Kolab Now review
A broad groupware service with PGP email encryption and extensive sync support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Kolab Now is a hosted email and groupware service for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and businesses. It combines web-based email with calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, file storage, aliases, custom-domain support, server-side filtering, and two-factor authentication. Access is available through web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with support for desktop and mobile clients such as Thunderbird, Outlook, and Apple Mail. Its broad feature set makes it a fit for users who want more than a standalone mailbox.
Pricing is split between two paid monthly plans. Just secure E-Mail costs CHF 5 per user per month and includes 5 GB of storage, PGP-based email encryption, a responsive web client, IMAP, SMTP, and email support. Full Kolab Groupware costs CHF 9.90 per user per month and adds email, calendars, contacts, files, tasks, notes, the same 5 GB of storage, and synchronization through ActiveSync, IMAP, SMTP, CalDAV, and CardDAV. It also includes voice and video conferencing in beta. A 30-day free trial is available, but there is no free plan.
The main advantage is ecosystem flexibility: standard protocols support connections across common mail, calendar, contact, and file clients instead of limiting users to one interface. That makes the groupware tier the more complete choice for teams coordinating several data types. Security is more measured than the product category may suggest. PGP-based email encryption is included, but true end-to-end encryption is not provided; the web client stores a copy of PGP keys, while client-side encryption is required for end-to-end protection. Choose Kolab Now for broad groupware and synchronization needs, not for a service centered on verified end-to-end email encryption.
Kolab Now pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Email, calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, files, and sharing
- IMAP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, WebDAV, and ActiveSync support
- Custom domains, aliases, filtering, and two-factor authentication
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan; pricing starts at CHF 5 per user monthly
- True end-to-end encryption is not provided
- Voice and video conferencing is still in beta
Kolab Now fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update