Best MX Guarddog Alternatives in 2026
The top MX Guarddog alternatives are Barracuda Message Archiver, Symantec IT Management Suite and N-able Mail Assure: 15 email Anti-Spam software our editors would look at instead of MX Guarddog, in our ranking order.
MX Guarddog: A low-cost cloud gateway for domain owners who run their own email servers. Where it falls short: does not support consumer gmail or hotmail accounts.
Switching from MX Guarddog? For most email anti-spam software buyers the best MX Guarddog alternative is Barracuda Message Archiver, built for organizations needing email archiving, not filtering. On a budget, JetEmail starts at $29/mo. Rspamd has a free plan. Forcepoint Email Security Cloud offers the most quarantine retention (30 days).
Why People Look for an MX Guarddog Alternative
- Does not support consumer Gmail or Hotmail accounts
- Designed for owned domains using standard SMTP servers
- Free access requires visible website text links to earn tokens
- Quarantine retention: 7 days — up to 30 days with Forcepoint Email Security Cloud
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallBarracuda Message Archiver9.4
Organizations needing email archiving, not filtering
Visit Barracuda Message Archiver - Lowest priceJetEmail7.9
Paid plans from $29/mo
Visit JetEmail - Best free optionRspamd7.9
Has a free plan
Visit Rspamd - Most quarantine retentionForcepoint Email Security Cloud7.9
30 days
Visit Forcepoint Email Security Cloud
All 15 MX Guarddog Alternatives, Ranked
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.
-
Best forOrganizations needing email archiving, not filtering
- Better than MX Guarddog:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.7
A strong email archive for compliance workflows, but not a primary anti-spam filter.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Barracuda -
Best forIT teams managing endpoint software and patches
- Better than MX Guarddog:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.7
A broad endpoint management suite, but not a focused email anti-spam product.
9.3/10★★★★★Contact Broadcom -
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 -
Best forBusinesses needing cloud gateway sandboxing
- Better than MX Guarddog:
- Quarantine retention: 30 days vs 7 days
A cloud gateway combining email filtering, sandboxing, quarantine and routing controls.
- Attachment scanning
- Phishing detection
- Malware scanning
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Forcepoint -
Best forEnterprises wanting mature secure email infrastructure
A broad email-security suite for organizations protecting complex mail environments.
- Attachment scanning
- Phishing detection
- Malware scanning
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Mimecast -
Best forTechnical teams building programmable filtering
A configurable gateway for teams building spam, phishing, and malware controls.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Rspamd -
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 -
Best forOrganizations needing broad, modern email protection
Broad cloud email protection spanning phishing, malware, impersonation, DLP, and encryption.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Sophos Email -
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 -
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
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit NoSpamProxy -
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 -
Best forHybrid environments needing advanced threat detection
A broad email security gateway for hybrid teams that need layered threat detection.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Libraesva -
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 -
Best forBusinesses needing two-way filtering and continuity
A two-way email gateway with continuity, quarantine, archiving, and outbound controls.
- Phishing detection
- Malware scanning
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Alinto -
Best forSecurity teams needing forensic email controls
- Better than MX Guarddog:
- Quarantine retention: 30 days vs 7 days
A forensic-focused email gateway for organizations managing complex or hybrid mail systems.
- Attachment scanning
- Phishing detection
- Malware scanning
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Retarus
MX Guarddog Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to MX Guarddog?
Barracuda Message Archiver: #1 in our Email Anti-Spam Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A strong email archive for compliance workflows, but not a primary anti-spam filter.
Is there a free alternative to MX Guarddog?
Yes. Rspamd and JetEmail have a free plan or a free tier.
Why do people look for MX Guarddog alternatives?
Does not support consumer Gmail or Hotmail accounts; Designed for owned domains using standard SMTP servers; Free access requires visible website text links to earn tokens.
Which MX Guarddog alternative has the most quarantine retention?
Forcepoint Email Security Cloud, with 30 days.
How do I switch from MX Guarddog?
Export your data from MX Guarddog (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel MX Guarddog.
How to Switch from MX Guarddog
- Export your data from MX Guarddog (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel MX Guarddog.
MX Guarddog vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Malware scanning | Supported mail platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | MX Guarddog | Yes | $0.25/unit/mo | Yes | Standard SMTP email servers for owned domains; not consumer Gmail or Hotmail accounts | 8.7 |
| 1 | Barracuda Message Archiver | No | 9.4 | |||
| 2 | Symantec IT Management Suite | 9.3 | ||||
| 3 | N-able Mail Assure | No | 8.6 | |||
| 4 | Forcepoint Email Security Cloud | Yes | Microsoft Exchange, Gmail for Business, and other email providers | 7.9 | ||
| 5 | Mimecast Email Security | No | Yes | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, on-premises and hybrid email | 7.9 | |
| 6 | Rspamd | Yes | £100/mo | 7.9 | ||
| 7 | Proxmox Mail Gateway | No | €190/yr | 7.9 | ||
| 8 | Sophos Email | No | 7.9 | |||
| 9 | JetEmail | Yes | $29/mo | 7.9 | ||
| 10 | NoSpamProxy | Yes | Microsoft 365, Microsoft Exchange and SMTP mail servers | 7.9 | ||
| 11 | MailChannels Inbound Filtering | Yes | Downstream SMTP mail servers; cPanel/WHM | 7.9 | ||
| 12 | Libraesva Email Security | No | 7.8 | |||
| 13 | SpamSieve | No | $39.99 one-time | No | Apple Mail, Airmail, GyazMail, MailMate, MailMaven, legacy Outlook, Entourage, MailForge, Mailsmith, Postbox, and PowerMail | 7.8 |
| 14 | Cleanmail | Yes | Professional mail servers and any email platform | 7.1 | ||
| 15 | Retarus Email Security | Yes | Microsoft 365; existing email systems and mail servers | 7.0 |
Head-to-Head
- MX Guarddog vs Barracuda Message Archiver
- MX Guarddog vs Symantec IT Management Suite
- MX Guarddog vs N-able Mail Assure
- MX Guarddog vs Forcepoint Email Security Cloud
- MX Guarddog vs Mimecast Email Security
- MX Guarddog vs Rspamd
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update