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KerioConnect vs Microsoft Exchange Online comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

KerioConnect
Ranking in Email Applications
9th
Average Rating
7.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
Email Archiving (7th)
Microsoft Exchange Online
Ranking in Email Applications
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
93
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Email Applications category, the mindshare of KerioConnect is 4.0%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Exchange Online is 9.3%, down from 14.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Email Applications Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Exchange Online9.3%
KerioConnect4.0%
Other86.7%
Email Applications
 

Featured Reviews

MM
Senior Systems Tech/Admin at Samco Software Inc.
A seamless setup ensures smooth communication with comprehensive support
We remain a partner with Sophos and use XG S Firewalls without AWS implementation. We only use Sophos endpoint and Sophos Central. We host some clients on-premise while others we host remotely. The VPN connection is easy and proprietary, so it's not open to any other VPN clients. Communication with other mail servers is seamless. It can communicate with Gmail and Outlook without issues, provided the DNS settings are correct. We monitor our servers and security logs, implementing GeoIP blocking. We frequently block China and India IPs due to brute force attacks on our servers. We have extensive experience with KerioConnect. Backing up and maintaining it is straightforward compared to Microsoft Exchange, making it administrator-friendly. On a scale of 1-10, this solution rates an 8.
MP
Assistant Consultant
Cloud email has simplified daily communication and has reduced our infrastructure workload
Microsoft Exchange Online offers exceptional features as a cloud-based platform that eliminates the need to manage infrastructure. It operates on a license-based model, requiring only a Microsoft E5, E3, or F3 license. Based on the license type, users receive a mailbox and can access it through Outlook on mobile, Outlook on the web, or the Outlook desktop client. The cloud-based nature of Microsoft Exchange Online has positively impacted our workflow. Previously, we used Microsoft Exchange on-premises and had to manage the data center, upgrade servers, and calculate data center costs. Managing different servers was complex. After migrating to Microsoft Exchange Online, we no longer need to manage these tasks. We simply pay a subscription fee, and Microsoft hosts our mailbox. As administrators, we handle the configuration, while Microsoft manages the hosting of servers and databases. The transition to Microsoft Exchange Online was seamless because we were on Exchange on-premises and then migrated using the hybrid configuration wizard for a hybrid migration approach. Some mailboxes remained on-premises while others migrated to the cloud. We also migrated our transport rules, disclaimer policies, and DLP to the cloud, creating a seamless experience since both products are owned by Microsoft and integrate well. Microsoft Exchange Online has positively impacted our organization as a cost-saving effort. When managing Exchange on-premises, we had to manage the data center, storage, server upgrades, and continuously patch servers to mitigate security vulnerabilities. We paid Microsoft for the server operating system license, and significant effort and cost were involved. After migrating to Microsoft Exchange Online, we only pay the subscription, and Microsoft handles all upgrades and maintenance. This was a cost-effective initiative.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"KerioConnect has integration with 365. We can use Outlook, which has its client and can be used with Apple devices. It integrates with the App Store and Microsoft Office. It has a smart router. The spam filtering and antivirus are good."
"This solution is our SMB alternative to Exchange, installed for more than forty SMB customers in a Linux environment with all of the collaboration features."
"As long as the operating is stable, the Kerio connect will be very stable as well, so we don't have any problem with it."
"Kerio Connect is secure, flexible, and easy to control from the user interface."
"The most valuable features are security and privacy because you installed it on your server, within your company premises, not in the cloud."
"Kerio Connect is secure, flexible, and easy to control from the user interface. It has many security features able to be controlled from one place, such as anti-spam. I have found it very convenient. Additionally, you can analyze log files and share folders which is helpful."
"What I like most about Kerio Connect is that it supports ActiveSync, and that is its most critical feature. The solution is also a nice, simple, robust, and stable mail server."
"The user interface is good."
"The solution is easy to use and the cloud version has taken a lot of challenges away from the user."
"Microsoft Exchange Online is very simple and easy to use."
"The uptime and stability is far better than any on-prem or hosted solution I have used in the past."
"The most valuable feature as it encompasses all aspects of collaboration, communication, reporting, and storage."
"The most valuable features of Microsoft Exchange Online are spam filtering, 50 GB of email storage, good integration with Outlook, and ease of management."
"The solution is very easy to set up and quite quick to deploy."
"Intuitive and easy to use."
"Exchange Online is consistent."
 

Cons

"The solution could improve the redundancy because we only have one copy of the Kerio Connect server on our hardware. The next step for us is to move to the cloud and if Kerio does not have a cloud version available they should release one"
"KerioConnect is stable as long as you use a strong password."
"The solution could improve the redundancy because we only have one copy of the Kerio Connect server on our hardware."
"Most of our clients use Outlook and Kerio Connect. Occasionally, Kerio can be a bit slow."
"Having a native Outlook map integration would make Kerio Connect better."
"KerioConnect continues to improve with regular updates throughout the year. They must be added to the roadmap, which requires approval."
"I don't particularly like this solution. I would not recommend this solution to others."
"Most of our clients use Outlook and Kerio Connect. Occasionally, Kerio can be a bit slow."
"Microsoft Exchange Online could improve the management usage, it should be more user-friendly."
"The stability of the solution on Mac products has room for improvement."
"This product is too complex to use."
"For example, recently there were some spam incidents that Microsoft does not currently mitigate because they have another paid solution to do so. It would be nice to integrate the security and the anti-spam (i.e. the fake links, etc.) along with the Exchange Online default."
"I don't like it in general. It sort of has that Microsoft flavor to it, which is just the style they use and the way they color things and lay them out."
"Functionality wise, I can't really say it's improved from Exchange Online, I think it's not so much change on-premise."
"Microsoft Exchange Online could be improved in terms of reporting capabilities. Currently, we must depend on third-party tools for reporting, which are quite good."
"The support could improve their response time and sometimes the phone lines are not clear because of static or noise."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"KerioConnect has a first-time cost and yearly subscription. It is not expensive."
"The pricing is about $3 per mailbox per month."
"The solution's pricing depends on how long you plan to keep it because you pay on a per-year basis. You might have a one-time setup cost for something like Microsoft Exchange or a Linux mail server. I'd say this solution is expensive on a per-year basis, almost 2000-3000 dollars annually. It doesn't seem to pay off yet, so we're considering switching to another product."
"The price of Kerio Connect is better when comparing it to others solutions."
"I think that the price is a little high, especially considering that Google have a similar, free email solution."
"The licensing cost increased at least 15 to 20 percent recently and it would be helpful for them to be reduced."
"We have an enterprise agreement for licensing."
"We have a three-year license for $25,000."
"We have a license per user scenario."
"Microsoft solutions are expensive."
"I think it's just awesome. There's no argument about how much value you get on the per user, for user expenditure. It's really great, I don't have any issues with it. I think it's excellent."
"I find it reasonably priced."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
7%
Retailer
7%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Computer Software Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise2
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business40
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise41
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for KerioConnect?
The pricing is very easy to understand. As a partner, we have a monitoring system that informs us when subscriptions expire, allowing us to handle renewals. The pricing is very competitive.
What needs improvement with KerioConnect?
Since KerioConnect is a setup and go solution, everything works on its own. The only administrative tasks required are keeping it up to date, monitoring security logs, and ensuring protection from ...
What is your primary use case for KerioConnect?
Small medium-sized businesses are our primary focus, particularly in warehouse distribution and retail sectors. We are a reseller and purchase directly from Sophos.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Exchange Online?
If I segment it into three points: low price, average, and high price, I would place Microsoft Exchange Online between average and high price.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Exchange Online?
There is room for improvement in Microsoft Exchange Online. Technical support for Microsoft is good, but in all fairness, I sometimes think more can be done. I have personally tried exploring with ...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Exchange Online?
I currently work with a Microsoft partner and I support users that use Microsoft Exchange Online. I also use Microsoft Exchange Online myself. I use the shared calendar feature of Microsoft Exchang...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Exchange Online, Exchange Online Plan 1, Exchange Online Plan 2, MS Exchange Online
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Southern Tier Brewing Company, Innotta, Baustoff + Metall, Hamifleurs, Chanson TV, Ryman Stationery
Bank Alfalah Ltd., Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport, Blue Star Infotech, Scitec Nutrition, Resolution Films, British Airways, Empire Cinemas, InnoGames
Find out what your peers are saying about KerioConnect vs. Microsoft Exchange Online and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.
894,738 professionals have used our research since 2012.