I use the solution in my company because it is an email system, and it can be hard to get by without one. I also use the tool for different companies and offer support for it. As a consultant, I support it for many different organizations. I use the tool across a whole bunch of different industries, so there are too many to name.
Consultant at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Needs to offer better support services but is beneficial for managing emails
Pros and Cons
- "The tool's most valuable feature is associated with the fact that it stands out for being beneficial for managing emails."
- "At the end of the day, the biggest area for improvement is having better and more knowledgeable support technicians."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The tool's most valuable feature is associated with the fact that it stands out for being beneficial for managing emails.
What needs improvement?
At the end of the day, the biggest area for improvement is having better and more knowledgeable support technicians. Anytime I have to call in with issues about Microsoft Exchange, I know more about it than the consultants or some other people to whom Microsoft pays to offer support for the product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with Microsoft Exchange since it came into existence. I used to work at Microsoft, so I have been familiar with Microsoft Exchange when it was Microsoft BPOS. My company has a partnership with Microsoft.
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Microsoft Exchange
August 2025

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I am a small business person, so the tool's scalability is just fine.
The tool is meant for small businesses.
How are customer service and support?
I rate the technical support a zero out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Negative
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I don't see any differences between Microsoft Exchange and some other email applications I have used. Microsoft Exchange is just a tool. The biggest I see in Microsoft Exchange is that it is much easier to access it through multiple platforms.
What was our ROI?
There is no ROI from the use of the tool in my company. It is a required piece of tool for business. I can have a functionality-related discussion about the tool that I need to run the business. The tool's ROI discussion is kind of moot for me.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution's pricing is fine. There are not many options out there, so it is not fair to rate the tool's pricing on a scale of one to ten. I do think the tool offers value for money.
What other advice do I have?
The security and compliance features impacted our organization to a minimal extent because we use third-party products for most of such stuff.
Speaking about the tool's integration capabilities with other software, I would say that they vary a lot, so some things are good, while some areas are challenging.
I utilize the mobile access features of the tool all the time.
Speaking about the tool's productivity, I would say it is the number one email platform in the world. The product works just fine. It does what I need it to do. The only time I get frustrated is when it breaks down or doesn't do things the way it is supposed to and when the support people are unable to assist me.
As I support Microsoft Exchange for many people, I can recommend it to others.
When the tool is working just fine, it is a great product. When it breaks and I cannot get it working the way it is supposed to, it is bad.
I rate the tool a five out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner

Security Manager at Yarix S.r.l.
Provides seamless integration with other Microsoft products and good graphical interface
Pros and Cons
- "I find the Outlook client very valuable. It allows me to connect to the Exchange Server and send and receive emails easily. The graphical interface is user-friendly and has a good look and feel."
- "I would like to see the search capability of the Outlook client improved"
What is our primary use case?
The main use cases are sending and receiving emails, managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and integrating with Microsoft Teams.
What is most valuable?
I find the Outlook client very valuable. It allows me to connect to the Exchange Server and send and receive emails easily. The graphical interface is user-friendly and has a good look and feel.
Additionally, I appreciate its seamless integration with other Microsoft solutions like Teams and To-Do.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see the search capability of the Outlook client improved. I would like to be able to search emails by date, sender, recipient, or attachment.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for more the ten years. We use the latest version. It's the cloud version of the Microsoft 365 solution that includes the Exchange Server. So, we use the latest solution provided by Microsoft in their cloud environment.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is quite scalable when it comes to Microsoft products. I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten.
We all use this solution in our organization.
How are customer service and support?
We have often contacted customer service and support. It's a widely used product around the world. We often turn to community resources. When we are not able to solve a problem we contact our system integrator.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We switched to Microsoft because Exchange is the most integrated with other Microsoft products.
How was the initial setup?
If you're using Microsoft 365, it's very easy to setup since Microsoft manages most of it. You simply configure your clients to connect to the Microsoft server using your credentials.
For on-premises solutions, it's a bit more complex as you need to set up and configure servers. You also have to manage roles and permissions, which is not required for the cloud solution.
The setup time can vary. For a small environment, it can take a day or less, especially if you're using a cloud solution like Microsoft 365. However, for larger deployments, there's additional work involved in configuring and optimizing the system.
Many users prefer Microsoft 365 as a cloud solution, which is easy to set up. However, there are still users who opt for on-premises solutions, which require more setup and management. Some are transitioning from on-premises to the cloud for better flexibility and management.
What about the implementation team?
We require a few people for the maintenance of the solution. It's easy to manage. We have one dedicated technician.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For the cloud version, we have to pay. On-premises versions include some licensing, like Office 365 packages. There are variations.
The pricing is reasonable. It's not too expensive. It's comparable to Google, but Google offers fewer features.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We considered Linux-based products and Google products.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten.
I surely recommend Exchange. The recommendation is to manage the change process correctly, such as the access system, MFA, password change policy, and complex passwords. You should also use Microsoft's email anti-malware solution to resolve issues and avoid phishing campaigns.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Exchange
August 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Exchange. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
866,561 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Chief Operating Officer at Anyrobotics RPA Experts
Provides easy exchange of files, documents, and simple setup
Pros and Cons
- "The deployment is a plug-and-play process."
- "I don't have the best impression of customer service and support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human. T"
What is our primary use case?
We use it to share information and collaborate with each other, even when we're working remotely.
We exchange files and documents, and we also use it to store recordings and other information from meetings with our customers.
What is most valuable?
What needs improvement?
There are some bad days or hard ways when it's tough to connect with people who don't have MS Teams products. But this is only a hard situation when we need to communicate with people outside MS Teams.
So the connectivity could be improved.
Another area of improvement is the sharing of files, the sharing part of Teams. How I can easily share information files or video files with the colleagues I'm working with? So, this is an area for valuable improvement.
Another area of improvement is support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for the last five years. We use the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a seven out of ten. There are hard days.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is very easy to scale. Just add on licensing and keep working the same way.
There are around eight end users in our company. It's suitable for our current level. We're a small company, so it's quite okay.
How are customer service and support?
I don't have the best impression of customer service and support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human. The support team deep dives into thousands of documentation pages, making problem-solving time-consuming without human interaction.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward. It just took a minute. It is very easy.
What about the implementation team?
The deployment is a plug-and-play process. You simply need to access the administrator platform, set up the configurations easily, and share enrollment links with people. It's a very easy process.
The deployment was done in-house. However, you need an IT-oriented person, an IT manager with knowledge of Microsoft.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license can be both monthly or yearly. It is not expensive.
What other advice do I have?
It's a useful tool for remote work and communication. Start slow and educate yourself. Learn about the solution and give it a try.
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Head Section of Projects Development at CAPMAS
Good functionality, good integration, and helps make email very accessible
Pros and Cons
- "The exchange functionalities are good."
- "I'd like the archiving process to be faster."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for email and passing on information between the company's user base.
What is most valuable?
The exchange functionalities are good. It helps ensure information is accessible and can move between people in the company. The exchange of email is very easy.
The integration is very good.
The Microsoft visuals are very helpful.
We're able to work on SQL servers with no issues.
What needs improvement?
I can't say there are any missing features.
I'd like the archiving process to be faster.
They could offer better performance and enhancements throughout the product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Microsoft for 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable. I'd rate the overall stability eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable product. A company would have no issues if it needed to expand.
The solution is mainly used by all end-users. Everyone in the company has it. That's about 1,500 users.
How are customer service and support?
I have never reached out to technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have never worked with other similar products.
How was the initial setup?
Others work on the deployment and configuration process. I did not take part in the implementation process.
I have five colleagues that handle all aspects of Microsoft maintenance, including any needed maintenance for Exchange. One is an admin on Exchange. The others handle other Microsoft products.
What other advice do I have?
I am using the latest version of the solution.
I'm an end-user. As an end-user, the solution works well to the point I don't really know it's there. My company is a Microsoft customer.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Sr. Software Engineer at উপায় (UCB Fintech Company Limited)
The best feature is single sign-on access
Pros and Cons
- "Exchange's best feature is single sign-on access using the Microsoft Identity framework."
- "The security features could be improved. There should be a better policy management system."
What is our primary use case?
Exchange is an email solution.
What is most valuable?
Exchange's best feature is single sign-on access using the Microsoft Identity framework.
What needs improvement?
The security features could be improved. There should be a better policy management system.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Exchange for the last 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Exchange is 100% stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Exchange is 100% scalable. More than 100 of my customers use Microsoft Exchange, and some of the larger ones have more than 10,000 users.
How are customer service and support?
We are a service provider, so we provide the first and second tiers of support. If we cannot solve the issue, we escalate to Microsoft premier support. My clients are happy with the Microsoft team.
How was the initial setup?
When I started using Microsoft Exchange, I found it to be complex. It's much easier now that I understand the architecture. Microsoft Exchange can be deployed on-premises, but it is also excellent as a cloud solution.
The deployment time depends on the customer. A greenfield deployment typically takes around two weeks. It might take one or two months if you need to migrate accounts and data.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Exchange 10 out of 10. I always recommended customers go with the Microsoft email solution, either on-premises Exchange or Microsoft Office 365. You can also go for the hybrid. I suggest Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange for their collaboration and communication solutions.
Speaker 2:
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Founder, Professional Services Director, Lead Architect at Falcon Consulting
Can track messages and protects user data
Pros and Cons
- "We've been using Exchange as an email platform. Our clients require multi-country, multi-regional email collaboration with controlled mail flow. The most valuable feature is the capability of message tracking and the protection of user data."
- "I would like to see Microsoft Exchange improve their documentation."
What is our primary use case?
We are a consulting company. We deploy Microsoft Exchange. One of our clients has been working with a file drive endpoint with Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft 365 Exchange. We use the latest version, which is a hybrid platform with Microsoft 365. I also work with departments in the government that use the solution for email purposes.
The maximum number of users that I am working with is approximately 20,000 users at a time.
What is most valuable?
We've been using Exchange as an email platform. Our clients require multi-country, multi-regional email collaboration with controlled mail flow. The most valuable feature is the capability of message tracking and the protection of user data.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see Microsoft Exchange improve its documentation. The legacy version of the solution had very accurate product documentation. Also, they had very good training courses. Recently, as Microsoft has been frequently adding new features, the documentation has not been as detailed. This means that we need to spend more time making use of our own experience to tackle some problems.
New users will need help from technical professionals. There are not many people in the market that have in-depth knowledge of the product. The documentation for Microsoft Exchange is scattered, poorly organized, and often incomplete.
Due to the lack of adequate documentation, users cannot determine the optimal way to operate the system and end up crashing the product. Unfortunately, many of them do not seek help as they are unwilling to pay Microsoft the high cost of professional services.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Microsoft Exchange for twenty-three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Exchange has been in the market for more than twenty-five years. It is a stable, mature product. Any concerns with stability usually have to do with the fact that the user is not using the product in the correct manner because Microsoft did not teach them how to operate the solution correctly.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
As long as you have a good plan, Microsoft Exchange can scale very well. However, the solution does consume a lot of web resources if deployed on physical hardware or on VMware. For example, I have an organization that has 200 users and Microsoft has eaten up more than 100 gigabytes of memory.
If you use Microsoft Hyper-V, the scalability is good.
How are customer service and support?
It is not unusual that when you implement the solution and you need information, you can not find it, or it is not very detailed. You will then need to engage with the Microsoft support team. You will need to spend a lot of time making use of your own experience to tackle some problems.
Microsoft charges very expensive professional fees for support services. Unfortunately, the quality of support is very low. They are not grooming sufficient people to support the end-users.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Exchange is not complicated. However, if you need to set it up to work in harmony with any other program, you need a very in-depth understanding of the platform.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing costs for Microsoft Exchange have increased, but are still fair. For some users, the cost is high considering the number of functions and features they will use.
What other advice do I have?
The advice I would give to anyone considering this solution would be to use the latest online version. It is the only way to get quality support when you encounter any type of problem.
If you are not going to use all of the functions and features and only require primitive functions, this solution may be too expensive. When you consider the cost in terms of storage when you are leveraging the online version of Microsoft Exchange, it is quite a good investment.
When considering just the product itself, I would rate Microsoft Exchange a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Coordinator at a retailer with 11-50 employees
Integrates with anything and on-premises availability helps avoid extra charges
Pros and Cons
- "It's pretty easy to manage."
- "It is costly, so it depends on how much you want to pay."
What is our primary use case?
It is to run our mail server.
What is most valuable?
It's really just been the same for a decade now. I don't think they've really updated anything in a long time.
I like that we can still use it on-premise. Then, we don't have to pay the extra subscription fees for the cloud.
It integrates with anything really, to be honest, besides other Microsoft products.
There are AI-based features, but we don't use it.
What needs improvement?
We don't use Exchange for a lot of stuff, so there's not a lot to improve.
The interface could look a little more nicer, but other than that, it's fine.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for more than ten years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I haven't had to scale it at all. We've been running about the same amount of people for a long time.
It is used by around 100 end users. Just one person is required to maintain it for a hundred users, so we outsource that to an MSP.
They're helpful and easy to deal with.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We bought it years ago.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Microsoft Exchange to others because it's pretty easy to manage. However, it is costly, so it depends on how much you want to pay.
Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
ICT Officer at Intelligent Skincareinc Inc.
Has efficient calendar-sharing capability and a knowledgeable technical support team
Pros and Cons
- "It integrates well with other tools."
- "We are not able to use Microsoft Teams due to connection issues. Thus, the product integration with Teams could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We mainly use the solution for our company email communications.
What is most valuable?
The platform is easy to use as it is integrated with Microsoft. We can easily share work files with other employees.
What needs improvement?
We are not able to use Microsoft Teams due to connection issues. Thus, the product integration with Teams could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Microsoft Exchange for about seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 73 Microsoft Exchange users in our organization. It is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
We contacted the technical support team for the migration. They responded immediately to our concerns and were knowledgeable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Google Workspace before migrating to Exchange. We switched to Exchange as it was already integrated with Microsoft Office and didn't require paying for a separate license.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was not very complex. It took about one to two weeks to migrate all our end-user accounts.
What other advice do I have?
The platform's calendar-sharing capability is useful. It integrates well with other tools.
I recommend it to others. It has many security features and is integrated with Microsoft Office, making it cost-effective. I rate it a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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