Proofpoint Email Protection vs SonicWall Email Security comparison

Proofpoint and SonicWall are both solutions in the Email Security category. Proofpoint is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.3, while SonicWall is ranked #30 with an average rating of 7.7. Proofpoint holds a 8.1% mindshare in Email Security, compared to SonicWall’s 0.6% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Proofpoint users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Proofpoint Email Protection

Read 60 Proofpoint Email Protection reviews

9,801 Views
7,155 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

SonicWall Email Security

Read 15 SonicWall Email Security reviews

725 Views
631 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Proofpoint Email Protection

SonicWall Email Security

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 3, 2024

SonicWall Email Security and Proofpoint Email Protection are direct competitors in the email security market. SonicWall is favored for its pricing and support, while Proofpoint stands out for its comprehensive feature set, making it a preferred choice for advanced protection.

Features: SonicWall offers effective spam filtering and malware detection, integrated threat intelligence, and easy integration with security infrastructures. Proofpoint provides advanced threat protection that includes phishing and ransomware prevention, data loss prevention, and detailed reporting.

Room for Improvement: SonicWall could enhance its feature set to support attachment blocking by extension type and improve its macro blocking capabilities. Additionally, its anti-spam functionality can be strengthened further. Proofpoint could work on reducing the complexity of its deployment process, improve its extreme attachment filtering capabilities, and expand on its business continuity features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SonicWall's deployment is straightforward with plentiful support resources available. Proofpoint's deployment is more complex but is accompanied by solid customer service that helps ease the setup process.

Pricing and ROI: SonicWall is recognized for cost-effectiveness, offering significant value for smaller organizations. Proofpoint, with a higher setup cost, provides robust ROI through its advanced capabilities, appealing to organizations that prioritize comprehensive security despite a higher upfront investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security

February 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 881,733 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

Proofpoint Email Protection

Ranking in Email Security

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (4th), Digital Risk Protection (3rd), Office 365 Protection (1st), Secure Email Gateway (SEG) (2nd)

SonicWall Email Security

Ranking in Email Security

30th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Email Security category, the mindshare of Proofpoint Email Protection is 8.1%, down from 8.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Email Security is 0.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Security Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Proofpoint Email Protection	8.1%
SonicWall Email Security	0.6%
Other	91.3%

Email Security

Featured Reviews

reviewer5781394

Threat Hunter at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Email protection has reduced phishing workload and keeps unwanted messages out of inboxes

A few things about how Proofpoint Email Protection can be improved include implementing artificial intelligence within their platform to start really understanding the organization that is using their product, what sort of emails they are expecting and if the emails that are being expected should be let in and if the emails that are not being expected should not be let in. I'll give you a further example for this. If someone just tries to send an email from a Gmail address, which is a free public service email service provider, then because anyone in the world can create a Gmail account, I think it is nice and good for Proofpoint Email Protection to actually first check and do a reality check if we have received an email from this address and look at the intent of the email to really see what the email is trying to do and then classify based on that. I still see there is a lack. Hence why I started this conversation with AI and hoping that Proofpoint Email Protection will bring AI in and to really start analyzing these emails, the intent, and whether they really fit the customer organization. We are a manufacturing company, so whether it really fits that profile. I would say if we can get a better user experience from Proofpoint Email Protection products, that would be good. For example, other service providers that provide secure email gateway have the functionality where you can split promotional and bulk email and have them sent to a separate folder. I think if we can have that sort of feature, that would be great where Proofpoint Email Protection just keeps the important emails in the inbox folder and move everything else that is not really business related into a promotional, spam, bulk folder. This is an improvement that I would really like to see. I give it an eight because I am expecting a lot more from Proofpoint Email Protection, more automations, more understanding of who their customer is, what sort of business they do, and what sort of email they are supposed to be receiving and letting through. I think the day when I really have only 1% of work to do and 99% is automated by whatever automation services Proofpoint Email Protection uses would be ideal. I think I have covered any other improvements needed for Proofpoint Email Protection pretty well right from AI to splitting emails based on priorities. I think I have given some pretty broad and good examples.

Read full review

Swapnil Kulkarni

System Administrator at Ador Powertron Ltd.

Has consistently supported security needs for mid-sized teams with affordable deployment

I do not work with Cloud Secure Edge, CSE, or SMA apart from SonicWall NSA. I am not satisfied with phishing protection, as it falls completely under the email domain security. The customizable policy configuration does not help to tailor email security overall because our systems are not integrated with SonicWall Email Security. We are not using reporting and analytics because it requires completely different software. While all required features are available in SonicWall Email Security for SMBs and startups, we lack analytics features. They provide an option to purchase a complete separate product for analytics, but despite initially having purchased the paper license, due to technical limitations or changes, we cannot use that product. Now they require additional fees to access the analytics feature.

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 setup was easy."

"They have customized security rules, mature rules, anti-virus protection, as well as email authentication similar to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC."

"When I manage a SOC and Proofpoint Email Protection is integrated with it, it gives me a consolidated alert, so when phishing alerts come in it is slightly easier to manage, even my L1 incident response team from the SOC can easily understand the alerts, perform basic checks on VirusTotal, and create complete SOAR automation from that information."

"URL scanning and online relay service are the most valuable features of Proofpoint Email Protection."

"The stability is very good."

"The most valuable feature of Proofpoint Email Protection is the TAP Dashboard. It provides more detailed information that can be used for forensic analysis. This is an advantage that other email security providers, such as Cisco, IronPort, or Microsoft do not offer in their dashboards."

"Proofpoint Email Protection is a good product, and its most beneficial feature is the Threat Response Auto-Pull. I also like that it's an integrated email security solution."

"I like all the features with Proofpoint, such as how it filters the spam and marketing mail, lost reality mail, blocks phishing attacks, blocks malicious attachments, and stops phishing links. Also it can defend against the business email compromise impersonation technique. It is a complete solution for all email attacks. It filters for the bad, malicious attachments. If there is any executable file, it can be deleted. It is a good, complete solution."

More Proofpoint Email Protection pros

"The pricing for SonicWall Email Security is reasonable and budget-friendly."

"Beside a few issues with specificity in the email protection controls, this product is very good at handling email security."

"There are no wasted extras and the interface is really simple."

"SonicWall Email Security uses multi-layer cloud security."

"According to our customers, the product's most valuable feature is the ability to detect spam and reduce phishing emails."

"This solution provides very good email security that protects us against spamming and malware."

"The most valuable feature is that it protects from spam."

"It is a very scalable solution."

More SonicWall Email Security pros

Cons

"Phishing detection could improve further to match some of the capabilities offered by competitors."

"Proofpoint Email Protection could improve on the training. Every organization is different and to fine-tune it to block everything properly there needs to be better training. Sometimes it can block some of the information it shouldn't."

"There is room for improvement in detecting and preventing phishing attacks. While the solution performs well in some aspects, it struggles with phishing threats."

"The incident reporting on offer needs to be improved. It's lacking right now. It should be on the platform somewhere."

"Proofpoint Email Protection is an expensive solution."

"The setup requires expertise. It needs someone with experience on managing it, and I would rate the implementation as needing someone experienced."

"We find the cost to be prohibitive."

"The initial setup is complex."

More Proofpoint Email Protection cons

"They need well-trained partners in Nigeria."

"The pricing could be improved."

"We would like to see more information on a dashboard about what is happening when it comes to spamming and malware."

"A lot of spoofed emails are still coming to the end-user, so the configuration for this option needs to be improved."

"The pricing could be improved."

"SonicWall Email Security could improve by making the file blocking and the release feature easier to use"

"The platform's control panel needs enhancement."

"The technical support from the company is not always very good at solving issues, but they offer access to a good community of users where problems are easily solved."

More SonicWall Email Security cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Proofpoint is fairly expensive."

"Annually, it costs us about $92,000. This is pretty much what it costs us. There is no additional cost."

"In general, the pricing is competitive."

"We sell annual licenses for this solution."

"Pricing has recently been increased and the cost is a downside"

"I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."

"The licensing model for Proofpoint Email Protection is simple. It's based on the number of users. Price-wise, Proofpoint Email Protection is a five out of ten because it's a pretty expensive solution."

"I rate the price of Proofpoint Email Protection a four out of five."

More Proofpoint Email Protection pricing and cost advice

"Our customers purchase the solution's yearly license."

"I rate the application’s pricing a five out of ten."

"The platform offers a yearly license."

"When compared with Cisco, it is very well priced. Cisco is very expensive."

"The overall price of SonicWall Email Security should be reduced and there should be an option to purchase one or two licenses more instead of their current policy of bulk increases only. There should be more flexibility in the licensing model. Each license cost approximately $33 annually."

"We have a two-year license subscription and the price is very high."

"The cost is cheaper than Sophos. I would rate it as five out of ten."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Email Security solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Marketing Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	22
Midsize Enterprise	16
Large Enterprise	21

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Proofpoint Email Protection?

It is a very scalable solution.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Proofpoint Email Protection?

In terms of pricing, it is okay compared to others. I would say it is normal. Additional costs do come in, but it enhances security.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Proofpoint Email Protection?

I have not seen specific outcomes or metrics since implementing Proofpoint Email Protection, such as a reduction in phishing incidents or improved response time. Proofpoint Email Protection can imp...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Email Security?

The solution is affordable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall Email Security?

Policy deployment could be time consuming and represents an area for improvement in SonicWall Email Security.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SonicWall Email Security?

SonicWall Email Security was used for security purposes, which aligns with the product's core function.

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Proofpoint Email Protection

Compared 11% of the time

Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration vs Proofpoint Email Protection

Compared 9% of the time

Mimecast Advanced Email Security vs Proofpoint Email Protection

Compared 8% of the time

Abnormal Security vs Proofpoint Email Protection

Compared 4% of the time

Barracuda Email Security Gateway vs Proofpoint Email Protection

Compared 4% of the time

More Proofpoint Email Protection Competitors

Avanan vs SonicWall Email Security

Compared 17% of the time

Fortinet FortiMail vs SonicWall Email Security

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Secure Email vs SonicWall Email Security

Compared 14% of the time

Barracuda Email Security Gateway vs SonicWall Email Security

Compared 13% of the time

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs SonicWall Email Security

Compared 8% of the time

More SonicWall Email Security Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Proofpoint Email Protection

January 2026

Download Proofpoint Email Protection product report

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Email Security

January 2026

Download SonicWall Email Security product report

Also Known As

Proofpoint Enterprise Protection, Proofpoint Digital Protection

Dell SonicWALL Email Security Platform, SonicWall Hosted Email Security

Overview

Proofpoint Email Protection provides powerful filtering against spam, phishing, and malware, leveraging effective threat detection and blocking capabilities. This solution integrates smoothly with platforms like Office 365, offering a user-friendly dashboard for seamless operations.

Proofpoint Email Protection focuses on email security, ensuring protection against phishing, malware, and spam. It includes features like URL scanning, anti-phishing, anti-virus protection, and sandboxing for comprehensive threat analysis. Its advanced analytics through TAP and TRAP, along with strong integration abilities, make it appealing for handling email threats. While scalability and ease of deployment are advantages, challenges such as integration in complex environments, the cost, and limited local support require attention. Enhancements in search functionality, email encryption, and improved phishing detection are also needed.

What are the key features of Proofpoint Email Protection?

Effective Filtering: Blocks spam, phishing, and malware with high accuracy.
URL Scanning: Protects against malicious links.
Advanced Analytics: Provides insights through TAP and TRAP.
Seamless Integration: Compatible with platforms like Office 365.
User-friendly Dashboard: Simplifies email management and monitoring.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

Scalability: Adaptable to organizational growth without losing performance.
Strong Threat Protection: Comprehensive defense against email threats.
Easy Deployment: Streamlined setup process for smooth integration.
Advanced Threat Analysis: Identifies and neutralizes threats efficiently.

Industries adopting Proofpoint Email Protection include finance, healthcare, and education sectors, which benefit from its robust email security measures. Educational institutions prioritize safe communication for staff and students, while healthcare organizations focus on protecting sensitive patient data. Financial services benefit from preventing data breaches and fraud through advanced threats management.

Proofpoint

SonicWALL Email Security Platform offers powerful protection to keep email threats out. And sensitive data in. With innovative protection techniques for both inbound and outbound email plus unique management tools, the Email Security platform delivers superior email protection today while standing ready to stop the new attacks of tomorrow.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

Blocket, University of Waterloo, Lincoln Memorial University, WellSpan Health, U-Haul, Carestream Health, Westinghouse

Star Kay White, Locala Community Partnerships

Buyer's Guide

Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security

February 2026

Free Report: Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security

Find out what your peers are saying about Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security and other solutions. Updated: February 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Proofpoint Email Protection vs. SonicWall Email Security report.

See our list of best Email Security vendors.

We monitor all Email Security reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.