--- title: "GFI MailEssentials Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about GFI MailEssentials Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Email Security products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/88914/GFI-MailEssentials/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-19" --- # GFI MailEssentials Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 19, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) GFI MailEssentials ## What is GFI MailEssentials? GFI Kerio Connect is a communications software that provides email, calendars, contacts, tasks, chat, and more in one unified platform. The software delivers collaboration tools that are easy to deploy and use for SMBs. GFI Kerio Connect brings together email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and chat functionalities into a single solution that can be accessed from computers, tablets, and smartphones. ## What is GFI MailEssentials used for? [Anti-spam](https://www.capterra.com/anti-spam-software/)[Email Security](https://www.capterra.com/email-security-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 11 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive \- Neutral \- Negative \- Starting price €99 One Time Free trial not available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for GFI MailEssentials?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/gfi-mailessentials/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### GFI MailEssentials 3.4 (11) VS. [5.0 (20)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218859/Trustifi/#reviews) Starting Price €99 One Time Starting Price $6 Flat Rate, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 3.5 (11) Ease Of Use 4.8 (243) Value For Money 3.3 (10) Value For Money 4.9 (193) Customer Service 3.3 (9) Customer Service 4.9 (193) ## GFI MailEssentials alternatives [4.9 (12)](https://www.capterra.com/p/178083/CLEARNETWORK/#reviews) Starting price $1.50 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.9 (50)](https://www.capterra.com/p/206740/Libraesva-Email-Security/reviews/) Starting price $5.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [5.0 (1)](https://www.capterra.com/p/250406/Heimdal-Email-Security/#reviews) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Microsoft Defender for Office 365](https://www.capterra.com/p/219685/Microsoft-Defender-for-Office-365/) [4.6 (243)](https://www.capterra.com/p/219685/Microsoft-Defender-for-Office-365/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/219685/Microsoft-Defender-for-Office-365/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/88914/GFI-MailEssentials/alternatives/) ## FAQs about GFI MailEssentials Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from GFI MailEssentials? GFI MailEssentials is most used by IT leaders, administrators, systems engineers, and network architects responsible for email security and infrastructure. They manage spam filtering, malware protection, policy enforcement, and mail flow. CIOs, presidents, and vice presidents benefit from oversight of organizational email risk, compliance requirements, and service continuity. Answer based on 11 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of GFI MailEssentials? GFI MailEssentials offers email filtering and anti spam controls, plus anti virus scanning for incoming messages. It includes email attachment protection, policy management, and spam quarantine. Allow/block lists and whitelisting/blacklisting support message control, while spam blocker and filtering features help manage unwanted email traffic. Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does GFI MailEssentials offer? GFI MailEssentials provides chat support for customer assistance. No reviewer feedback about support experience is available in the catalog data, so there is no documented evidence on response speed, helpfulness, or common support frustrations. ## Features AI summary Based on 1,078 Email Security reviews Not all Email Security products cover every feature buyers care about most. Here is what Capterra reviewers highlight as essential when choosing a solution: - **Threat Response** (**49%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Email Attachment Protection** (**58%**) - **Threat Protection** (**51%**) GFI MailEssentials includes **Email Attachment Protection**, which helps reduce the risk of harmful files reaching user inboxes. However, it does not offer **Threat Response** or **Threat Protection**. Instead, it provides **Email Filtering** (**47%**) and **Spam Blocker** (**51%**), which can help organizations screen unwanted messages and cut down on inbox threats before they reach employees, helping businesses maintain safer email communication and reduce daily security risks. Email Attachment Protection 3.0 (1) 0.00% of 1 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Provides protection against malicious attachments. Spam Blocker 4.0 (2) 50.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Filters used to determine different types of malware threats Allow/Block List 4.0 (2) 50.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Lists of domains/addresses that are allowed / rejected Spam Quarantine 3.5 (2) 50.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Feature in email systems that identifies suspicious or unsolicited emails and holds them in a separate folder for review or deletion Anti Spam 3.0 (1) 0.00% of 1 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Techniques to prevent and filter unwanted or unsolicited email spam from reaching a user's inbox Anti Virus 3.0 (1) 0.00% of 1 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Prevents, detects and removes malware GFI MailEssentials 10 features ### All Features - Allow/Block List: Lists of domains/addresses that are allowed / rejected - Anti Spam: Techniques to prevent and filter unwanted or unsolicited email spam from reaching a user's inbox - Anti Virus: Prevents, detects and removes malware - Email Attachment Protection: Provides protection against malicious attachments. - Email Filtering: Use filters to process, organize and categorize emails to identify spam, malware and other unwanted messages - Filtering: Find & retrieve relevant data or documents - Policy Management: Create, manage, and track policies and procedures within an organization - Spam Blocker: Filters used to determine different types of malware threats - Spam Quarantine: Feature in email systems that identifies suspicious or unsolicited emails and holds them in a separate folder for review or deletion - Whitelisting/Blacklisting: Control system access and/or deliverability for applications and email addresses --- Features 3.2 (11) 3.2 Based on 11 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 3.3 (10) Basic €99.00 One Time Value for money 3.3 (10) 3.3 Based on 10 reviews ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 3.3 (9) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 3.3 (9) 3.3 Based on 9 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 3.4 Based on 11 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(0) 4(6) 3(3) 2(2) 1(0) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful Matt E. Network Architect Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "An OK spam solution" 2.0 June 6, 2018 Pros Administration is easier then on some of the other spam solution products I've used. Also one of the cheaper spam solutions. Cons The filters are sub par at filtering. Even after verifying hardened settings. Too much spam still gets through. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Verified Reviewer CIO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Great Email security product" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 11, 2021 We used GFI MailEssentials to fight SPAM and Email viruses, it served us well for several years and its highly recommended for SMBs Pros The software is easy to implement, friendly interface, lots of useful functions and customizations. Cons nothing in particular. we didn't face any problems with our setup and the regular updates had been converging most issues. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Systems Administrator Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Brain-dead easy to manage, but brain-dead stupid software" 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 0/10 September 13, 2018 Pros I suppose the management interface is generally intuitive, though something as simple as whitelisting an individual address or domain can be stupidly cumbersome. Oh, that email address your manager asked you to whitelist still isn't being allowed through? Better make sure you hit 'apply' in both areas, including the more hidden one not readily apparent from the section you enter the email address. Support is fairly responsive, but I have not once had a serious issue resolved by them and isntead referred to their published knowledge base myself. This is not the fault of their support, but instead limitations of the software itself. Cons Where to begin? Extraordinarily limited anti-spam, anti-spoof and antivirus engines cause so much spam to waltz through on an hourly basis. It is an absolute embarassment of a product that is humiliating to our department - we've switched to Mimecast which we hopefully plan to implement in the next few weeks. We were saved by our endpoint antivirus software, mercifully, when an email spoofing our domain recently was sent to nearly every user in the company simultaneous attached with a crypto payload in a word doc. It is inexcuseable for software this poorly functioning to be marketed and sold at the price they are requesting. This may be particular to our environment due to the nature of our business and the tremendous email volume, so a smaller company may have success with it. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Shawn B. President Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Set it and Forget it AntiSPAM product that we use for most of our non-Office365 Clients" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 May 22, 2018 Pros The Installation is fairly quick and easy. GFI has a host of add-ons so it makes it easier to piece-meal the products you want to add to your deployment. Love the end-user SPAM/Quarantine Access. The Daily Digest feature is excellent, clients like the reports they get daily. Cons Can get cumbersome if you start going into the minutiae. The Licensing part I'm not very fond of, if you go over the quantity the software simply stops working after a week or so of grace-period. I would prefer if they sent email reminders when License renewal is closer. Customer Service is hard to get a hold of. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Director of IT Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "System administrator " 4.0 April 25, 2018 Pros It's very easy to install system. Mostly the default configuration works out of the box without any problems. Cons The system is somewhat easy to use. They have a lot of limitations when you try to do advanced configuration load or reset spam lists. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer IT Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Anti Spam / Email security is lack luster" 3.0 December 13, 2023 Pros GFI Mailessentials was very cheap compared to other solutions. Cons The protection it covers when compared to the current threats in the market Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ET Eric T. I.T. Supervisor Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "We have used GFI Mail essentials for the past two years to archive our email for our users to access" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 February 12, 2018 The ability to quickly and effectively archive our emails and retrieve them via a simple web browser gui. Pros It has performed very well as far as the archiving of our emails. Our users are able to retrieve their own emails for themselves therefore reducing the administration overhead of doing the same tasks ourselves. Cons There are only a few gripes and most are minor. One being the amount of segmented archives that seem to get created. Integration with our domain was a little tricky. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer IT Administrator Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Spam Filter" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 February 20, 2019 Pros We used this product for few years and then moved to another product . When we used, it worked okay. Open source was the plus that I noticed and self hosted is another. Cons We had some issues with legit emails getting tagged as false positives. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Senior Systems Engineer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "SPAM filter" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 April 24, 2019 I used to use this before switching to Barracuda. Pros This is a good solution and fairly easy to use Cons Doesn't scale up well in my opinion, hard when you want to managed a large system. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer CIO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "A bit finicky" 4.0 October 26, 2018 Pros Once you get it configured it does a great job of filtering out spam. Cons Loves to crash in the middle of the night and fill users boxes with spam. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/88914/GFI-MailEssentials/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.