Barracuda Email Security vs Mimecast -- Enterprise Email Gateway Compared
Barracuda Email Security vs Mimecast
Barracuda Email Security and Mimecast are both enterprise email gateway solutions. Barracuda Email Security email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service, while Mimecast cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
Last updated
The Verdict
Choose Barracuda Email Security if significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast is your priority and small-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast. Choose Mimecast if email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator matters most and mid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrations.
Used Barracuda Email Security or Mimecast? Share your experience.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mimecast | Barracuda Email Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom pricing / per-user licensing | From $3.60/user/month / appliance pricing varies |
| Pricing Model | Per-user subscription | Per-user subscription or appliance license |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Self-Hosted |
| Best For | Mid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrations | Small-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast |
| Multi-layer email threat scanning | Not available | Supported |
| Link and attachment sandboxing | Not available | Supported |
| Anti-spam and anti-malware filtering | Not available | Supported |
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Mimecast when:
- +You value email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator
- +You value strong impersonation and brand protection capabilities
- +You value unified platform covering security, archiving, and continuity
- +You want to avoid detection efficacy below Proofpoint for advanced targeted threats
- +You want to avoid cloud-native API protection less mature than gateway product
Choose Barracuda Email Security when:
- +You value significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast
- +You value available as both appliance and cloud service for deployment flexibility
- +You value straightforward administration with less complexity
- +You want to avoid detection efficacy slightly behind Proofpoint for advanced threats
- +You want to avoid email archiving search performance can be slow on large datasets
Other Barracuda Email Security Alternatives
Enterprise email security platform for advanced threat protection, compliance, and data loss prevention
Microsoft's native email security for Microsoft 365 with XDR integration
AI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks
Enterprise email security gateway with Cisco Talos threat intelligence integration
Cloud email security gateway with AI-powered BEC detection and XDR integration
AI-powered anti-phishing platform with crowdsourced threat intelligence
Human layer security platform preventing inbound threats and outbound misdirected emails
Pros & Cons Comparison
Mimecast
Pros
- +Email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator
- +Strong impersonation and brand protection capabilities
- +Unified platform covering security, archiving, and continuity
- +Good API ecosystem for SIEM and SOAR integrations
- +Easier administration compared to Proofpoint for mid-market teams
Cons
- –Detection efficacy slightly behind Proofpoint for advanced threats
- –Email archiving search performance can be slow on large datasets
- –Pricing is still premium and comparable to Proofpoint
- –URL rewriting can break some legitimate links
- –Security awareness training less mature than dedicated platforms
Barracuda Email Security
Pros
- +Significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast
- +Available as both appliance and cloud service for deployment flexibility
- +Straightforward administration with less complexity
- +Good value for small-to-mid-market organizations
- +Includes awareness training (PhishLine) at no additional cost
Cons
- –Detection efficacy below Proofpoint for advanced targeted threats
- –Cloud-native API protection less mature than gateway product
- –Reporting and analytics less sophisticated than enterprise competitors
- –Threat intelligence depth does not match Proofpoint or Mimecast
- –Support quality inconsistent compared to premium vendors
Sources & References
- Barracuda Email Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Mimecast — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Barracuda Email Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Mimecast Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Barracuda Email Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Mimecast Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Barracuda Email Security Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Mimecast Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security 2024[Analyst Report]
- Forrester Wave: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2024[Analyst Report]
- SE Labs: Email Security Gateway Tests[Independent Testing]
- Anti-Phishing Working Group: Phishing Activity Trends[Industry Research]
- Gartner Peer Insights: Email Security[Peer Reviews]
Barracuda Email Security vs Mimecast FAQ
Common questions about choosing between Barracuda Email Security and Mimecast.
What is the main difference between Barracuda Email Security and Mimecast?
Barracuda Email Security and Mimecast are both enterprise email gateway solutions. Barracuda Email Security email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service, while Mimecast cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
Is Mimecast better than Barracuda Email Security?
Choose Barracuda Email Security if significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast is your priority and small-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast. Choose Mimecast if email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator matters most and mid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrations.
How much does Mimecast cost compared to Barracuda Email Security?
Mimecast pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Barracuda Email Security pricing: From $3.60/user/month / appliance pricing varies. Mimecast's pricing model is per-user subscription, while Barracuda Email Security uses per-user subscription or appliance license pricing.
Can I migrate from Barracuda Email Security to Mimecast?
Yes, you can migrate from Barracuda Email Security to Mimecast. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.
Related Comparisons & Guides
Mimecast Alternatives
Cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity
ComparisonCisco Secure Email vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonAbnormal Security vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonIRONSCALES vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonMicrosoft Defender for Office 365 vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonProofpoint vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonMimecast vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
ComparisonTessian vs Barracuda Email Security
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service