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Head-to-head · Email Archiving Software

Barracuda Message Archiver vs Global Relay Archive

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Barracuda Message Archiver #2 in Email Archiving Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Barracuda
Global Relay Archive #8 in Email Archiving Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Global Relay

Barracuda Message Archiver leads on 0 checks, Global Relay Archive on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBarracuda Message Archiver · 9.3/10

Barracuda Message Archiver scores higher on our rubric for email archiving software: 9.3 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

On deployment, Barracuda Message Archiver gives you Hybrid where Global Relay Archive offers Cloud.

Barracuda Message Archiver is the better fit for hybrid enterprises with complex infrastructure. Global Relay Archive is the better fit for large firms needing communications compliance.

  • Barracuda Message Archiver fits best

    Hybrid enterprises with complex infrastructure

  • Global Relay Archive fits best

    Large firms needing communications compliance

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Side by side

Feature Barracuda Message Archiver 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Global Relay Archive 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.9
Ranking #2 in Email Archiving Software #8 in Email Archiving Software
Best for Hybrid enterprises with complex infrastructure Large firms needing communications compliance
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request Pricing on request
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS Web
Integrations 13 integrations 4 integrations
Features Barracuda Message Archiver 3/3 · Global Relay Archive 3/3
Legal hold ✓ ✓
eDiscovery tools ✓ ✓
Journal capture ✓ ✓
Specs
Retention period Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment Hybrid Cloud
Search and export PST, EML Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Captures messages through SMTP journaling as they are sent or received
  • Supports legal holds, eDiscovery workflows, audit trails, and Boolean search
  • Offers physical, virtual, cloud, and federated archive deployment options
  • Identity-aware, cross-channel search with Boolean queries and keyword lists
  • Custodian-based legal holds, eDiscovery cases, analytics, and export
  • Journal-based Microsoft 365 capture with immutable record preservation
Cons
  • Pricing requires a customized quote rather than published numeric plans
  • No free plan is available for evaluation
  • AI-powered features are not included
  • Pricing is sales-led rather than self-serve
  • Private-infrastructure operation may not suit every deployment preference
  • Its breadth may exceed the needs of smaller teams with simple archive requirements
Our verdict

Barracuda Message Archiver stores and retrieves email from standards-compliant mail servers and cloud services. It is designed for organizations that need policy-based retention, legal holds, eDiscovery, audit workflows, and controlled…

Read the review →

Global Relay Archive is a cloud communications archive for regulated organizations that need controlled recordkeeping, retention management, discovery, and auditability. It captures enterprise communications, normalizes them into…

Read the review →
  1. Barracuda Message ArchiverEmail Archiving Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Global Relay ArchiveEmail Archiving Software 8.9Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Barracuda Message Archiver — where it wins

    • Captures messages through SMTP journaling as they are sent or received
    • Supports legal holds, eDiscovery workflows, audit trails, and Boolean search
    • Offers physical, virtual, cloud, and federated archive deployment options

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a customized quote rather than published numeric plans
    • No free plan is available for evaluation
    • AI-powered features are not included

  • Global Relay Archive — where it wins

    • Identity-aware, cross-channel search with Boolean queries and keyword lists
    • Custodian-based legal holds, eDiscovery cases, analytics, and export
    • Journal-based Microsoft 365 capture with immutable record preservation

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is sales-led rather than self-serve
    • Private-infrastructure operation may not suit every deployment preference
    • Its breadth may exceed the needs of smaller teams with simple archive requirements
  • Barracuda Message Archiver9.3/10 · Pricing on request

    A flexible archive for enterprises managing complex email retention and discovery requirements.

    Visit BarracudaFull verdict →
  • Global Relay Archive8.9/10 · Pricing on request

    Enterprise-grade capture, preservation, search, and eDiscovery for regulated organizations.

    Visit Global RelayFull verdict →

More comparisons

All email archiving software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update