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Top 10 Best Secure Email Gateway Software of 2026

Discover the top 10 secure email gateway software solutions. Read our expert picks to protect your communications now.

Alexander Schmidt

Alexander Schmidt

Feb 11, 2026

10 tools comparedExpert reviewed
Independent evaluation · Unbiased commentary · Updated regularly
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In an era of evolving cyber threats, secure email gateways are critical for protecting organizations from phishing, malware, and sophisticated attacks. With a diverse range of tools—from AI-powered platforms to cloud-native solutions—choosing the right software is essential to maintaining robust email security.

Quick Overview

  1. 1#1: Proofpoint Email Protection - Delivers AI-powered protection against advanced email threats including phishing, malware, and business email compromise.
  2. 2#2: Mimecast Email Security - Provides comprehensive cloud-based email security, archiving, and targeted threat protection with URL defense.
  3. 3#3: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 - Safeguards Microsoft 365 email environments from phishing, malware, and safe attachments using AI and automation.
  4. 4#4: Cisco Secure Email Gateway - Offers multilayered email security with advanced malware protection, anti-phishing, and threat intelligence.
  5. 5#5: Barracuda Email Security Gateway - Cloud-native email gateway that blocks spam, phishing, and ransomware with AI-driven impersonation detection.
  6. 6#6: Trend Micro Email Security - Leverages AI and global threat intelligence to protect against email malware, spam, and advanced persistent threats.
  7. 7#7: Fortinet FortiMail - Provides secure email gateway solutions in cloud, virtual, and hardware forms with antispam and antivirus features.
  8. 8#8: Symantec Email Security.cloud - Cloud-based service offering anti-malware, anti-spam, and data loss prevention for inbound and outbound email.
  9. 9#9: Abnormal Security - Uses behavioral AI to detect and stop sophisticated social engineering attacks invisible to traditional gateways.
  10. 10#10: Sophos Email Security - Adaptive cybersecurity platform that secures email with synchronized security and AI-driven threat detection.

These tools were evaluated based on threat detection efficiency, user-friendly design, integration capabilities, and overall value, ensuring they represent the most reliable and adaptable options for modern security needs.

Comparison Table

This comparison table explores top secure email gateway software, featuring tools such as Proofpoint Email Protection, Mimecast Email Security, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, Barracuda Email Security Gateway, and more, to highlight key capabilities. It examines threat detection, integration, usability, and protection features, helping readers identify the ideal solution for safeguarding communications and mitigating email-borne risks. By side-by-side analysis, users gain clarity on how these tools align with their security needs and preferences.

Delivers AI-powered protection against advanced email threats including phishing, malware, and business email compromise.

Features
9.8/10
Ease
8.7/10
Value
8.9/10

Provides comprehensive cloud-based email security, archiving, and targeted threat protection with URL defense.

Features
9.5/10
Ease
8.7/10
Value
8.6/10

Safeguards Microsoft 365 email environments from phishing, malware, and safe attachments using AI and automation.

Features
9.5/10
Ease
8.5/10
Value
8.5/10

Offers multilayered email security with advanced malware protection, anti-phishing, and threat intelligence.

Features
9.2/10
Ease
7.8/10
Value
8.3/10

Cloud-native email gateway that blocks spam, phishing, and ransomware with AI-driven impersonation detection.

Features
8.5/10
Ease
7.9/10
Value
8.0/10

Leverages AI and global threat intelligence to protect against email malware, spam, and advanced persistent threats.

Features
8.7/10
Ease
8.0/10
Value
7.8/10

Provides secure email gateway solutions in cloud, virtual, and hardware forms with antispam and antivirus features.

Features
9.1/10
Ease
7.4/10
Value
7.9/10

Cloud-based service offering anti-malware, anti-spam, and data loss prevention for inbound and outbound email.

Features
8.8/10
Ease
8.0/10
Value
7.5/10

Uses behavioral AI to detect and stop sophisticated social engineering attacks invisible to traditional gateways.

Features
9.4/10
Ease
8.9/10
Value
8.2/10

Adaptive cybersecurity platform that secures email with synchronized security and AI-driven threat detection.

Features
8.5/10
Ease
8.0/10
Value
7.8/10
1
Proofpoint Email Protection logo

Proofpoint Email Protection

enterprise

Delivers AI-powered protection against advanced email threats including phishing, malware, and business email compromise.

Overall Rating9.5/10
Features
9.8/10
Ease of Use
8.7/10
Value
8.9/10
Standout Feature

Precision BEC engine with patented behavioral analysis for unmatched business email compromise detection

Proofpoint Email Protection is a top-tier Secure Email Gateway (SEG) solution that provides comprehensive defense against advanced email threats including phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise (BEC). Leveraging AI, machine learning, and behavioral analysis, it offers real-time threat detection, URL and attachment sandboxing, and impersonation protection. Additionally, it includes data loss prevention (DLP), compliance reporting, and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and other cloud environments for enterprise-scale deployment.

Pros

  • Exceptional accuracy in detecting sophisticated threats like BEC and zero-day attacks using AI/ML
  • Robust DLP and compliance tools with granular policy controls
  • Advanced analytics, forensics, and automated remediation workflows

Cons

  • Premium pricing may be steep for small businesses
  • Steep learning curve for initial configuration and management
  • Requires significant bandwidth for cloud-based sandboxing

Best For

Large enterprises and organizations with high-volume email traffic needing enterprise-grade threat intelligence and compliance.

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing; typically $5-12 per user/month based on volume and features (Essentials, Advanced, Enterprise tiers).

2
Mimecast Email Security logo

Mimecast Email Security

enterprise

Provides comprehensive cloud-based email security, archiving, and targeted threat protection with URL defense.

Overall Rating9.2/10
Features
9.5/10
Ease of Use
8.7/10
Value
8.6/10
Standout Feature

Targeted Threat Protection with behavioral AI that detects and blocks sophisticated, zero-day attacks missed by traditional filters

Mimecast Email Security is a cloud-native Secure Email Gateway (SEG) that delivers advanced protection against phishing, malware, ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and impersonation attacks. It leverages AI, machine learning, and a global threat intelligence network for real-time URL scanning, attachment sandboxing, and precision threat detection. The platform also includes DMARC management, data loss prevention (DLP), and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for comprehensive email security.

Pros

  • Superior AI-driven phishing and BEC detection with low false positives
  • Integrated URL defense and attachment sandboxing for proactive threat neutralization
  • Robust threat intelligence from billions of daily email analyses

Cons

  • Premium pricing may be steep for small businesses
  • Initial configuration can be complex for non-expert admins
  • Occasional over-filtering requires tuning

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises needing enterprise-grade, multi-layered email threat protection with seamless cloud integration.

Pricing

Quote-based subscription starting at ~$5-12 per user/month, scaled by features, users, and contract length.

3
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 logo

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

enterprise

Safeguards Microsoft 365 email environments from phishing, malware, and safe attachments using AI and automation.

Overall Rating9.0/10
Features
9.5/10
Ease of Use
8.5/10
Value
8.5/10
Standout Feature

Zero-hour Auto Purge (ZAP) that automatically removes delivered malicious emails post-detection

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a cloud-native secure email gateway solution integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, providing advanced protection against phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise. It uses AI-driven detection, Safe Links for URL rewriting and scanning, Safe Attachments for detonating files in a sandbox, and anti-impersonation tools to safeguard Exchange Online inboxes. The service also includes real-time threat intelligence from Microsoft’s vast network and automated response capabilities like Zero-hour Auto Purge (ZAP).

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook and Teams
  • Advanced AI and machine learning for high-accuracy threat detection
  • Comprehensive automation and incident response features like ZAP

Cons

  • Limited flexibility for non-Microsoft email environments
  • Configuration can be complex for optimal policy tuning
  • Pricing tied to broader Microsoft subscriptions, reducing standalone value

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises deeply embedded in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem needing integrated email security.

Pricing

Bundled in Microsoft 365 E3/E5 plans or standalone as Plan 1 ($2/user/month) or Plan 2 ($5/user/month) for advanced features.

4
Cisco Secure Email Gateway logo

Cisco Secure Email Gateway

enterprise

Offers multilayered email security with advanced malware protection, anti-phishing, and threat intelligence.

Overall Rating8.8/10
Features
9.2/10
Ease of Use
7.8/10
Value
8.3/10
Standout Feature

Cisco Talos threat intelligence, providing access to one of the largest civilian threat feeds for proactive email defense.

Cisco Secure Email Gateway is a comprehensive email security solution that defends against advanced threats like phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise using AI-driven detection, sandboxing, and machine learning. It provides inbound and outbound filtering, data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, and impersonation protection, with support for both cloud-hosted and on-premises deployments. Integrated with Cisco's broader security portfolio, it leverages the Talos threat intelligence network for real-time updates and high-fidelity threat blocking.

Pros

  • Powered by Cisco Talos intelligence for superior threat detection rates
  • Seamless integration with Cisco SecureX and other ecosystem tools
  • Flexible deployment options including cloud, virtual, and hardware appliances

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for configuration and management
  • Higher pricing compared to some competitors
  • Limited customization for smaller organizations

Best For

Large enterprises with existing Cisco infrastructure needing enterprise-grade email threat protection.

Pricing

Quote-based pricing, typically starting at $5-10 per user/month for cloud deployments, scaling with volume and features.

5
Barracuda Email Security Gateway logo

Barracuda Email Security Gateway

enterprise

Cloud-native email gateway that blocks spam, phishing, and ransomware with AI-driven impersonation detection.

Overall Rating8.2/10
Features
8.5/10
Ease of Use
7.9/10
Value
8.0/10
Standout Feature

Barracuda Threat Spotlight sandboxing for real-time analysis of zero-day malware and evasive threats

Barracuda Email Security Gateway is a robust secure email gateway solution designed to protect organizations from spam, phishing, malware, ransomware, and advanced persistent threats using AI-driven detection and multi-layered defenses. It provides features like sandboxing for zero-day threats, data loss prevention (DLP), email encryption, and archiving, with flexible deployment options including cloud-hosted, on-premises appliances, and virtual machines. The platform integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and other email systems, offering centralized management and reporting for IT teams.

Pros

  • Powerful AI and machine learning for high-accuracy threat detection
  • Flexible deployment options (cloud, appliance, virtual)
  • Strong integration with Microsoft 365 and archiving capabilities

Cons

  • Interface can feel dated and less intuitive for beginners
  • Higher costs for advanced features and smaller user counts
  • Reporting and customization options could be more granular

Best For

Mid-sized enterprises needing reliable, multi-layered email protection with on-premises or hybrid deployment flexibility.

Pricing

Subscription starts at ~$2.50-$5 per user/month (cloud); hardware appliances from $3,000+ one-time plus annual support.

6
Trend Micro Email Security logo

Trend Micro Email Security

enterprise

Leverages AI and global threat intelligence to protect against email malware, spam, and advanced persistent threats.

Overall Rating8.2/10
Features
8.7/10
Ease of Use
8.0/10
Value
7.8/10
Standout Feature

AI-powered Smart Scan with predictive machine learning for proactive zero-day threat blocking

Trend Micro Email Security is a cloud-based Secure Email Gateway (SEG) solution designed to protect organizations from email threats like phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise (BEC). It employs AI-powered machine learning, sandbox analysis, and global threat intelligence to detect and block advanced attacks in real-time. The platform offers seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and on-premises systems, along with customizable policies and detailed reporting for compliance and visibility.

Pros

  • Advanced AI/ML threat detection with low false positives
  • Integrated sandboxing (Deep Discovery) for zero-day malware analysis
  • Strong global threat intelligence and easy cloud integrations

Cons

  • Pricing is quote-based and can be expensive for small businesses
  • Advanced configuration requires technical expertise
  • Reporting customization could be more intuitive

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises needing robust, AI-enhanced email protection with Microsoft 365 integration.

Pricing

Quote-based subscription; typically $4-7 per user/month based on volume, features, and deployment.

7
Fortinet FortiMail logo

Fortinet FortiMail

enterprise

Provides secure email gateway solutions in cloud, virtual, and hardware forms with antispam and antivirus features.

Overall Rating8.3/10
Features
9.1/10
Ease of Use
7.4/10
Value
7.9/10
Standout Feature

FortiGuard AI-powered behavioral analysis and inline sandboxing for proactive zero-day threat blocking

Fortinet FortiMail is a robust secure email gateway (SEG) solution designed to protect organizations from email-based threats like spam, phishing, malware, and advanced persistent threats. It provides comprehensive filtering, antivirus scanning, data loss prevention (DLP), and encryption capabilities, with flexible deployment options including hardware appliances, virtual machines, and cloud-hosted services. Leveraging Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs for real-time threat intelligence, it integrates seamlessly with the broader Fortinet Security Fabric for unified management.

Pros

  • Advanced AI/ML-driven threat detection with FortiSandbox integration for zero-day malware
  • Scalable deployment across on-premises, virtual, and cloud environments
  • Strong integration with Fortinet ecosystem for unified security operations

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for configuration and management, especially for non-Fortinet users
  • Higher pricing compared to some competitors
  • Limited third-party integrations outside the Fortinet fabric

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises already invested in the Fortinet Security Fabric seeking integrated, high-performance email security.

Pricing

Quote-based pricing; typically starts at $5,000-$10,000 annually for small deployments, scaling up based on user count and features.

8
Symantec Email Security.cloud logo

Symantec Email Security.cloud

enterprise

Cloud-based service offering anti-malware, anti-spam, and data loss prevention for inbound and outbound email.

Overall Rating8.2/10
Features
8.8/10
Ease of Use
8.0/10
Value
7.5/10
Standout Feature

Symantec Intelligent Protection, which uses AI and Symantec's massive threat dataset to proactively block sophisticated, never-before-seen attacks.

Symantec Email Security.cloud is a cloud-based secure email gateway (SEG) solution designed to protect organizations from advanced email threats such as phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise (BEC). It leverages Symantec's global threat intelligence, AI-driven detection engines, and machine learning for real-time analysis of emails, attachments, and URLs. The platform also includes data loss prevention (DLP), sandboxing, and compliance reporting to ensure secure email communications.

Pros

  • Leverages Symantec's extensive global threat intelligence network for high detection accuracy
  • Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and other cloud email platforms
  • Advanced AI/ML capabilities including behavioral analysis and sandboxing for zero-day threats

Cons

  • Pricing is on the higher end, especially for smaller organizations
  • Initial setup and configuration can be complex for non-expert admins
  • Reporting and customization options are somewhat limited compared to top competitors

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises requiring enterprise-grade threat intelligence and integration with existing Microsoft environments.

Pricing

Subscription-based, typically $3-6 per user per month depending on volume and features; enterprise pricing requires contacting sales.

9
Abnormal Security logo

Abnormal Security

enterprise

Uses behavioral AI to detect and stop sophisticated social engineering attacks invisible to traditional gateways.

Overall Rating8.7/10
Features
9.4/10
Ease of Use
8.9/10
Value
8.2/10
Standout Feature

Behavioral AI engine that models normal user and entity behavior across trillions of emails to autonomously detect unseen threats

Abnormal Security is an AI-native Secure Email Gateway (SEG) platform that uses behavioral AI and machine learning to detect and stop advanced email threats like phishing, business email compromise (BEC), ransomware, and account takeovers. Unlike traditional signature-based solutions, it analyzes user behavior, content, and relationships in real-time to identify anomalies without relying on rules or indicators of compromise. The cloud-native platform integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, offering autonomous protection and rapid response capabilities.

Pros

  • Exceptional AI-driven detection of sophisticated threats like BEC and social engineering with low false positives
  • Cloud-native deployment with quick setup and seamless integration into Office 365/Google Workspace
  • Real-time threat hunting and automated remediation workflows

Cons

  • Premium pricing that may be steep for smaller organizations
  • Limited reporting customization compared to legacy SEG providers
  • Heavy reliance on cloud processing raises data residency concerns for some enterprises

Best For

Mid-to-large enterprises seeking cutting-edge AI behavioral analysis for email security without the limitations of traditional rule-based gateways.

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing, typically $6-12 per user/month billed annually, with volume discounts.

Visit Abnormal Securityabnormal.security
10
Sophos Email Security logo

Sophos Email Security

enterprise

Adaptive cybersecurity platform that secures email with synchronized security and AI-driven threat detection.

Overall Rating8.2/10
Features
8.5/10
Ease of Use
8.0/10
Value
7.8/10
Standout Feature

Synchronized Security integration that enables automatic threat response across email and endpoints

Sophos Email Security is a cloud-based secure email gateway (SEG) designed to protect organizations from spam, phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise (BEC) attacks. It employs AI/ML-driven detection, dual antivirus engines, attachment sandboxing, and URL defense to analyze inbound, outbound, and internal emails in real-time. The solution integrates tightly with the Sophos security ecosystem for coordinated threat response and offers compliance features like data loss prevention (DLP).

Pros

  • Powerful AI/ML threat intelligence with low false positives
  • Seamless integration with Sophos Central and endpoint products
  • Effective BEC detection and attachment sandboxing

Cons

  • Limited on-premises deployment options (cloud-focused)
  • Reporting and customization less flexible than top competitors
  • Pricing can be premium for small businesses

Best For

Mid-sized enterprises already invested in the Sophos ecosystem seeking integrated, AI-driven email protection.

Pricing

Subscription-based, quote-only pricing starting around $3-5 per user/month depending on volume and features; contact Sophos for details.

Conclusion

Among the reviewed secure email gateways, Proofpoint Email Protection emerges as the top choice, delivering exceptional AI-powered defense against advanced email threats like phishing and business email compromise. Close contenders Mimecast Email Security and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 also shine, with Mimecast offering comprehensive cloud-based protection and Microsoft Defender excelling in safeguarding Microsoft 365 environments. Each tool brings unique strengths, ensuring organizations can find a solution tailored to their specific security needs.

Proofpoint Email Protection logo
Our Top Pick
Proofpoint Email Protection

Take the first step toward robust email security—explore Proofpoint Email Protection, the top-ranked solution, to fortify your defenses against evolving threats.