Someone in accounting gets an email that looks exactly like it’s from the CEO, asking for an urgent wire transfer. No malware, no suspicious link, just really convincing writing. That email sailed right past spam filters because there was nothing technically wrong with it. That’s the kind of attack basic filtering misses.
Email security software catches more than obvious spam and malware attachments now. It’s built to spot business email compromise, convincing phishing attempts, and account takeovers that look completely normal on the surface. Without it, your weakest link is whoever’s most likely to click first.
We tested 20 email security platforms below, from established enterprise gateways to newer AI-driven tools built specifically to catch sophisticated impersonation attacks. Some price per mailbox. Others require a custom quote based on your organization’s size and email volume.
Check the comparison table for a quick pick, or read through the full reviews to find the platform that matches your email provider and the kinds of threats you’re actually worried about. Stop letting convincing fakes slip through basic spam filters. Pick an email security platform and protect your inbox from what actually gets through today.
What Is Email Security Software?
Email security software protects organizations from threats delivered through email, including phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise. It typically scans incoming and outgoing messages, flags suspicious content, and blocks or quarantines threats before they reach a user’s inbox.
Most modern platforms go beyond basic spam filtering, using AI to detect sophisticated impersonation attempts that don’t contain obvious red flags like malicious links or attachments.
What Are the Common Features of Email Security Software?
- Phishing detection for identifying deceptive emails designed to steal credentials or information
- Malware and attachment scanning for catching malicious files before they’re opened
- Business email compromise protection for detecting impersonation and social engineering attempts
- Spam filtering for blocking unwanted and low-quality email traffic
- Link protection and rewriting for checking URLs at the time they’re clicked, not just at delivery
- Data loss prevention integration for catching sensitive data leaving through outbound email
- User reporting and awareness tools for helping employees flag suspicious messages easily
What Are the Benefits of Email Security Software?
- Reduces successful phishing attacks by catching threats before they reach users
- Prevents financial loss from business email compromise and wire fraud attempts
- Improves overall security posture since email remains one of the most common attack entry points
- Reduces IT workload by automating threat detection instead of relying on manual review
- Supports compliance requirements through email-based data protection and archiving features
- Strengthens employee security awareness through integrated reporting and training tools
Who Uses Email Security Software?
- IT and security teams protecting organizational email infrastructure
- Enterprise organizations managing email security across large employee bases
- Financial services and healthcare companies facing high-value targeted attacks
- Small and mid-size businesses needing affordable protection without a large security team
- Managed service providers securing email for multiple client organizations
- Compliance teams ensuring email meets data protection and retention requirements
How We Tested These Email Security Software
We looked at phishing and malware detection accuracy, business email compromise detection, ease of deployment, integration with major email platforms, and pricing transparency. We also weighed real user feedback on false positive rates and how well each tool catches sophisticated attacks.
We tested for:
- Accuracy of phishing, malware, and spam detection
- Effectiveness against business email compromise and impersonation attacks
- Ease of integration with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other email platforms
- Quality of user-facing reporting and awareness tools
- Speed and reliability of threat response and quarantine actions
- Pricing clarity across different organization sizes
Quick Comparison of Email Security Software
| Software | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Proofpoint Email Protection | Comprehensive enterprise-grade email threat protection | Custom pricing |
| Mimecast | Combined email security, continuity, and archiving | Custom pricing |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Teams already using Microsoft 365 | Included with eligible Microsoft 365 plans, paid add-ons available |
| Barracuda Email Protection | Small to mid-size businesses needing broad coverage | Custom pricing |
| Abnormal Security | AI-driven detection of sophisticated impersonation attacks | Custom pricing |
| Cisco Secure Email | Enterprise email security backed by broad threat intelligence | Custom pricing |
| Sophos Email | Businesses wanting email security tied to broader endpoint protection | Custom pricing |
| Trend Micro Email Security | Cloud-based email threat protection at scale | Custom pricing |
| Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration | Protecting email and collaboration tools together | Custom pricing |
| Fortinet FortiMail | Organizations already using Fortinet security infrastructure | Custom pricing |
| GreatHorn | Behavioral analysis-based phishing and BEC detection | Custom pricing |
| Material Security | Protecting email accounts after initial compromise | Custom pricing |
| INKY | Visual-based phishing detection using computer vision | Custom pricing |
| Hornetsecurity | European-focused email security and compliance | Custom pricing |
| SpamTitan | Affordable spam and malware filtering for smaller businesses | $1.50/user/month |
| Zerospam | Simple, effective spam and phishing filtering | Custom pricing |
| Cloudflare Area 1 | Email threat detection backed by Cloudflare’s network intelligence | Custom pricing |
| Egress | Human-layer risk detection and outbound email protection | Custom pricing |
| N-able Mail Assure | Managed service providers protecting multiple client domains | Custom pricing |
| Libraesva Email Security | Businesses wanting flexible, customizable email filtering | Custom pricing |
20 Best Email Security Software (Detailed Reviews)
1. Proofpoint Email Protection
Proofpoint Email Protection offers comprehensive enterprise-grade email threat protection, combining phishing, malware, and spam detection with strong threat intelligence built from analyzing massive volumes of email traffic. It’s one of the most established names in enterprise email security.
- Key Features: advanced threat detection, business email compromise protection, detailed threat intelligence reporting
- Pros: strong detection accuracy backed by extensive threat intelligence
- Cons: pricing isn’t public, complexity favors larger organizations
2. Mimecast
Mimecast provides combined email security, continuity, and archiving, offering a broader platform that covers threat protection alongside email continuity and long-term archiving needs. It’s a strong fit for organizations wanting email security bundled with related email management functions.
- Key Features: integrated threat protection and email continuity, archiving and compliance tools, awareness training integration
- Pros: strong breadth combining security with continuity and archiving
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
3. Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 serves teams already using Microsoft 365, offering native email threat protection tightly integrated with the broader Microsoft security ecosystem. It’s a strong fit for organizations already invested in Microsoft 365.
- Key Features: native Microsoft 365 integration, automated investigation and response, attack simulation training tools
- Pros: strong fit for existing Microsoft 365 users, included with many eligible plans
- Cons: less streamlined for organizations using primarily non-Microsoft email platforms
4. Barracuda Email Protection
Barracuda Email Protection serves small to mid-size businesses needing broad coverage, offering an approachable, comprehensive email security suite without the complexity of larger enterprise-only platforms. It’s a solid choice for growing businesses.
- Key Features: broad threat protection coverage, account takeover protection, phishing simulation training
- Pros: approachable for small and mid-size businesses, strong overall value
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
5. Abnormal Security
Abnormal Security specializes in AI-driven detection of sophisticated impersonation attacks, using behavioral AI to understand normal communication patterns and flag deviations that suggest business email compromise. It’s a strong fit for organizations concerned about advanced, targeted attacks.
- Key Features: behavioral AI-based anomaly detection, business email compromise protection, API-based deployment without mail flow changes
- Pros: strong detection of sophisticated attacks that bypass traditional filters
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
6. Cisco Secure Email
Cisco Secure Email offers enterprise email security backed by broad threat intelligence, leveraging Cisco’s extensive network visibility to inform email threat detection across a wide range of attack types. It’s a strong fit for organizations already using Cisco security infrastructure.
- Key Features: broad threat intelligence integration, advanced malware protection, encryption for sensitive outbound email
- Pros: strong for organizations already invested in Cisco’s security ecosystem
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
7. Sophos Email
Sophos Email serves businesses wanting email security tied to broader endpoint protection, integrating email threat detection with Sophos’s established endpoint security platform for unified visibility. It’s a strong fit for organizations already using Sophos for endpoint protection.
- Key Features: integration with Sophos endpoint security, time-of-click URL protection, sandboxing for attachment analysis
- Pros: strong for organizations already using Sophos across their security stack
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
8. Trend Micro Email Security
Trend Micro Email Security delivers cloud-based email threat protection at scale, offering established threat detection capabilities built for organizations needing reliable, scalable cloud-delivered email security. It’s a solid, mature choice for cloud-based email protection.
- Key Features: cloud-delivered threat protection, ransomware and business email compromise detection, sandboxing for suspicious attachments
- Pros: strong maturity and reliability for cloud-based email security
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
9. Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration
Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration protects email and collaboration tools together, extending threat protection beyond email into collaboration platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. It’s a strong fit for organizations wanting unified protection across communication channels.
- Key Features: combined email and collaboration platform protection, AI-based phishing detection, account takeover prevention
- Pros: strong breadth covering email alongside broader collaboration tool security
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
10. Fortinet FortiMail
Fortinet FortiMail serves organizations already using Fortinet security infrastructure, offering email threat protection tightly integrated with the broader Fortinet security fabric. It’s a strong fit for organizations already invested in Fortinet’s ecosystem.
- Key Features: integration with Fortinet security fabric, advanced threat protection, data loss prevention capabilities
- Pros: strong for organizations already using Fortinet across their security stack
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
11. GreatHorn
GreatHorn focuses on behavioral analysis-based phishing and BEC detection, using behavioral patterns and relationship analysis to catch sophisticated phishing and business email compromise attempts. It’s a strong fit for organizations prioritizing detection of targeted, sophisticated attacks.
- Key Features: behavioral and relationship-based analysis, automated incident response, real-time threat detection
- Pros: strong detection approach for sophisticated, targeted phishing attempts
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
12. Material Security
Material Security specializes in protecting email accounts after initial compromise, focusing specifically on limiting damage if an email account has already been breached, rather than just preventing the initial attack. It’s a strong fit for organizations wanting layered protection beyond prevention alone.
- Key Features: post-compromise account protection, sensitive email data isolation, automated incident containment
- Pros: strong unique focus on limiting damage after a breach occurs
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
13. INKY
INKY uses visual-based phishing detection through computer vision, analyzing what emails actually look like visually to catch phishing attempts that mimic trusted brands convincingly. It’s a strong niche fit for catching visually deceptive phishing attempts.
- Key Features: computer vision-based visual analysis, brand impersonation detection, interactive email banners warning users
- Pros: strong specialization in catching visually convincing phishing attempts
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
14. Hornetsecurity
Hornetsecurity offers European-focused email security and compliance, built with strong attention to European data protection regulations alongside standard email threat protection. It’s a strong fit for organizations needing European-specific compliance support.
- Key Features: strong European compliance focus, spam and malware filtering, email archiving and continuity
- Pros: strong fit for organizations needing European data protection compliance
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
15. SpamTitan
SpamTitan provides affordable spam and malware filtering for smaller businesses, offering straightforward, budget-friendly email protection without the complexity of larger enterprise platforms. It’s a strong fit for smaller organizations wanting reliable protection at a lower cost.
- Key Features: affordable per-user pricing, spam and malware filtering, phishing protection
- Pros: strong value for smaller businesses with budget constraints
- Cons: fewer advanced features than platforms built for sophisticated, targeted attacks
16. Zerospam
Zerospam offers simple, effective spam and phishing filtering, focusing on straightforward, reliable protection without a lot of unnecessary complexity for organizations wanting a no-fuss email security solution. It’s a solid, approachable option.
- Key Features: straightforward spam and phishing filtering, quarantine management, simple administrative interface
- Pros: approachable and easy to manage
- Cons: pricing isn’t public, less depth for sophisticated targeted attack detection
17. Cloudflare Area 1
Cloudflare Area 1 delivers email threat detection backed by Cloudflare’s network intelligence, leveraging Cloudflare’s extensive visibility into internet traffic patterns to inform email threat detection. It’s a strong fit for organizations wanting threat intelligence from broad network visibility.
- Key Features: network-based threat intelligence, preemptive phishing campaign detection, integration with Cloudflare’s broader security suite
- Pros: strong threat intelligence backed by extensive network visibility
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
18. Egress
Egress focuses on human-layer risk detection and outbound email protection, using behavioral intelligence to catch risky outbound email activity like accidental data leaks or targeted social engineering. It’s a strong fit for organizations concerned about human error-driven data loss.
- Key Features: human-layer risk analytics, outbound email data loss prevention, adaptive security based on user behavior
- Pros: strong focus on human error and behavior-driven risk, not just inbound threats
- Cons: pricing isn’t public
19. N-able Mail Assure
N-able Mail Assure serves managed service providers protecting multiple client domains, built specifically for MSPs needing to manage email security across many different client organizations efficiently. It’s a strong niche fit for the MSP market specifically.
- Key Features: multi-tenant management for MSPs, collective threat intelligence across managed domains, continuity and archiving features
- Pros: strong specialization for managed service providers managing multiple clients
- Cons: less relevant for single organizations managing only their own email
20. Libraesva Email Security
Libraesva Email Security offers businesses flexible, customizable email filtering, providing granular control over filtering rules and policies for organizations wanting more customization than typical out-of-the-box solutions. It’s a strong fit for organizations with specific, custom filtering needs.
- Key Features: highly customizable filtering rules, phishing and malware detection, flexible deployment options
- Pros: strong flexibility for organizations wanting granular policy control
- Cons: smaller market presence than larger, more established platforms
What Are the Alternatives to Email Security Software?
- Built-in email provider spam filters alone for very small organizations with minimal risk exposure
- Employee security awareness training alone without dedicated technical filtering
- General endpoint security tools not built specifically for email-based threats
- Manual email review processes for extremely small teams handling low email volume
Software Related to Email Security Software
- Data security software for broader data loss prevention beyond just the email channel
- Identity and access management software for protecting the accounts that email security aims to safeguard
- Security awareness training platforms for building user vigilance alongside technical filtering
- Endpoint security software for protecting devices from threats that make it past email filtering
- Incident response tools for handling confirmed breaches originating from email-based attacks
Challenges With Email Security Software
- Sophisticated impersonation attacks. Well-crafted business email compromise attempts can evade filters that look for obvious red flags.
- False positive management. Overly aggressive filtering can block legitimate business email, causing frustration and workarounds.
- User behavior risk. Even strong technical filtering can’t fully prevent a determined attacker from tricking a distracted employee.
- Integration complexity. Combining email security with existing collaboration and identity tools takes careful configuration.
- Evolving attack techniques. Attackers continuously adapt tactics, requiring ongoing updates to detection methods.
Which Companies Should Buy Email Security Software
- Enterprise organizations managing email security at scale
- Financial services and healthcare companies facing high-value targeted attacks
- Small and mid-size businesses needing affordable, reliable protection
- Managed service providers securing email for multiple client organizations
- Organizations handling sensitive customer or financial data via email
- Companies with previous phishing or business email compromise incidents wanting stronger protection
How to Choose the Best Email Security Software
- Match the platform to your email provider. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers the smoothest experience for Microsoft 365 users.
- Consider your threat profile. Organizations facing sophisticated targeted attacks benefit from AI-driven tools like Abnormal Security or GreatHorn.
- Think about budget constraints. SpamTitan and Zerospam offer strong value for smaller organizations with tighter budgets.
- Check MSP-specific needs. N-able Mail Assure is built specifically for managed service providers handling multiple client domains.
- Factor in outbound risk. Egress and Material Security address human error and post-compromise risk that inbound-only filtering misses.
- Look at integration with broader security tools. Platforms tied to a broader security ecosystem, like Cisco or Fortinet, offer added value if you’re already using those vendors.
Email Security Software Trends
- AI-driven behavioral detection continues growing as attackers craft more convincing, harder-to-detect phishing and impersonation attempts.
- API-based deployment is expanding, letting security tools integrate without disrupting existing mail flow configurations.
- Protection extending beyond email is increasing, covering collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams alongside traditional email.
- Post-compromise protection is growing as organizations recognize prevention alone isn’t enough against determined attackers.
- Human-layer risk analytics continue expanding, focusing on user behavior patterns rather than just message content alone.
Common Email Security Software Problems (Fixes)
Problem: Legitimate business emails are getting blocked or flagged. Fix: review and refine filtering rules regularly, and consider a platform with behavioral context, like GreatHorn or Abnormal Security, to reduce unnecessary false positives.
Problem: A sophisticated phishing email got through despite filtering. Fix: layer AI-driven behavioral detection on top of traditional filtering, since attackers increasingly craft messages that avoid obvious technical red flags.
Problem: Employees aren’t reporting suspicious emails they receive. Fix: implement simple, accessible reporting tools directly within the email client and reinforce awareness through regular training.
Problem: An email account has already been compromised. Fix: use a tool like Material Security that focuses specifically on limiting damage and containing risk after a compromise has occurred.
Problem: Managing email security across many client domains is inefficient. Fix: consider a platform built specifically for multi-tenant management, like N-able Mail Assure, instead of managing each domain separately.
FAQs About Email Security Software
What is the best email security software overall?
Proofpoint and Mimecast are strong choices for comprehensive enterprise protection, while Abnormal Security stands out specifically for catching sophisticated impersonation attacks.
How much does email security software cost?
Prices range from around $1.50 per user per month for budget-friendly options like SpamTitan, up to custom enterprise pricing for platforms like Proofpoint or Mimecast.
Does Microsoft 365 already include enough email security?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides solid baseline protection, but many organizations add a dedicated third-party tool for stronger protection against sophisticated, targeted attacks.
What’s the difference between spam filtering and business email compromise protection?
Spam filtering blocks unwanted or malicious bulk email, while business email compromise protection specifically targets sophisticated, targeted impersonation attempts that often lack obvious spam characteristics.
Can email security software stop all phishing attacks?
No, no tool catches every attempt. Strong email security significantly reduces risk, but combining it with employee awareness training remains important.
Do small businesses need dedicated email security software?
Yes, small businesses are frequently targeted precisely because they often have weaker defenses, making affordable dedicated tools like SpamTitan or Zerospam a worthwhile investment.
