-
Best forTeams needing mature cloud email security
A cloud email gateway with MX and API protection, sandboxing, URL analysis, and continuity options.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Mimecast Email Security verdict → Visit MimecastFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.3/10★★★★★Visit Mimecast -
Best forOrganizations protecting email and collaboration apps
Email and collaboration protection with sandboxing, attachment sanitization, and DLP.
Pricing on request · 14-day trial Our Check Point Email Security verdict → Visit Check PointFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.2/10★★★★★Visit Check Point -
Best forOrganizations using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Broad email protection for organizations that need threat detection and user controls.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Sophos Email verdict → Visit SophosFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →9.1/10★★★★★Visit Sophos -
Best forOrganizations needing hybrid email security controls
Hybrid email security with inbound and outbound controls, sandboxing, DLP, and encryption.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Fortinet -
Best forMid-market and enterprise cloud email protection
Cloud email filtering with sandboxing, quarantine workflows and centralized policies.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Forcepoint -
Best forOrganizations prioritizing email archiving and eDiscovery
A focused archive for retention and legal discovery, not a gateway threat-filtering tool.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Barracuda -
Best forTeams self-hosting an inbound and outbound mail gateway
A self-hosted SMTP gateway with broad filtering controls and annual per-host support plans.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Proxmox -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing gateway threat filtering
A low-cost gateway combining multilayer spam checks, dual antivirus, sandboxing, and outbound scanning.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SpamTitan -
Best forTeams needing email filtering, continuity and archiving
A gateway for filtering threats and protecting email flow across hosted or self-hosted setups.
- Outbound DLP
- Email encryption
- Continuity spooling
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit MDaemon -
Best forMicrosoft 365 teams wanting bundled security services
A broad Microsoft 365 security bundle, with plan-based features and sales-led pricing.
Pricing on request · 14-day trial Our Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection verdict → Visit Hornetsecurity8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Hornetsecurity -
Best forOrganizations seeking straightforward email threat filtering
Email threat filtering with quarantine, link analysis and cloud or self-hosted deployment.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Mailinblack -
Best forTeams seeking AI-led email threat analysis
A broad email gateway combining semantic AI, behavioral detection, and threat remediation.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Libraesva -
Best forSmall domains seeking affordable cloud email filtering
Affordable domain-based filtering with quarantine, archiving and outbound controls.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit SpamHero -
Best forTeams seeking web, DNS, and network filtering
Useful for traffic filtering, but not designed as an email gateway in its described scope.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Cloudflare -
Best forSmall and midsize teams needing hosted or self-managed email
A mail server suite with security controls, not a dedicated email gateway.
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit Kerio Connect -
Best forSmall and midsize businesses protecting endpoints
Endpoint protection for business devices, not a secure email gateway.
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forMid-market and enterprise endpoint management
A broad endpoint-management suite, not a secure email gateway.
3.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Broadcom -
Best forDevOps and enterprise container security teams
A container security platform, not a secure email gateway.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Trend Vision One Container Security verdict → Contact Trend Micro3.4/10★★☆☆☆Contact Trend Micro
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mimecast Email Security | No | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Check Point Email Security | No | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Sophos Email | No | 9.1 | |
| 4 | FortiMail Email Security | 9.0 | ||
| 5 | Forcepoint Email Security Cloud | 8.9 | ||
| 6 | Barracuda Message Archiver | No | 8.8 | |
| 7 | Proxmox Mail Gateway | No | €190/yr | 8.7 |
| 8 | SpamTitan Gateway | No | $1.95/user/mo | 8.6 |
| 9 | MDaemon SecurityGateway | No | $0.40/user/mo | 8.5 |
| 10 | Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection | No | 8.4 | |
| 11 | Mailinblack Protect | 8.3 | ||
| 12 | Libraesva Email Security | No | 7.9 | |
| 13 | SpamHero Business Email Security | No | $7/site/mo | 7.8 |
| 14 | Cloudflare Gateway | Yes | 5.0 | |
| 15 | Kerio Connect | No | 4.8 | |
| 16 | Microsoft Defender for Business | No | $3/user/mo | 4.6 |
| 17 | Symantec IT Management Suite | 3.6 | ||
| 18 | Trend Vision One Container Security | No | 3.4 |
Head-to-head All 20 comparisons →
- Mimecast Email Security vs Check Point Email Security
- Mimecast Email Security vs FortiMail Email Security
- Mimecast Email Security vs SpamTitan Gateway
- Check Point Email Security vs FortiMail Email Security
- Check Point Email Security vs Forcepoint Email Security Cloud
- Check Point Email Security vs Barracuda Message Archiver
- Check Point Email Security vs Proxmox Mail Gateway
- Check Point Email Security vs SpamTitan Gateway
- Sophos Email vs FortiMail Email Security
Explore other topics All topics →
- AI Tools 303 directories · 8,269 tools ranked AI Writing Tools · AI Video Generators · Text-to-Speech Software
- Web Hosting & Domains 275 directories · 6,107 tools ranked Shared Web Hosting · Managed Cloud Hosting · Dedicated Server Hosting
- Productivity 157 directories · 4,948 tools ranked Note-Taking Apps · Calendar Apps · Project Management Software
- Marketing 135 directories · 3,977 tools ranked SEO Tools · Influencer Marketing Platforms · Email Marketing Software
- Sales & CRM 152 directories · 4,161 tools ranked Real Estate CRM Software · CRM Software · Proposal Software
- Customer Service 55 directories · 1,547 tools ranked Chatbot Builders · Knowledge Base Software · Call Center Software
How we rank secure email gateway 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














