Item: Zimbra by Synacor
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Zimbra by Synacor

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We used Zimbra Email & Collaboration as an email solution for years in my previous company. It is a robust solution capable of competing with the best. Initially, we used the open-source version in an on-premise mode, achieving significant cost savings. Later, we transitioned to a SaaS service with network functionality. In both scenarios, it met expectations.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Collaboration among users
Solution customization
Service accessibility

Cons

Zimbra's mobile application leaves much to be desired; it is its weakest point.
This forces the use of third-party applications on smartphones, which only offer a more or less complete integration with the ActiveSync protocol.
Zimbra allows for an on-premise scenario, which is not for everyone, especially considering that the trend nowadays is to outsource email; in any case, it also offers this alternative.
The cost of Zimbra as a SaaS solution comes too close to that of more widely adopted competing options.
Zimbra lacks a robust integrated chat system, which its competitors offer.
It lacks AI integration.

Return on Investment

Zimbra can represent significant cost savings in on-premise mode, although this entails another type of technical effort and expense; it is necessary to crunch the numbers in each case.
These savings are also relative to the number of users; it might not make sense for very small companies.
When Zimbra was launched, it marked a breakthrough compared to existing solutions, providing more than just email. However, today it cannot compete functionally with solutions like Office 365 or Google Workspace.

Usability

The web usability of the solution is adequate, with all functions integrated into a single interface. However, it is important to note that in the desktop environment, it lacks its own application and relies on ActiveSync synchronization with reference solutions like Outlook or Thunderbird. Some features, such as the briefcase, will be excluded. The same happens on smartphones.It is also common for competing solutions to include integrated chat or video call tools, which Zimbra lacks. These shortcomings are among the most frequently requested by users.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

We used Zimbra Email & Collaboration in two scenarios: first, on-premise with the open-source version to save costs, especially since solutions like Office 365 or Google Workspace were not as mature or widespread at the time. Later, we benefited from cost advantages with Zimbra Network in a cloud hosting environment, which we couldn't pass up, particularly with the solution already well-established at the core of our operations.

Key Insights

Do you think Zimbra by Synacor delivers good value for the price?

Are you happy with Zimbra by Synacor's feature set?

Did Zimbra by Synacor live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Zimbra by Synacor go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Zimbra by Synacor again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365

Likelihood to Recommend

I consider Zimbra Email & Collaboration a viable alternative to the major American cloud email platforms. In a scenario where data protection and privacy are critical, especially in an on-premise environment, Zimbra is a very suitable solution. It is also capable of offering a comprehensive set of tools and additional features (tasks, calendars, contacts, briefcase) in an integrated manner.

Zimbra Feature Ratings

Comments

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Zimbra: An Alternative to Major Cloud Email Platforms