Windows Server Essentials Alternatives

Windows Server Essentials is described as '(formerly Windows Small Business Server) is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices' and is an app in the system & hardware category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Windows Server Essentials for Linux, Windows and Mac. The best Windows Server Essentials alternative is ClearOS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Server Essentials are Zentyal, Univention Corporate Server (UCS), Amahi Home Server and Windows Server 2012.

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Windows Server Essentials alternatives are mainly Mail Servers but may also be Operating Systems or Linux Distros.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Server Essentials.
Windows Server Essentials iconWindows Server Essentials
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Windows Server Essentials (formerly Windows Small Business Server) is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices.

More about Windows Server Essentials
More about Windows Server Essentials
Windows Server Essentials alternatives page was last updated Jun 19, 2018
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  1. ClearOS icon
    ClearOS icon

    ClearOS

     71 likes
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    ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.

    26 ClearOS alternatives
    ClearOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    ClearOS Features

    1.  Spam Filter
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Gateway
    4.  PhpMyAdmin
    ClearOS screenshot 1
    ClearOS screenshot 2
    ClearOS iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    ClearOS VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is ClearOS a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     

    • ClearOS is the most popular Linux alternative to Windows Server Essentials.

    • ClearOS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Server Essentials.

    • ClearOS is Free and Open SourceWindows Server Essentials is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Zentyal icon
    Zentyal icon

    Zentyal

     55 likes
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    Zentyal is a native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux incorporating all the network services required in a small and medium business environment: Directory & Domain Server, Mail Server, Gateway and Infrastructure Server.

    26 Zentyal alternatives
    Dashboard

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Zentyal Features

    1.  Gateway
    2.  Member Directory
    3.  Web interface
    User and Device Management
    Firewall
    +1
    Installation
    Zentyal iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Zentyal VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Zentyal a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     

    • Almost everyone thinks Zentyal is a great Windows Server Essentials alternative.

    • Zentyal is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Server Essentials.

    • Zentyal is Paid and Open SourceWindows Server Essentials is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon
    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS)

     32 likes
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    UCS is an open platform for central Identity & Access Management, IT Management, and Active Directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    99 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives
    Univention App Center

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Active Directory Takeover
    Online portal of UCS for all users and administrators
    +9
    Univention Management Console

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  Single Sign-On
    3.  Based on Debian
    4.  ARM support
    5.  Active Directory Migration
    6.  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    7.  Active Directory integration
    8.  SAML Single Sign-On
    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is this a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to Windows Server Essentials.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Free and Open SourceWindows Server Essentials is Paid and Proprietary
  5. Amahi Home Server icon
    Amahi Home Server icon

    Amahi Home Server

     18 likes
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    The Amahi Home Server is designed for home and small office environments where the technical support staff do not want the job!

    21 Amahi Home Server alternatives
    The Amahi dashboards "Storage" tab allows you to view the temperatures of your hard-drives (that is if they have that ability) and also how much used and free space that drive has. Can show unlimited amount of drives.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Amahi Home Server Features

    1.  Nextcloud integration
    2.  Ruby
    The Amahi dashboards "Shares" tab allows you to easily add shared folders to your HDA, just click "Create New", enter the name of your share and then "Create", and your done.
    The Amahi dashboards "Applications" tab allows you to install web-based applications packaged by the Development Team with ONE-CLICK, yea you heard it right, one click of the mouse.
    Amahi Home Server iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Amahi Home Server VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Amahi Home Server a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
  6. Windows Server 2012 icon
    Windows Server 2012 icon

    Windows Server 2012

     14 likes
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    Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2. Two pre-release versions, a developer preview and a beta version, were released during development.

    20 Windows Server 2012 alternatives
    start screen

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Windows Server 2012 Features

    1.  Active Directory integration
    2.  Data deduplication
    Hyper-V technology
    Windows Server 2012 iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Windows Server 2012 VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Windows Server 2012 a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
  7. SME Server icon
    SME Server icon

    SME Server

     4 likes
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    SME Server is a leading distribution for small and medium enterprises. It stands apart from the competition by shipping with most common functionality preconfigured and features a number of popular additional enhancements in the form of downloadable contributions.

    9 SME Server alternatives
    SME Server screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    SME Server Features

    1.  Gateway
    2.  Integrated Spam Protection
    3.  Active Directory integration
    4.  Support for Samba
    5.  DHCP Server
    6.  Web filter
    7.  LDAP Services
    8.  DNS Server
    SME Server iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    SME Server VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is SME Server a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
  9. MDaemon Messaging Server icon
    MDaemon Messaging Server icon

    MDaemon Messaging Server

     16 likes
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    Low cost, easy to use Email Server software for virtual, on-premise, or hosted deployments for companies that want control of their email. Integrated web-mail with doc sharing, Drop Box integration, client and server side encryption.

    22 MDaemon Messaging Server alternatives
    MDaemon's web-based email

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows

    MDaemon Messaging Server Features

    1.  Encrypted Email
    2.  Outlook integration
    3.  IMAP Support
    4.  Dropbox integration
    Integrated Instant Messaging
    Drag and Drop Attachment Handling
    +5
    Easy-to-use calendar
    MDaemon Messaging Server iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    MDaemon Messaging Server VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is this a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
  10. Artica icon
    Artica icon

    Artica

     5 likes
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    Get a web based email/messaging, HTTP proxy, files server, VPN administration interface Using Postfix, Squid, Samba And extend them with Security quickly and easily How to create a Mail/Proxy/File

    20 Artica alternatives
    logo

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Artica Features

    1.  SMTP Support
    2.  Web filter
    Artica screenshot 1
    Artica screenshot 2
    Artica iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Artica VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Artica a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     

  11. Linux Schools

     2 likes
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    Linux Schools consists of Karoshi Server and Karoshi client. It is an Ubuntu LTS Server based solution especially designed for educational environments. It is a fully modular and scalable distribuition, mainly written in Bash.

    4 Linux Schools alternatives
    Linux Schools screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Linux Schools Features

    1.  Digital Signage
    2.  Modular System
    3.  DHCP Server
    4.  Based on Ubuntu
    5.  DNS Server
    6.  All in one
    7.  Scalable
    Windows Server Essentials Icon

    Linux Schools VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Linux Schools a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
  12. Windows Server 2019 icon
    Windows Server 2019 icon

    Windows Server 2019

     1 like
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    Windows Server 2019 is built on the strong foundation of Windows Server 2016 – which continues to see great momentum in customer adoption.

    12 Windows Server 2019 alternatives
    Windows Defender ATP securing a machine running Windows Server 2019 Preview

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Project Honolulu’s management dashboard for Azure Backup in Windows Server 2019 Preview
    Kubernetes managing a container host running Windows Server 2019 Preview
    +1
    Project Honolulu’s Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) management dashboard in Windows Server 2019 Preview
    Windows Server 2019 iconWindows Server Essentials Icon

    Windows Server 2019 VS Windows Server Essentials

    Is Windows Server 2019 a good alternative to Windows Server Essentials?
     
10 of 10 Windows Server Essentials alternatives