MDaemon Email Server is a comprehensive, self-hosted email platform built for small to mid-size businesses that want full control of their communications — without the cost and complexity of Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365. With over two decades of proven reliability, MDaemon delivers enterprise-grade email, collaboration, and security on an easy-to-manage Windows server.
From SMTP/IMAP/POP3 core protocols to built-in WebMail, CalDAV calendaring, CardDAV contacts, ActiveSync mobile sync, and XMPP instant messaging, MDaemon provides everything an organization needs in a single platform — deployed on-premise, hosted, or as a managed service. Trusted by businesses in 140+ countries since 1996.
Architecture overview
Clients and external senders connect to the MDaemon core, which handles protocols, WebMail, collaboration, security, and administration — then delivers mail to local mailboxes, lists, and external servers.
Feature capabilities
Six capability sets cover the full email, collaboration, mobility, and security lifecycle.
Built-in security
MDaemon includes a robust set of security features out of the box, with an optional add-on for organizations requiring advanced anti-virus and anti-spam protection.
Standard (included)
- SPF / DKIM / DMARC authentication
- SSL/TLS encryption (all connections)
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Hijacked account detection
- Spambot and backscatter protection
- PGP encryption
- Greylisting and DNSBL checking
- Content filtering and rules engine
AntiVirus / AntiSpam add-on
- Anti-virus / anti-malware scanning
- Anti-spam / anti-phishing engine
- Anti-spyware protection
- Outbreak Protection (zero-day threats)
- AI-based email classification
- QR code threat detection
- Bayesian learning spam filter
- SpamAssassin integration
MDaemon SecurityGateway
SecurityGateway is a standalone email security gateway that works alongside MDaemon, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, or any other mail server — filtering inbound and outbound email at the gateway level to stop spam, viruses, phishing, and malware before they reach the inbox.
- Compatible with
- MDaemon, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365 / Office 365, and any SMTP email server
- Inbound filtering
- DNSBL, IP reputation, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, SpamAssassin, Outbreak Protection, AI classification, AV scan
- Outbound protection
- DKIM signing, forced TLS encryption, DLP content policies, rate limiting, backscatter protection
- Quarantine
- Per-user quarantine digest; admin quarantine management; allow/block lists
- Reporting
- Detailed traffic reports, spam/virus statistics, message tracing, and log analysis
- Deployment
- On-premise (Windows) or cloud-hosted; licensed separately per user/domain
Licensing & add-ons
Base license
MDaemon Email Server — per-user licensing from 5 to 2,500+ users, with volume pricing for larger deployments.
License terms
1-year, 2-year, or 3-year terms available.
AntiVirus / AntiSpam
Add-on: AV engine, Outbreak Protection, AI classification, and QR detection.
Outlook Connector
Full groupware collaboration in Outlook — calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes.
ActiveSync
Native mobile sync of email, calendar, contacts, and tasks across all devices.
SecurityGateway
Standalone email security gateway; licensed separately per user/domain.
Why MDaemon?
Lower total cost
No per-seat Microsoft tax — predictable per-user pricing with multi-year discounts.
Full data control
Deploy on your own hardware or infrastructure — no partner cloud dependency.
Easy administration
Web-based admin, colorized logs, and automated MDMigrator make setup and management straightforward.
True mobile sync
ActiveSync natively syncs email, calendar, contacts, and tasks to any iOS, Android, or Windows device.
Layered security
Built-in SPF/DKIM/DMARC, 2FA, and hijack detection, with an optional AV/AS add-on and Outbreak Protection.
Flexible deployment
On-premise, hosted, or MSP/ISP multi-tenant — single server or redundant/backup configuration.
Exchange migration
Integrated MDMigrator moves complete mailboxes from Microsoft Exchange with minimal downtime.
Rich collaboration
Shared calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, and XMPP chat — no additional groupware server needed.
Proven track record
Trusted by businesses in 140+ countries since 1996, with a 30-day full-feature free trial.
Common use cases
Exchange alternative
A cost-effective, self-hosted alternative to Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 — without sacrificing features.
SMB & mid-market email
Enterprise-quality email, calendaring, and mobile sync without enterprise pricing.
Compliance & data privacy
Regulated industries needing on-premise deployment, PGP encryption, email archiving, and full data sovereignty.
MSP / hosting providers
Multi-tenant email infrastructure with white-label options and volume pricing.
Email security hardening
Add SecurityGateway as a perimeter filter in front of Exchange, M365, or any mail server to block threats before delivery.
Remote & mobile teams
Distributed teams needing reliable ActiveSync across iOS, Android, and Windows with offline access and push.
Technical specifications
- Platform
- Windows Server (2016–2022) and Windows 10/11; on-premise, hosted, or MSP deployment
- Email protocols
- SMTP / ESMTP / IMAP / POP3 with SSL/TLS encryption on all connections
- WebMail
- Built-in browser-based email client (HTTPS); multi-language; mobile-compatible
- Email clients
- eM Client (desktop/mobile), Microsoft Outlook (via Connector), Thunderbird, OWA
- Collaboration
- Shared calendars (CalDAV), free/busy scheduling, address books (CardDAV), tasks, notes, document sharing
- Instant messaging
- Secure XMPP messaging between employees; chat rooms, file sharing, inbox notifications
- Mobile sync
- MDaemon ActiveSync (add-on): email, calendar, contacts, and tasks on iOS, Android, Windows
- Archiving
- Flexible email archiving; browse archives, specify messages to archive, custom folder access
- Routing
- Smart message routing, attachment linking, domain sharing, public folders, mailing lists
- Migration
- Integrated MDMigrator from Exchange; ActiveSync Migration Client from other platforms
- Administration
- Remote web-based administration; colorized log viewer; user management; multi-domain support
- Languages
- Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Ready to take control of your email?
Start your free 30-day trial — no credit card required. Explore email, collaboration, security, and mobile sync. Contact iconnet to get started with MDaemon.