Zimbra is a popular enterprise email and collaboration platform known for its flexibility, data sovereignty, and strong alternative positioning against Microsoft Exchange and Google Workspace. One of the most common questions organizations ask before deploying Zimbra is:
“What types of Zimbra licenses are available, and which one do we need?”
This blog breaks down Zimbra Mail licensing types, explains the differences between editions, and helps you decide which license best fits your business or service‑provider model.
Overview of Zimbra Licensing Models
Zimbra licensing is primarily divided into two major categories:
- Zimbra Open Source Edition
- Zimbra Network Edition (Commercial)
Within the Network Edition, there are Standard and Professional licenses, as well as BSP (Hosting) licenses for service providers.
1. Zimbra Open Source Edition (OSE)
The Zimbra Open Source Edition is a free version of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite, released under the Zimbra Public License (ZPL). It provides core email and collaboration features without licensing costs.
Key Characteristics
- No license fees
- Community-supported (no official Zimbra support)
- Basic email, contacts, and calendar
- Webmail, POP, and IMAP support
- LDAP-based authentication
Limitations
- No mobile ActiveSync
- No built-in backup and restore
- No archiving or eDiscovery
- No real-time support from Zimbra
- Fewer security and compliance features
Best For
- Small organizations with in-house Linux expertise
- Development or test environments
- Cost-sensitive deployments where advanced features are not required
2. Zimbra Network Edition (NE)
The Zimbra Network Edition is the commercial, enterprise-grade version of Zimbra and requires a paid license per mailbox. It includes advanced features, security tools, and official support.
Zimbra Network Edition is available in two license tiers:
2.1 Zimbra Network Edition – Standard
The Standard Edition is designed for organizations that need more than basic email but don’t require advanced compliance or security tooling.
Key Features
- Modern and Classic Zimbra Web Client
- Email, contacts, calendar, tasks
- Mobile sync (ActiveSync)
- POP / IMAP / CalDAV / CardDAV
- Anti-spam and anti-virus
- Admin web console and CLI
- LDAP and Active Directory integration
- Multi-domain management
What’s Missing Compared to Professional
- No advanced backup and restore
- No email archiving or discovery
- No litigation hold
- Limited security and compliance features
Best For
- Small to mid-sized businesses
- Organizations migrating from basic email platforms
- Teams needing mobile email and collaboration without heavy compliance requirements
2.2 Zimbra Network Edition – Professional
The Professional Edition is Zimbra’s full-featured enterprise license, built for regulated industries and large organizations.
Key Features (Includes everything in Standard, plus)
- Real-time backup and restore
- Email archiving and eDiscovery
- Litigation hold
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- S/MIME signing and encryption
- Advanced storage management and deduplication
- Object storage support
- Delegated and domain-level administration
- Optional 24×7 Premier Support
Best For
- Enterprises and government organizations
- Healthcare, finance, and legal sectors
- Businesses with compliance, audit, or retention requirements
- Organizations replacing Microsoft Exchange
3. Zimbra BSP (Business Service Provider) Licenses
Zimbra also offers BSP licenses for hosting providers, MSPs, and resellers who deliver Zimbra as a hosted service to multiple customers.
BSP Editions Include
- Business Email
- Business Email Plus
- Standard BSP
- Professional BSP
These licenses support multi-tenancy, white-label branding, and customer segregation, making them ideal for managed email services.
Best For
- Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
- ISPs and hosting companies
- Resellers offering branded email services
Subscription vs Perpetual Licensing
Zimbra Network Edition licenses can be purchased as:
- Subscription licenses (term-based, includes support)
- Perpetual licenses (one-time license + annual support)
Subscription licensing is more common today, especially for MSPs and organizations that prefer predictable OPEX pricing.
How to Choose the Right Zimbra License
| Organization Type | Recommended License |
|---|---|
| Small business, low budget | Open Source |
| SMB with mobile users | Network Edition – Standard |
| Enterprise or regulated industry | Network Edition – Professional |
| MSP or hosting provider | Zimbra BSP License |
Final Thoughts
Zimbra’s licensing flexibility is one of its strongest advantages. Whether you need a free open-source mail server, a secure enterprise email platform, or a fully branded hosted email service, Zimbra offers a license model to match.
Choosing the right license ensures you get the features, support, and compliance capabilities your organization needs—without paying for what you don’t.