Discover the Best DeskNow Alternatives for Enhanced Collaboration
DeskNow by >Ventia Pty Limited is a comprehensive solution integrating a mail server, advanced anti-spam, antivirus, webmail, digital email encryption, document management, calendaring with meeting planning, Outlook connector, SyncML synchronization, and Jabber instant messaging. While DeskNow offers a robust suite of features for businesses, users often seek alternatives that might better fit specific needs, offer different pricing models, or provide expanded functionality. This guide explores the top DeskNow alternatives available today.
Top DeskNow Alternatives
Whether you're looking for open-source flexibility, specific feature sets, or different deployment options, these DeskNow alternatives offer compelling solutions for email, collaboration, and more.
Zentyal
Zentyal is a compelling DeskNow alternative, offering a native Microsoft Active Directory® implementation on Linux. It's an open-source solution specifically designed for small and medium business environments, providing essential network services like file sharing, gateway functions, and a robust email server. Its free and open-source nature makes it an attractive option for businesses looking to manage their IT infrastructure cost-effectively on a Linux platform.
Zimbra Collaboration Suite
Zimbra Collaboration Suite stands out as a powerful DeskNow alternative, providing an open and secure collaboration tool for email, calendaring, tasks, and more. It offers a freemium model and is open-source, deployable on Linux, as a web application, or self-hosted. Key features include Active Directory integration, ActiveSync, a full-featured email server, and excellent real-time and team collaboration capabilities, making it a versatile choice for organizations of all sizes.
Microsoft Exchange Server
For organizations deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft Exchange Server is a natural DeskNow alternative. As a commercial product part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it runs on Windows and offers web access. Its core strength lies in its intelligent inbox and calendar software, alongside robust real-time collaboration features, making it ideal for businesses seeking a tightly integrated Microsoft solution for their email and communication needs.
OX Open-Xchange
OX Open-Xchange is a leading open-source DeskNow alternative, particularly for Linux-based groupware solutions. It's free, open-source, and can be self-hosted on Linux or accessed via the web. Open-Xchange excels in areas like calendar integration, group mail, and real-time collaboration, also offering support for WebDAV. Its robust feature set and open-source nature make it a strong contender for businesses prioritizing flexibility and control over their communication infrastructure.
Sanwhole Exchange
Sanwhole Exchange presents itself as a comprehensive commercial DeskNow alternative, designed for Windows environments. It functions as a server running iMail, iPress, and iStore services. iMail, in particular, is highlighted as an enterprise-class email server aiming to replicate the functionality of Microsoft Exchange and Gmail, making it a strong choice for businesses seeking a powerful, integrated solution on Windows.
Zarafa
Zarafa is a commercial DeskNow alternative offering open-source collaboration with robust integration capabilities. It supports Mac, Windows, Linux, and web platforms, providing seamless integration with existing Linux mail servers, native mobile phone support, and an Outlook "Look & Feel" web access. Its focus on email server functionality and real-time collaboration makes it a versatile choice for diverse operating environments.
CrossBox
CrossBox offers a modern and intuitive UI as a commercial DeskNow alternative. It's a self-hosted web-based solution also available on Android, iPhone, and tablets. It provides real-time email, chat, audio/video calls & conferences, and file-sharing, along with contact management. Its comprehensive features, including Live Chat and robust file sharing, make it an attractive option for businesses seeking an all-in-one communication platform.
The best DeskNow alternative for your organization will depend on your specific needs, budget, existing infrastructure, and desired features. Carefully evaluate each option's platform compatibility, open-source status, and core functionalities to find the perfect fit for your communication and collaboration requirements.