HCL Verse vs Microsoft Exchange comparison

HCLSoftware and Microsoft are both solutions in the Email Applications category. HCLSoftware is ranked #13, while Microsoft is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.8. HCLSoftware holds a 1.6% mindshare in EA, compared to Microsoft’s 11.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of HCLSoftware users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

HCL Verse

Read 3 HCL Verse reviews

685 Views
384 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Exchange

Read 94 Microsoft Exchange reviews

3,524 Views
2,890 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

HCL Verse

Microsoft Exchange

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

Microsoft Exchange and HCL Verse are enterprise communication solutions. Microsoft Exchange appears to have the upper hand in feature set and integration, while HCL Verse offers a more user-friendly interface and innovative workflow features.

Features: Microsoft Exchange includes a robust email infrastructure, seamless integration with Microsoft 365 services, and extensive security options. HCL Verse has a modern interface, social analytics, and efficient task management features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HCL Verse provides a straightforward deployment process with comprehensive customer support. Microsoft Exchange offers a more customizable deployment model with extensive resources for enterprise-level implementation.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Exchange involves a higher setup cost but delivers substantial ROI through its integration and enterprise capabilities. HCL Verse typically presents a lower initial cost, offering cost-effective solutions with valuable returns due to enhanced productivity features.

To learn more, read our detailed HCL Verse vs. Microsoft Exchange Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

HCL Verse vs. Microsoft Exchange

September 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

HCL Verse

Ranking in Email Applications

13th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Exchange

Ranking in Email Applications

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Wireless Email (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Email Applications category, the mindshare of HCL Verse is 1.6%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Exchange is 11.3%, down from 11.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Applications Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Exchange	11.3%
HCL Verse	1.6%
Other	87.1%

Email Applications

Featured Reviews

Marcos Roberto Silva

Diretor at MASTERDOM

Stable, scalable, and good interface

HCL Verse has a nice interface and it is a practical email solution. There are a diverse set of features, such as the search bar on top of the screens. The usability from the old applications to the new version has been very good. It was great that we were able to migrate applications from the older version to the new one.

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AnikIslam

Senior Executive at Lakdhanavi Limited

Has a straightforward setup process, but the functionality for replying to conversations needs enhancement

One major area for improvement is the need for repeated authentication when running a meeting. This requirement for users to sign in and authenticate their mail each time they access the service is complicated, as employees need to be able to access their accounts anytime, anywhere. Additionally, the functionality for replying to conversations using a link has deteriorated in the newer version of Outlook, an issue that needed to be present in previous iterations.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the mail server."

"HCL Verse has a nice interface and it is a practical email solution. There are a diverse set of features, such as the search bar on top of the screens."

"For me, the solution is very user-friendly. I've used it a long time and I know where everything is."

"Our customers are satisfied with the features included in Microsoft Exchange."

"One of the most valuable features of Microsoft Exchange is its security."

"It is stable."

"It is easy to use and we can allow many users because now our users are scattered They over a wide area. We can use it from anywhere. That is the main benefit for us."

"Provides unlimited storage for our mailbox."

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Exchange is its communication capabilities."

"The most valuable features are that you can exchange information, tasks, attachments, and enhance the process in a short amount of time."

More Microsoft Exchange pros

Cons

"Security is very important to us, so improvements to this functionality are welcome."

"The solution could improve by allowing us to use a color that we want in the editing boxes."

"The desktop version of Microsoft Exchange receives emails a little slower than the online version."

"There can be occasional challenges during the product's implementation phase, making it an area where improvements are needed."

"The support needs to be more knowledgeable."

"One thing for improvement would be to have an offline version of Exchange available for use if our connection goes down."

"Microsoft Exchange needs to improve how it handles and assigns policy and security."

"In terms of Microsoft Exchange, I think maybe what can be done is to make it more user-friendly."

"In the version we have, I would like to see better communication between the end device and the Exchange server."

"Microsoft could improve on Exchange's hybrid deployment or HCW. They need to improve on that because I was having many issues with HCW in our environment at times."

More Microsoft Exchange cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"This is an affordable solution but the price could be improved."

"I don't have enough information about the licensing costs of Microsoft Exchange, but I do know that you need two types of licenses to run it. You need the product key and the client access key to activate Microsoft Exchange. This means that apart from the standard Microsoft Exchange licensing fees, you have to pay additional costs."

"I rate Microsoft Exchange a four out of ten for pricing because it is quite cheap, and many companies use the solution."

"There are different prices depending on the customer's use cases and amount of users. The price of the solution could improve."

"Since my company is on Microsoft Cloud, we pay for the licenses per user. Compared to volume licensing, I would say the present licensing cost is not expensive."

"Its price is okay."

"Microsoft Exchange itself does not require a license, but users who will have mailboxes will require a license. It depends on the number of users to choose which license. If you exceed 2,000 mailboxes, it's preferable to get the enterprise license."

"The pricing is expensive."

"Microsoft's licensing structure is too complex, but its prices are affordable, though not cheap."

More Microsoft Exchange pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

25%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

University

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	41
Midsize Enterprise	27
Large Enterprise	35

Questions from the Community

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How does Zimbra Collaboration compare with Microsoft Exchange?

Zimbra is a free, open source collaborative software suite. The features I like best are the ease of integration and the email, calendar, and collaboration server with web interface. In addition, I...

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What do you like most about Microsoft Exchange?

The initial setup was straightforward and fast.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Exchange?

Microsoft Exchange is costly, and its licensing model can be expensive over time as more users require licenses.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Microsoft Exchange Online vs HCL Verse

Compared 11% of the time

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Hub vs HCL Verse

Compared 10% of the time

HCL Domino vs HCL Verse

Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 17% of the time

KerioConnect vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 16% of the time

Zimbra Collaboration vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 15% of the time

HCL Domino vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 12% of the time

HCL Notes vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Email Applications

August 2025

Download HCL Verse product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange

August 2025

Download Microsoft Exchange product report

Also Known As

Verse, IBM Verse

Exchange, MS Exchange

Overview

IBM Verse is a powerful email hosting solution that enables users to access their business communications from a laptop or desktop browser or from a mobile device. This email and business messaging experience is based on an innovative user-centric design, including social analytics and advanced search capabilities. IBM Verse helps users quickly find and focus on what content is most important, empowering them to build stronger working relationships while optimizing business results.

HCLSoftware

Built to deliver the enterprise-grade security and reliability that businesses require, Microsoft Exchange provides email, calendar and contacts on your PC, phone and web browser.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Canon Marketing Japan Inc., Australian Trade Commission, BTC, Havas, Canal Barge Co.Inc., RAVInvest, Elemental Path, WDR mediagroup

Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport, Scitec Nutrition, British Airways, InnoGames, Osteology Foundation, Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, NTC Contracting

Buyer's Guide

HCL Verse vs. Microsoft Exchange

September 2025

Free Report: HCL Verse vs. Microsoft Exchange

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