Best 10 Mimecast Alternatives For Email Security (2026)

Material Security is a complete cloud workspace security platform for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 that goes beyond the email perimeter. Where the traditional secure email gateway model stops at the perimeter, Material has visibility into post-delivery threats, account takeover signals, and the sensitive data sitting in mailboxes — the gaps the gateway model was never designed to close.

Material Security Key Features

While traditional email security controls block threats at the gateway, Material uses an API integration along with AI agentic automation and LLM analysis to detect inbound email threats inside the inbox, protecting against VIP impersonation, business email compromise, and other sophisticated attacks.

Material also secures sensitive email content like one-time passcodes and confidential files that already sit in mailboxes. If an account shows signs of compromise, Material triggers additional authentication workflows to stop sensitive email data from being exposed.

File security permissions controls and identity security controls extend that protection across the workspace, restricting what a compromised account can actually do inside Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Material provides cloud workspace posture management and AI-powered OAuth app remediation that identifies and revokes risky third-party tokens — including OAuth connections to AI tools and third-party apps that accumulate silently across most environments. Deployment takes under 30 minutes via API with no MX record changes required.

What Customers Say

Users highlight the account compromise protection features as a standout feature. They help by slowing attacks and limiting how much data an attacker can reach.

Customers also report that the automated remediation and phishing investigation capabilities are major time savers for security analysts. Reporting is straightforward, and users consistently call out the pace of product development and the responsiveness of the support team.

Some teams do find that rules configuration can be complex without dedicated email security expertise. But the Material support team is responsive.

Our Take

Mimecast and tools like it do something real: they block a meaningful volume of inbound threats. The case for Material isn’t that your current tool doesn’t work — it’s that it’s solving an incomplete version of the problem. A gateway stops threats at the door. It has no answer for what happens when an attacker gets through, bypasses the perimeter entirely via OAuth, or compromises an account through session hijacking or MFA fatigue. Material is built for that part of the problem too: inbound protection, sensitive data lockdown, identity controls, and continuous OAuth monitoring working together across the full workspace.

If your team is looking for an alternative to Mimecast’s gateway model that addresses the full cloud workspace threat landscape along with stopping advanced email threats from hitting the inbox, this is a strong solution to consider.

Proofpoint Email Protection is a cloud-based email security platform built for mid-sized and large enterprises that need layered detection and deep policy control. We think it’s the most direct Mimecast replacement on this list, sitting in the same enterprise tier with comparable depth across threat intelligence, filtering logic, and mail routing.

Proofpoint Email Protection Key Features

Proofpoint combines machine learning with multi-layered detection to catch inbound and outbound threats before they reach users. The platform dynamically classifies threats and common nuisances like graymail, which gives your team room to triage what actually matters. We found the granular policy and routing controls useful. You can shape filtering logic to match how your organization actually sends mail, rather than bending workflows around the product. In March 2026, Proofpoint announced an integrated architecture that brings its SEG and API-based protection into a single platform, with shared threat intelligence flowing across pre-delivery and post-delivery controls.

What Customers Say

Customers say phishing attempts, suspicious links, and odd attachments get caught before they hit the inbox. The daily digest gets repeated praise for letting people clear spam in one click without dumping legitimate cold outreach. Some customer reviews note that the learning curve is steep, and dashboard navigation has come up as a friction point for day-to-day administration.

Our Take

We were impressed by the visibility Proofpoint gives you into the people most targeted in your organization, which helps you focus security awareness training where it counts. If you’re moving off Mimecast or scaling beyond Microsoft’s native controls, Proofpoint is well worth considering. Smaller teams without dedicated email security headcount are better served by Proofpoint Essentials.

Abnormal AI is a cloud-based email security platform that uses behavioral AI to catch socially engineered attacks that traditional secure email gateways tend to miss. It deploys via API into Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace with no MX changes, which makes it one of the fastest options to get running if you’re moving off Mimecast or a legacy SEG.

Abnormal AI Key Features

Abnormal builds a baseline of how each user normally communicates, including identity, content, and tone. It uses this to flag unusual behavior the moment it appears, which is where most BEC and account takeover attempts hide. We found the deployment model worth calling out. There’s no MX record change or policy authoring involved. The API connection does the work, and you can collapse multiple layers of your inbound stack into one platform. The platform also includes VendorBase supply chain protection, which detects invoice fraud and vendor impersonation using federated behavioral intelligence across your vendor ecosystem.

What Customers Say

Customers say phishing volume drops noticeably after rollout, and account takeover detection catches anomalous logins and locks accounts automatically. Setup gets repeated praise, with one team handling 90% of configuration in a single hour. According to customer feedback, the AI Phishing Coach module isn’t enterprise-ready yet, and false positives surface occasionally, with legitimate emails like invoices being routed to junk folders.

Our Take

We think Abnormal fits security teams running Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace who want behavioral detection layered on native controls without admin overhead. If your inbound stack has grown messy and you want one platform doing the heavy lifting, this is a strong option to consider. If you need a traditional SEG with extensive custom policies, look elsewhere.

Check Point Email Security, formerly known as Avanan and then Harmony Email & Collaboration, is an inline email and collaboration security platform that sits inside Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace rather than at the gateway. We think the collaboration coverage sets it apart. The same engine that inspects email extends into Slack, Teams, and OneDrive, so internal phishing and shared link threats in your tenant get the same scrutiny as inbound mail.

Check Point Email Security Key Features

Check Point’s API-based deployment lets it inspect mail and messages after Microsoft or Google’s native filters run, which means it catches what the platform controls let through. The machine learning engine is trained on email patterns to spot phishing, BEC, account takeover, and ransomware attempts. What we found different is the collaboration coverage. The same engine extends into Slack, Teams, and OneDrive, giving you consistent protection across communication channels, not just the inbox.

What Customers Say

Customers say deployment takes minutes and starts blocking threats almost immediately. Phishing volume drops sharply after rollout, and the triage interface gets praise for being clear and quick to action when alerts pile up. Based on customer reviews, a mobile admin app would help with response outside business hours, but complaints beyond that are thin on the ground.

Our Take

We think Check Point Email Security suits Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace teams who want phishing protection extending past email into Teams, Slack, and shared file storage. The API model fits teams who don’t want gateway redirection or another MX change. If you’re running hybrid mail with on-premises Exchange or need heavy custom policy authoring, a traditional SEG is a better fit.

Barracuda Email Protection is a cloud security suite covering inbound filtering, account takeover, domain fraud, DLP, encryption, and SaaS backup. We think it’s a strong fit for mid-market teams who want one vendor handling email security, archiving, and backup rather than stitching together separate tools for each.

Barracuda Email Protection Key Features

Barracuda covers spam, ransomware, BEC, spear phishing, and impersonation, with add-ons for domain fraud protection, awareness training, and cloud archiving. Three plan tiers let you start at standard filtering with the Advanced plan and layer on capabilities like DLP, encryption, and SaaS backup as your needs grow. The Premium Plus tier adds unlimited cloud archiving and security awareness training. We found the consolidation angle genuinely useful. If you’re running multiple point tools for filtering, archiving, and backup, Barracuda lets you collapse them into one platform with predictable management.

What Customers Say

Customers say Barracuda has been stable over years of use, integrates cleanly with Microsoft 365, and runs with low management overhead even across multiple sites. Support gets repeated praise, with customers calling out direct phone access and fast resolution at first contact. Some customer reviews note that strict DKIM enforcement blocks legitimate mail from senders without registered domains, which causes friction in industries with smaller business partners.

Our Take

We were impressed by the support experience, which consistently gets called out as a differentiator. If your customer base includes many senders without proper domain authentication, expect to spend time tuning. For everyone else, the platform stays out of your way. Barracuda is well worth considering if you want email security, archiving, and backup from a single vendor.

Cisco Secure Email is a multi-layered email security platform aimed at mid-sized to large enterprises that already lean on the Cisco Secure ecosystem. It runs on-premises, in a VM, or in the cloud, which gives you deployment flexibility most pure-cloud rivals don’t offer. We think it’s best suited for Cisco-aligned shops where consolidated vendor management matters as much as the email protection itself.

Cisco Secure Email Key Features

Cisco layers AI, behavioral analytics, and machine learning to catch phishing, BEC, ransomware, and malware in attachments. Built-in DLP, end-to-end encryption for mail in transit, and auto-remediation for threats that slip past initial filters are all included rather than bolted on. We found the deployment options stand out. You can run Secure Email on-premises, in a VM, or as a cloud service, which suits regulated industries that need control over where mail data lives. Three tiered bundles let you scale from essentials to advanced threat protection.

What Customers Say

Customers say the AI-driven detection catches advanced threats reliably, with auto-remediation and encryption picked out as strengths. The wider Cisco Secure portfolio gets credit as a flexible toolbox that integrates across multiple use cases. Based on customer reviews, configuration and troubleshooting can get more involved than expected, and support has come up as an area for improvement.

Our Take

We think Cisco Secure Email is well worth considering if you’re already running Cisco gear and want the integration payoff across your security stack. The flexible deployment helps if you have on-premises or hybrid mail you can’t move. If you want a simpler cloud-native tool with minimal admin overhead, the Cisco stack is more than you need.

Forcepoint Email Security is an enterprise gateway available as cloud, on-premises, or hybrid, with deep policy controls and integrated DLP. We think the policy depth and hybrid deployment options make it a strong fit for organizations with complex mail estates and strict governance needs. There is one important consideration: Forcepoint has announced end-of-life plans for this product, so organizations evaluating it should check the current support timeline before committing.

Forcepoint Email Security Key Features

The platform handles threat protection, DLP, and email encryption under a single policy model, which means uniform rules apply across cloud and on-premises mail. Granular controls let you define different policies per domain group, with DKIM, DMARC, and SPF enforcement working without breaking delivery in most cases. We found the disaster recovery angle worth attention. Email server prioritization with MX failover gives you continuity during outages, sitting alongside threat detection rather than as a separate product.

What Customers Say

Customers say setup and administration stay flexible enough to switch between managed service partners without disruption, and policy structures hold up over years of use. Support gets repeated praise, including help resolving issues that sat outside Forcepoint’s own environment. According to customer feedback, the anti-phishing engine and link scanning could be stronger, and on-premises performance has room to improve compared to the cloud experience.

Our Take

We think Forcepoint Email Security suits organizations with hybrid mail estates, multiple domains, or strict policy governance needs. The DR options and granular policy design are genuine differentiators. But with the product reaching end of life, we’d recommend checking Forcepoint’s current support timeline before making a long-term commitment. If you’re looking for the strongest anti-phishing detection or a pure SaaS approach, other vendors on this list are ahead.

IRONSCALES is an API-based email security platform that sits at the mailbox level inside Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. It’s designed to catch inbound email threats, like phishing, BEC, and impersonation attacks, missed by traditional email gateways. It uses adaptive AI systems alongside end-user based threat intelligence to learn what malicious emails look like, and block them everywhere, all at once. We think it fits teams looking to move away from gateway-based email security without losing detection quality.

IRONSCALES Key Features

IRONSCALES uses machine learning, AV engines, and URL scanning to provide strong protection against malicious links and attachments. The platform also provides spam filtering and grey-mail protection, meaning it can be used as a standalone replacement to a traditional email gateway. Unlike legacy gateways, IRONSCALES deploys via API with no MX record changes required, so there is no disruption to existing mail flow during migration.

The platform builds a baseline of normal email behavior and flags suspicious activity in real time. Employees can report a suspicious email with a single click, which is fed back into detection across the entire IRONSCALES customer base of over 17,000 organizations. Dynamic warning banners are placed on suspected email content. IRONSCALES Themis virtual SOC conducts investigation and remediation autonomously, providing admins context on email threats. IRONSCALES has also introduced a predictive red team agent that scrapes an organization’s public footprint to generate likely attack scenarios and test them against the platform’s own detection engine. The platform offers built-in phishing simulations and deepfake meeting protection for video calls on Microsoft Teams.

Our Take

We are impressed by IRONSCALES. The platform is constantly adding new features, like email spam filtering, encryption, and deepfake protection. The core of the product is the crowdsourced threat intelligence built on end-user email reporting, which is an effective way of blocking phishing, alongside powerful threat protection engines. If you are looking to replace a traditional email gateway with a modern API-based platform that includes phishing awareness training, IRONSCALES delivers. The free Starter tier offers phishing simulation and testing for up to 500 mailboxes, though full email protection requires a paid plan.

TitanHQ’s SpamTitan is a secure email gateway built around spam filtering, sandboxing, and encryption, aimed at SMBs, MSPs, and resellers who want a lower-cost alternative to Mimecast or Barracuda. We think it’s a strong option for budget-conscious teams who want sandboxing included rather than priced as an upsell.

TitanHQ Email Security Key Features

Greylisting rejects incoming mail and asks the sender to retry, which weeds out most spammers without complex policy work. Real-Time Blacklists and SURBL filters layer on top, with sandbox protection included rather than priced as an add-on. TitanHQ claims a 99.98% spam catch rate and 99.99% phishing detection rate. We found the pricing model worth flagging. Per-user costs sit well below most enterprise alternatives, and multi-year contracts trim that further.

What Customers Say

Customers say the platform is easy to set up, easy to scale, and integrates cleanly with Microsoft 365. The Outlook plugin and daily quarantine reports get repeated mentions, and sandbox protection at no extra cost stands out against the competition. Based on customer reviews, the bayesian filter takes time to learn before catching spam reliably, and the daily report cadence isn’t customizable. Limited support hours and the lack of a mobile app have also come up.

Our Take

We think TitanHQ is a good option to consider for SMBs and cost-sensitive teams. Multi-year pricing pushes per-user costs near the bottom of the category, and sandboxing is included where most competitors charge extra. If you’re an MSP running tightly separated tenants per customer, customers say the alias architecture isn’t a great fit. For SMBs and lean enterprises on a budget, SpamTitan holds its own.

Trustifi pairs inbound threat protection with AES 256-bit outbound encryption in a single platform, which sets it apart from gateway tools that only handle one direction. We think it’s a very strong option for MSPs and regulated industries that need encryption included rather than purchased separately.

Trustifi Email Security Key Features

Trustifi scans inbound mail for spam, malware, and phishing, with a ranking system that categorizes threats from authenticated to impersonation attack. The API setup deploys quickly across Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with default protection live as soon as it’s connected. We found the outbound encryption stands out. AES 256-bit encryption applies to sensitive mail, and recipient 2FA adds a layer for HIPAA workflows and any regulated information leaving your tenant. DLP rules can be configured to automatically encrypt outbound messages matching specific patterns, reducing human error.

What Customers Say

Customers say setup is simple, the interface is intuitive, and HIPAA-compliant sending of PHI just works. MSPs running multiple Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace clients call out the multi-tenant filtering as a real win, alongside responsive support that listens to feature requests. According to customer feedback, the threat simulation product needs more depth and a monthly training cadence, and quarantine notification emails feel excessive with no opt-out at user level.

Our Take

We were impressed by the consolidation of inbound filtering and outbound encryption into one platform, which replaces separate gateway and encryption tools. Pricing sits below most enterprise alternatives without thinning out core capability. If your encryption needs are minimal and you’ve got an established gateway, this is more than you need. For regulated industries handling PHI or sensitive data, Trustifi is well worth considering.