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

673 Views
377 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Exchange

Read 94 Microsoft Exchange reviews

3,399 Views
2,821 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 October 2025, in the Email Applications category, the mindshare of HCL Verse is 1.6%, up from 1.2% 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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Mohamed Najeem

System Administrator at HRA

Provides a valuable mailbox roles feature and has a straightforward setup process

I recommend Microsoft Exchange to others due to its robust features and reasonable pricing. Setting up Microsoft Exchange has become much more straightforward compared to previous versions. The overall setup experience has significantly improved over the past six to seven years, making it easier for administrators. I rate it a nine out of ten.

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

"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 most valuable feature is the mail server."

"Now, we manage to serve almost 99% of the information."

"It is very well integrated with other Microsoft programs, teams, and so on. They work well together."

"It integrates well with other tools."

"I find the desktop version of Microsoft Exchange looks better than the online version. You can make it a white background. You might be able to make the online background white, but I have no idea how to do that. I know how to do it only on the desktop version"

"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."

"Microsoft Exchange is highly stable for the end-user systems. When we move to Office 365, it will be even more stable even. There's less administration required and it's very robust. We are really quite happy in using that."

"Microsoft Exchange is stable."

"It is stable."

More Microsoft Exchange pros

Cons

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

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

"The licensing model could be improved."

"After 2022, users of Microsoft Exchange have to migrate mailboxes to Microsoft Exchange Online, and what I'd like to improve is for Microsoft to publish more on-premise versions for customers using Microsoft Exchange. Having more security is another room for improvement in the solution, particularly for mailboxes that develop the Exchange Edge rule to protect internal mailboxes. What I'd like to see from Microsoft Exchange in the future is for Microsoft to still update the latest, existing version which is 2022. I'd like Microsoft to still push more cumulative updates for Microsoft Exchange 2022."

"The pricing could be better, and it could have an easier implementation."

"The management of .pst files and archiving need improvement."

"Exchange took time to be deployed. It requires extensive configuration and setting up servers and managing internal network access."

"The solution could be more user-friendly."

"An area for improvement would be the convenience of working with Azure services from Exchange on-premise installations."

"They could offer simultaneous features for Exchange Online and on-premises versions. Specific features such as litigation hold and audit setups should be available on-premises."

More Microsoft Exchange cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"The product is quite cheap."

"We renew the product license with Microsoft every three years. The cost is included within a bundle of services. It's an enterprise agreement with Microsoft."

"The solution is expensive to maintain because it requires frequent updates and ongoing server maintenance."

"I rate Microsoft Exchange's pricing a six out of ten."

"The pricing is expensive."

"There is an annual cost to use Microsoft Exchange, and the price could be less expensive."

"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."

"The product pricing is reasonable if you utilize its full suite of features."

More Microsoft Exchange pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

25%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

University

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

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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Compared 55% of the time

Microsoft Exchange Online vs HCL Verse

Compared 13% of the time

Hub vs HCL Verse

Compared 13% of the time

Huddle vs HCL Verse

Compared 11% of the time

HCL Domino vs HCL Verse

Compared 8% of the time

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Open-Xchange vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 17% of the time

KerioConnect vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 16% of the time

Zimbra Collaboration vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 14% of the time

HCL Domino vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 12% of the time

HCL Notes vs Microsoft Exchange

Compared 8% of the time

More Microsoft Exchange Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Email Applications

September 2025

Download HCL Verse product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange

September 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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