Best Email Security Software (2026)

6 email security tools ranked on real review data, live pricing and feature coverage — refreshed automatically.

6 tools compared Data-driven, never pay-to-play Sourced pricing & ratings

Our verdict

The best email security software in 2026 is IRONSCALES — best for msps and mid-market teams wanting human + ai phishing defense with public self-serve pricing. It scores 8.4/10 on our data-weighted ranking (4.7/5 (~45 G2 reviews)) and starts at $3.11/mailbox/mo. Proofpoint Email Protection is the strongest runner-up. Full comparison table and per-tool breakdown below — all figures stamped with a data-as-of date and linked sources.

6 products

  1. 1IRONSCALES

    ★ Editor's Choice 8.4 4.7 (45) Free tier

    Best for MSPs and mid-market teams wanting human + AI phishing defense with public self-serve pricing.

    • API-based deployment (no MX change)
    • Human + AI crowdsourced detection
    • Automated phishing remediation
    • Phishing simulation + training

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit IRONSCALES → From $3.11/mailbox/mo

  2. 2Proofpoint Email Protection

    8.3 4.6 (548)

    Best for Regulated enterprises wanting the most mature secure email gateway with deep threat intelligence.

    • Secure email gateway (MX-routed)
    • NexusAI threat detection
    • TAP attachment + URL sandboxing
    • TRAP auto-pull remediation

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit Proofpoint Email Protection → From Custom quote

  3. 3Check Point Harmony Email (Avanan)

    8.1 4.6 (511)

    Best for Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace shops wanting API-based protection with no MX change.

    • Inline API deployment (no MX change)
    • Post-delivery + internal email scanning
    • Anti-phishing + malware + BEC
    • Account takeover detection

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit Check Point Harmony Email (Avanan) → From Custom quote

  4. 4Abnormal AI

    8.0 4.8 (65)

    Best for Enterprises prioritizing best-in-class behavioral AI detection of BEC and account takeover.

    • API-based behavioral AI
    • No-tuning anomaly detection
    • BEC + impersonation protection
    • Account takeover detection

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit Abnormal AI → From Custom quote

  5. 5Mimecast Advanced Email Security

    7.9 4.4 (297)

    Best for Mid-market to enterprise teams wanting email security bundled with archiving + continuity.

    • Secure email gateway
    • CyberGraph AI threat intel
    • Built-in email archiving (10+ yr)
    • Mailbox continuity

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit Mimecast Advanced Email Security → From Custom quote

  6. 6Barracuda Email Protection

    7.8 4.4 (220)

    Best for SMBs and MSPs wanting broad, no-drama email protection plus backup from one familiar vendor.

    • Gateway + API-based protection
    • Impersonation + phishing protection
    • Automated incident response
    • Cloud-to-cloud M365 backup

    Overview · Pricing · Review · Alternatives

    Visit Barracuda Email Protection → From $5/user/mo

Affiliate links — vendors may pay us a commission. Ranking is data-driven and never pay-to-play. How we rank →

How to choose

When choosing email security software, weigh four things against your environment: pricing model (per-endpoint vs per-technician vs per-user — it changes total cost dramatically at scale), deployment and integration fit with your existing stack, breadth of automation, and independent review scores. The table above ranks every tracked option on the data we hold; use the per-tool notes to match capabilities to your use case.

Budgeting the whole stack? Use our MSP software cost calculator to estimate monthly and annual spend for email security alongside the rest of your tools, using real published pricing.

Buyer's guide

How we ranked the best email security software

We score every tool on a transparent 0–10 scale weighted from third-party review data (G2/Capterra, adjusted for review volume), published pricing, and verified feature breadth — never opinion alone. All figures were last checked June 2026 and every row links its source.

Pricing models in email security software

Across the 6 tracked tools, billing runs on per user, quote models — which changes total cost dramatically at scale, so compare on your endpoint or technician count, not headline price. IRONSCALES carries the lowest published entry price at $3.11/mailbox/mo. IRONSCALES offers a genuinely free tier; several others run free trials.

Who each is for

  • IRONSCALES — MSPs and mid-market teams wanting human + AI phishing defense with public self-serve pricing. 8.4/10, from $3.11/mailbox/mo (4.7/5 (~45 G2 reviews)).
  • Proofpoint Email Protection — Regulated enterprises wanting the most mature secure email gateway with deep threat intelligence. 8.3/10, from Custom quote (4.6/5 (~548 G2 reviews)).
  • Abnormal AI — Enterprises prioritizing best-in-class behavioral AI detection of BEC and account takeover. 8.2/10, from Custom quote (4.8/5 (~65 G2 reviews)).
  • Check Point Harmony Email (Avanan) — Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace shops wanting API-based protection with no MX change. 8.1/10, from Custom quote (4.6/5 (~511 G2 reviews)).
  • Mimecast Advanced Email Security — Mid-market to enterprise teams wanting email security bundled with archiving + continuity. 7.9/10, from Custom quote (4.4/5 (~297 G2 reviews)).
  • Barracuda Email Protection — SMBs and MSPs wanting broad, no-drama email protection plus backup from one familiar vendor. 7.8/10, from $5/user/mo (4.4/5 (~220 G2 reviews)).

Our pick

On the data we hold, IRONSCALES leads at 8.4/10. The MSP favorite for phishing defense — transparent self-serve pricing, a free tier, and human+AI detection that punches above its size. Read the full IRONSCALES review or compare it head-to-head below.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best email security software in 2026?
IRONSCALES ranks first in our data-weighted comparison (8.4/10, 4.7/5 (~45 G2 reviews)), starting at $3.11/mailbox/mo.
What is the cheapest email security software?
Among tracked options, IRONSCALES has the lowest published starting price at $3.11/mailbox/mo. Pricing models differ, so compare per-endpoint vs per-technician costs for your fleet size.
Is there a free email security software option?
IRONSCALES offers a free tier. Several others provide free trials — see the pricing column in the table above.
Data as of June 16, 2026. Sources: ironscales.com, proofpoint.com, checkpoint.com, abnormal.ai, mimecast.com, barracuda.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.