Zimbra Collaboration
Zimbra Collaboration: A broad open-source suite for organizations that need email, collaboration, and deployment control. Ranked #2 of 34 in Mail Server Software by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for full-featured open-source collaboration mail.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFull-featured open-source collaboration mail
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Combines email, calendars, contacts, tasks, and file sharing
- Supports IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, and ActiveSync
- Includes migration, security, backup, and restore capabilities
Where it doesn't
- Commercial licensing uses quote-based pricing
- Hosted storage and attachment limits depend on the hosting provider
- Its broad feature set may exceed basic email-only requirements
Our verdict on Zimbra Collaboration
Zimbra Collaboration is an open-source email and collaboration suite from Synacor for businesses, educational institutions, service providers, and organizations that need control over deployment and data. It combines email, contacts, calendars, tasks, file sharing, administration, mobile synchronization, and security controls. Deployment options include on-premises environments, cloud environments, and hosting partners, with access through web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and APIs.
The published commercial model uses quote-based licensing, while the software also has a free open-source plan. Zimbra’s scope goes beyond mail delivery with shared calendars, resource scheduling, file sharing, Zimbra Desktop, Outlook integration, and connections to Slack, Zoom, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Standard protocol support includes IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, and CardDAV, while ActiveSync provides push synchronization for mobile devices. Hosted storage and attachment limits depend on the hosting provider, whereas administrators can configure those limits for on-premises deployments.
Security and migration are central parts of the offering. Anti-spam and antivirus scanning, two-factor authentication, SAML-based authentication, and backup and restore capabilities support controlled business deployments. Migration tools cover Exchange, PST, and iCalendar data, which fits organizations moving from existing mail and calendar systems. Zimbra is a strong choice for teams and service providers seeking a broad open-source collaboration suite with flexible deployment and platform coverage. Organizations that only need straightforward email, or prefer a simple self-serve hosted plan, may find its wider collaboration and administration scope less suitable.
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Zimbra Collaboration pricing
Zimbra Collaboration fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| License model | Not verified |
| Webmail interface | Not verified |
| IMAP/POP3 access | Not verified |
| Mobile sync | Not verified |
| Antispam tools | Not verified |
| Mailbox limit | Not verified |
| High availability | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: Slack, Zoom, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | zimbra.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Zimbra Collaboration integrations
Zimbra Collaboration lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- Slack
- Zoom
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Dropbox
Alternatives to Zimbra Collaboration
- Microsoft Exchange OnlineA Microsoft-centric hosted mailbox service with Outlook, archiving, compliance, and migration tools.9.3
- IceWarpA broad hosted email suite with collaboration, migration tools, and self-hosted deployment.9.0
- Apache JamesA flexible self-hosted mail server with broad protocols, storage options, and deployment models.8.8
See all Zimbra Collaboration alternatives →
Zimbra Collaboration vs the competition
- Zimbra Collaboration vs Microsoft Exchange Online
- Zimbra Collaboration vs Apache James
- Zimbra Collaboration vs MailEnable
- Zimbra Collaboration vs Dovecot
- Zimbra Collaboration vs mailcow
- Zimbra Collaboration vs HCL Domino
Compare Zimbra Collaboration with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Zimbra Collaboration is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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