Microsoft Exchange Online vs OpenText GroupWise comparison

Microsoft and OpenText are both solutions in the Email Applications category. Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.8, while OpenText is ranked #12. Microsoft holds a 10.6% mindshare in EA, compared to OpenText’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of OpenText users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Exchange Online

Read 92 Microsoft Exchange Online reviews

4,291 Views
4,119 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

OpenText GroupWise

Read 3 OpenText GroupWise reviews

624 Views
587 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Exchange Online

OpenText GroupWise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

Microsoft Exchange Online and OpenText GroupWise are email collaboration tools with strengths in different areas. Microsoft Exchange Online has an upper hand in pricing and support while OpenText GroupWise offers strong features.

Features: Microsoft Exchange Online delivers integration with Microsoft services, seamless productivity, and widespread familiarity. OpenText GroupWise provides strong security, reliable offline functionality, and robust data protection.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Exchange Online offers a cloud-based model with reduced infrastructure costs and scalable solutions. Customer service is known for responsiveness and guidance. OpenText GroupWise provides on-premise and cloud options, though customer support could benefit from enhanced speed and effectiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Exchange Online is competitively priced with a subscription model, offering a substantial ROI by integrating Microsoft tools. OpenText GroupWise entails potential higher initial costs, yet offers a promising ROI for companies prioritizing security and data continuity.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Exchange Online vs. OpenText GroupWise Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange Online vs. OpenText GroupWise

March 2026

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Helped 884,873 peers since 2012

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

Microsoft Exchange Online

Ranking in Email Applications

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

OpenText GroupWise

Ranking in Email Applications

12th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Wireless Email (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Email Applications category, the mindshare of Microsoft Exchange Online is 10.6%, down from 14.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText GroupWise is 2.2%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Applications Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Exchange Online	10.6%
OpenText GroupWise	2.2%
Other	87.2%

Email Applications

Featured Reviews

Asad Mohammad

Assistant General Manager, IT Infrastructure at SAMI Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Limited.

Offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness with multiple service options but could improve support and mobile features

There are many things to consider about email management in Microsoft Exchange Online. The online management is good, the storage is sufficient, and we use most of the features such as the custom rules in Microsoft Exchange Online, which we cannot find in any other email solution. That is a very good option, as we have many options to create custom rules in Microsoft Exchange Online. Regarding security features in Microsoft Exchange Online, we also use Defender for Exchange which includes the basic Exchange Online protection that has spam and threat controls. The use of Defender is beneficial for our security. The flexibility of choosing plans in Microsoft Exchange Online is good. We have chosen the best plan for our use, including multiple licenses such as plan one and business basics, which leads us towards cost-effectiveness, and the pay-as-you-go option is more flexible. Microsoft Exchange Online is very scalable.

Read full review

John Novak

Consulting Manager at Technical Consulting Resources

Great security, stability, versatility, expandability and low cost of ownership.

I like the ease of login best in GroupWise. With the desktop client you can login to GroupWise independently of the PC login and it has Web Client that can be used if your prefer not to install the client or are using a PC that does not have the GroupWise Client installed. I also like its user proxy capabilities. I also like the level of security that it provides. Additionally, it comes with GroupWise Messenger for secure instant messaging to desktop or mobile devices. It integrates well with the email on your mobile devices and smart phones via GroupWise Mobile Services.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"With the Exchange Server, there is a lot of capability for version controlling."

"Exchange Online's performance and stability are very good."

"All of the features are beneficial, but the scheduling feature is particularly useful."

"The solution is quite convenient because you can access the web version anywhere."

"The initial setup was straightforward."

"It's not hard to set up."

"All of the Microsoft Exchange Online is very useful, such as the sections, the information protection, and the mail flows."

"The solution is scalable."

More Microsoft Exchange Online pros

"I like the ease of logging best in Micro Focus GroupWise. I also like its proxy capabilities from a user level. I also like how secure Micro Focus GroupWise is."

"The cost-effectiveness of the solution is most valuable."

"Very secure with great storage capacity."

Cons

"The configuration of the solution's on-premise version is a little bit difficult, and its troubleshooting is more difficult than the installation itself."

"For example, recently there were some spam incidents that Microsoft does not currently mitigate because they have another paid solution to do so. It would be nice to integrate the security and the anti-spam (i.e. the fake links, etc.) along with the Exchange Online default."

"The solution should have a stand-alone application instead of us having to go through an internet browser."

"The solution could improve by making the user interface better."

"For non-technical people, some configurations might be a little bit difficult. We can use it on our laptops or our portable devices like mobiles and others gadgets, but we have had repeated problems with syncing. That is, when using different gadgets and devices, there are issues with syncing. The configuration could definitely be improved."

"The SaaS platform performance could be improved. At a previous company, we used this same solution on-premises. The data exchange was much faster compared to the SaaS platform and we sometimes experience lags."

"In the past, we had issues with DB in mailboxes."

"I would like to see better security added to Microsoft Exchange Online in the area of phishing or spam emails."

More Microsoft Exchange Online cons

"What I don't like about Micro Focus GroupWise is the removal of the Unix client. Micro Focus took that function away about ten years ago because there wasn't enough demand for it."

"Their support can be improved. It is not as good as it used to be."

"The WebAccess feature is somewhat lacking and could be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Microsoft Exchange Online security could improve. The overall price of the solution is reasonable."

"They have raised their prices, and obviously, it hits our customers. Some of them are deciding to step back from Office 365. For customers who have bought the annual subscription, they are moving to the monthly subscription."

"The pricing for Microsoft Exchange Online is quite reasonable, in my opinion. Many licensing options are available so that we can choose based on the customer's needs. For example, if a customer only requires mailbox features, we can recommend Plan One or Plan 2. We can suggest an E3 or E5 license if they need the entire Office suite. There are also premium subscriptions for enterprise customers, offering additional security features. Overall, I don't find the pricing costly because Microsoft provides many features and security capabilities, making it reliable for all customers, depending on their requirements."

"I would say the solution is reasonable and affordable."

"The licensing price is ok, I'd rate it as four out of five."

"The cost of Microsoft Exchange Online is approximately $4 to $36 per user. They do not give a discount which is not good. The solution is expensive if you have 800 to 1,000 users. They should give discounts when you have a lot of users."

"We have a license per user scenario."

"The price of the solution could be less expensive."

More Microsoft Exchange Online pricing and cost advice

"It was a part of the suite, so it was very cost-effective. There were no costs beyond the licensing fee."

"Micro Focus GroupWise is the most affordable solution on-premises. Versus Microsoft Exchange on-premises, pricing is 20:1, so there's no comparison. Micro Focus GroupWise is cheaper, though, for my clients, it's not about the cost but the stability and security of the solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

18%

Comms Service Provider

University

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	40
Midsize Enterprise	16
Large Enterprise	40

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Exchange Online?

The benefits are widespread and effective communication. We use Microsoft Teams for meetings within and outside our organization. Additionally, Teams can be used for chat, allowing us to track comm...

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

If I segment it into three points: low price, average, and high price, I would place Microsoft Exchange Online between average and high price.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Exchange Online?

There is room for improvement in Microsoft Exchange Online. Technical support for Microsoft is good, but in all fairness, I sometimes think more can be done. I have personally tried exploring with ...

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Comparisons

Google Workspace vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 25% of the time

Open-Xchange vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 18% of the time

Amazon WorkMail vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 10% of the time

Zimbra Collaboration vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 7% of the time

HCL Notes vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Exchange Online Competitors

Microsoft Exchange vs OpenText GroupWise

Compared 20% of the time

Google Workspace vs OpenText GroupWise

Compared 18% of the time

HCL Notes vs OpenText GroupWise

Compared 9% of the time

Open-Xchange vs OpenText GroupWise

Compared 9% of the time

Amazon WorkMail vs OpenText GroupWise

Compared 8% of the time

More OpenText GroupWise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange Online

March 2026

Download Microsoft Exchange Online product report

Buyer's Guide

Email Applications

March 2026

Download OpenText GroupWise product report

Also Known As

Exchange Online, Exchange Online Plan 1, Exchange Online Plan 2, MS Exchange Online

Micro Focus GroupWise, GroupWise

Overview

Exchange Online helps protect your information with advanced capabilities. Anti-malware and anti-spam filtering protect mailboxes. Data loss prevention capabilities prevent users from mistakenly sending sensitive information to unauthorized people. Globally redundant servers, premier disaster recovery capabilities, and a team of security experts monitoring Exchange Online around the clock safeguard your data.

Microsoft

Collaboration solution that offers support for any communication over intranets, extranets and the Internet.

OpenText

Sample Customers

Bank Alfalah Ltd., Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport, Blue Star Infotech, Scitec Nutrition, Resolution Films, British Airways, Empire Cinemas, InnoGames

Heritage Oaks Bank

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange Online vs. OpenText GroupWise

March 2026

Free Report: Microsoft Exchange Online vs. OpenText GroupWise

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Exchange Online vs. OpenText GroupWise and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.

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