Most valuable to us is the fact that it's open source, so it's possible to do a lot of customization. Zimbrais easy to manage.
System Administrator at a media company with 51-200 employees
Easy to manage. The calendar is a useful organizational tool.
What is most valuable?
How has it helped my organization?
The calendar is a quite useful organizational tool. We also created a lot of accounts for special needs, since we can have as many as we want.
What needs improvement?
There are some bugs we found that could be fixed. Also, there was a chat tool which was really useful, but was discontinued.
For how long have I used the solution?
We’ve used Zimbra for 4 years.
Buyer's Guide
Zimbra Collaboration
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Zimbra Collaboration. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We did not encounter any issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Regarding scalability, from a user point-of-view, gmail is more convenient with all the other tools, such as Google Docs, Google Drive, etc.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not use any other solutions.
How was the initial setup?
To complete the initial setup, you need to adjust the spam filter, setup DKIM, etc. Also, it’s Linux-based, so you need to be familiar with that environment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The free version is good enough for a small to medium size company.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Gmail before going with Zimbra.
What other advice do I have?
If you don’t have a technical person to manage the project, you may want to use a different solution.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
CEO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
We can control all the data in my IT infrastructure
Pros and Cons
- "We can control all the data in my IT infrastructure."
- "File sharing permissions with Nextcloud integration need improvement."
What is our primary use case?
I work mainly with webmail. On the web, we have more than 10,000 accounts on our server
How has it helped my organization?
It is the best open source collaboration suite that I know, because it provides high availability and more performance than the other solutions.
We can control all the data in my IT infrastructure.
What is most valuable?
- Shared folders
- Mobile synchronization
- Admin tools
- Anti-spam tools
- Webmail is simple and powerful.
What needs improvement?
- Online documents edition
- File sharing permissions with Nextcloud integration
- More features for the open source edition
- Native HA for more virtualization platforms, like Proxmox
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: We are Zimbra VAR Partners and Zimbra developers.
Buyer's Guide
Zimbra Collaboration
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Zimbra Collaboration. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Lecturer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
In the Mail tab, I can scan and open messages simultaneously.
What is most valuable?
Email in Zimbra:
The email application allows users to activate the Zimlets "request read receipt". For me, it's a brand new and useful support for email services, which I have not yet experienced elsewhere.
Besides, the interface is very convenient for busy people while scanning the incoming messages/emails and at the same time opening them (3 specific columns/areas of the main "Mail" tab).
Despite sticking with Gmail for over a decade in terms of business, Zimbra have impressed me with some other aspects as well... If the time comes, I would prefer Zimbra to my current solution.
Zimbra mail reminds me of Hotmail, which I did employ in the past. And comparing it to other email free services like Yahoo, Gmail, etc., Zimbra is still on the way to getting in touch with a wider audience, such as: employers, employees, educators, officers, etc., because it has been a symbol of the open-source community and such a powerful resource for students and educators to explore further, as well as to contribute.
Calendar, tasks in Zimbra:
Different than other applications I have been using for these functions, namely: calendar, tasks, document, etc. Zimbra simply saves time, as these are attached to the main interface by a tab instead of a link to a different page. So, it's recommended for businessmen, especially.
What needs improvement?
Server deployment and the GUI for emails should be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used it for a few months.
What other advice do I have?
From the server side: the installation/deployment should be more user-friendly.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Manager Infrastructure at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Integrates well, informative documentation, but configuration could be easier
Pros and Cons
- "Zimbra Collaboration has integrated a lot of their party tools and they have good documentation available."
- "The solution could improve by making it easier to use."
What is our primary use case?
Zimbra Collaboration can be used as an email server.
What is most valuable?
Zimbra Collaboration has integrated a lot of their party tools and they have good documentation available.
What needs improvement?
The solution could improve by making it easier to use.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Zimbra Collaboration for approximately six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. However, all the mailbox details are stored in MySQL or MongoDB. If it is an enterprise-level configuration, then we need to plan for the high availability. This is another challenge in Zimbra. If those things were fixed, then it will be really a good solution.
How are customer service and support?
Zimbra Collaboration has online support communities that are very good at providing detailed information.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Microsoft Exchange.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is not difficult. However, initially, management will be difficult but once you have used it for a while you will not find any challenges.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Zimbra Collaborationseven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Infrastructure Expert at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Complete end user communication solution by VMware zimbra collaboration suite.
Valuable Features:
The Zimbra Collaboration Server has many pros that are useful in a business. It has a centralized web based interface for managing the server console. A user can easily use it as a web based & app base on their desktop, laptop, i-phone and smart phone. An inside user console user can send mail, chat, video call, and voice call with other people. You are able to create a centralized address book on a server so that anyone can import and export contacts on their account. Sync facilities make it easier for all your device data updates. Additionally, you can set your G-mail, yahoo, and Hotmail accounts to import their addresses as well. Anti-spam, antivirus, and directory services can integrate with the server. Like LDAP, and Active Directory… you can design polices with the help of a class of service (CoS) for end user features like quota and storage. The search over internet facility is also included with the latest version of Zimbra.
Room for Improvement:
There can be difficulties resolving problems on the server side when problems arise. Before installation, you have to resolve all dependencies, otherwise it is very difficult to setup the server.
Other Advice:
VMware Zimbra is an enterprise-class E-mail, calendar, and collaboration solution, built for the both public and private clouds. With a redesigned browser-based interface, Zimbra offers the most innovative messaging experience available today, connecting end users to the information and activity in their personal clouds.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Zimbra Collaboration Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2025
Product Categories
Email ApplicationsPopular Comparisons
Google Workspace
Microsoft Exchange Online
Microsoft Exchange
KerioConnect
HCL Notes
Open-Xchange
ProtonMail
Zoho Mail
HCL Verse
OpenText GroupWise
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Zimbra Collaboration Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- How does Zimbra Collaboration compare with Microsoft Exchange?
- When evaluating Email Applications, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- What should I look for when choosing an email solution for my company?
- What is the best choice for email?
- Which solution should we choose? - IceWarp, Zentyal, UCS, Collax, Scalix, Zimbra or Kollab?
- Why is Email Applications important for companies?
Could you please guide me whether Zimbra is open source or do we need to purchase its license from VMWare?