Which of these is a better choice? Zimbra vs Iredmail

I'm trying to figure out the software that I would need for a server and was checking out Zimbra and Iredmail.

Has anyone used either or both of these and if so then what would you recommend?

Is there anything that makes one better than the other?

I will vote for Zimbra because you can control over your mail server while with iRedMail you can only manage base server settings

For me Zimbra is a better option than Iredmail.

Nigel said:

I'm trying to figure out the software that I would need for a server and was checking out Zimbra and Iredmail.

Has anyone used either or both of these and if so then what would you recommend?

Is there anything that makes one better than the other?

Click to expand...

Zimbra is really a heavy platform for emails management. If you are only looking for a email server solution, I will prefer iRedmail.
But there are also several open-source software available like http://mailcow.email - https://modoboa.org/ - https://mailinabox.email

Used iRedMail. +1 for this. Zimbra seemed to be resource hungry and will perform slow if your server is not powerful enough !

I agree with the above, Zimbra can be resource intensive all though is great to use you may need some extra resources to cover the load it requires. Personally not used iRedMail so i would be unable to comment on this side.

I have found iRedmail to be light on resources. In fact compared to the zimbra, it's more light. You can also find the iredmail to have responsive layouts. But I think if you just want the mail management part then even roundcube and squirelmail can be good enough. I checked the modoboa above and that seems to be good enough too.

There are awesome open-source (free) alternatives to iRedmail and Zimbra :

http://mailcow.email/
https://modoboa.org/
https://mailinabox.email/
https://github.com/atech/postal
https://poste.io/

Zimbra is a well known software for business usage. Depending on the package chosen, I believe there's additional features such as instant messaging, voicemail and click-to-call and call record history.

The one issue I have with Zimbra is that it's pretty hard to import legacy email from Outlook. As for iRedMail, I have not really heard much about it.

VirtuBox said:

Zimbra is really a heavy platform for emails management. If you are only looking for a email server solution, I will prefer iRedmail.

Click to expand...

Even I have not ever seen Zimbra user interface. Can this software be installed on a VPS and when do we need it?

Mahfuz said:

Used iRedMail. +1 for this. Zimbra seemed to be resource hungry and will perform slow if your server is not powerful enough !

Click to expand...

How do you know that? Could you measure the performance of Zimbra and iRedMail?

Zimbra
Zimbra is a client/server to manage mails and calendar; it has the style of Yahoo Mail and Gmail style with a good speed for loading. To make an interface so fast they have optimized like Gmail using AJAX language (Javascript + XML) that stores parts of the content in the client uses.

Advantages
- According to companies that have already migrated to Zimbra, it allows a cost saving of at least 50% compared to MS Exchange or IBM Lotus or Roundcube
- The connector for MS Outlook allows a native synchronization to the Zimbra server. Thanks to the powerful, easy and intuitive interface, Zimbra users feel very comfortable working with the product.

For the Administrator

• Low cost in system management
• Native storage system
• Hierarchical (HSM / ILP)
• Support for Multi-Domain with administration from a single node
• Restoration of a single mailbox per user, from the console
• Online transfer of mailboxes between servers (and backups)
• Integrated high availability solution
• Management interface based on AJAX
• Performance graphics dashboards
• Console command interface
• SOAP integration for administration tasks
• Server and hosting consolidation
• One copy of the email and attachments per server, instead of one email per user
• Significant reduction in CPU usage - Multi-level caching and system optimization
• Compatibility with existing infrastructures
• Web services - API for bidirectional integration with CRM, ERP, etc.
• Customers - Outlook, Mobile, IMAP, POP, iCalendar, RSS, etc.
• Directory - Active Directory Integration/LDAP Messaging Server - Co-existence and migration tools Security
• Web security model - Single sign-on, TLS/SSL, no need to use VPN
• Secure opening of attachments
• SpamAssassin and ClamAV included
• Compatible with existing anti-spam/anti-virus services

For the user

• Free choice of the client
• Browsers - Zimbra Ajax client
• Clients for PC - Outlook (Online, Offline, Cache Mode), Apple Mail and iCal, Eudora, Evolution, Thunderbird / Sunbird, RSS, etc. Mobile phones - Devices
• Wireless "wireless synchronization": Blackberry, Palm, Nokia, Motorola, Good, PocketPC, etc.
• Perfect organization of the mailboxes Advanced and powerful search system (including the attached messages)
• Saved the most common searches
• Viewing emails by conversation
• Mail filters
• Team calendar
• Free/busy meeting management
• Multiple calendars per user
• Share and delegate calendars
• Subscription to external calendars with .ics format
• Integration of email with other applications, via drag and drop
• Intranet - ERP, CRM, Support, Finance, HR, VoIP phone, etc.
• Internet Google/Yahoo Maps, Skype, Travel, Package Tracking, etc.
• Efficient text comprehension system in emails
• View / Create appointments in the calendar, just by hovering over a word or date within the email
• Create / Edit contacts, just move the mouse over the contact within the email
• A quick view of the web page, by hovering the mouse over the contact within the email
• From any computer, at any time Powerful Web interface with AJAX technology Security without VPN
• Secure option to open attachments Modern RSS/ATOM collaboration system news

iRedMail
iRedMail is the application that every system administrator should have at hand without hesitation; is a robust and complete platform to manage mail systems that support all in one, that is:

• SMTP server
• Authentication
• POP3 / IMAP server
• Anti-Spam (RBL)
• Anti-virus (ClamAV)
• MySQL support
• Virtual Domains (virtual domains)
• Webmail
• Full administration via Web

Advantages:

• It is an open source project ( GPL v2 )
• Your binary packages are compatible with the i386 and x86_64 architectures
• Works on non-virtualized and virtualized systems such as VMWare , VirtualBox, Xen, and OpenVZ .
• Works on RedHat/CentOS 5.5 , Debian , FreeBSD , openSUSE and Ubuntu

So, you knew advantages of Zimbra and Iredmail you will know which one is the best for your use.
Hope that helped.