Sentaro is the best Barracuda alternative for EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace: it connects over the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace APIs in four minutes with no MX change and no agents; its BEC and vendor-fraud verdicts show their reasoning in the console, so you can audit them on your own mail; its App vector, live since Q3 2026, covers OAuth grants and AI tools in the same platform; its price, $6 per protected account per month with every feature included, is published (USD); and it is hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure, with subprocessors listed in the DPA. If you mainly use Barracuda for threat detection, Defender or Google’s filtering plus Sentaro covers that part with less overlap.
- Why Sentaro wins
- focused detection without paying for a bundle you do not use, at $6 per account per month published on sentaro.com/en/pricing; barracuda.com lists three plans but no prices (October 2026).
- Choose Sentaro if
- you want BEC, QR and OAuth protection for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace with published pricing, hosted in Sweden.
- Consider Hornetsecurity or Barracuda only if
- you want backup, archiving, encryption, DMARC and training on one contract, for example through an MSP.
What you are replacing: Barracuda Email Protection at a glance
- Plans
- Advanced, Premium, Premium Plus (cumulative)
- In all plans
- Phishing and BEC protection, account takeover detection, DMARC reporting, encryption, DLP
- Premium and up
- Microsoft 365 backup, including OneDrive and SharePoint
- Premium Plus
- Cloud archiving and security awareness training
- Deployment
- API-first, no MX record changes (current product page)
- Pricing
- Not publicly listed
- Ownership
- Private; KKR investment funds acquired Barracuda from Thoma Bravo in 2022
Why teams look for a Barracuda alternative
- Paying for a bundle you only partly use. If backup and archiving already live elsewhere, much of Premium Plus overlaps.
- The Microsoft baseline moved. Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is in Business Premium and is rolling out to E3 from June 2026.
- Quote-based pricing. Barracuda does not publish prices, so budget comparisons need a quote.
- EU hosting by module. Barracuda’s trust center lists AWS regions including Frankfurt and London for Email Gateway Defense and its Cloud Archiving Service, but only US regions for Impersonation Protection and Incident Response, the API-based modules. EU buyers under NIS2 or GDPR usually want the location of every module in the DPA.
- Google Workspace or mixed estates. Barracuda supports both, so this is rarely the reason, but it rules out Microsoft-only alternatives.
Barracuda alternatives at a glance
| Vendor | Type | Deploys via | Public price | Hosting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentaro (our pick) | API (ICES) | Microsoft 365 and Workspace APIs | $6 per account/month | Sweden (Microsoft Azure); see DPA | Our pick: EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace |
| Defender for Office 365 | Native | Exchange Online mail flow | Plan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5 per user/month | EU Data Boundary | Microsoft 365 tenants already licensed |
| IRONSCALES | API (ICES) | API at mailbox level | Quote (tiers published) | AWS USA or Germany (subprocessor list) | SMBs and MSPs wanting simulation bundled |
| Hornetsecurity | Gateway, API or hybrid | MX, API or hybrid | Quote via partners | 12 regional data centres (vendor) | Microsoft 365 suites via MSPs |
| Mimecast | Gateway and API | MX or API | Quote | Frankfurt data centres (2018) | Archive, continuity, on-prem Exchange |
| Check Point Harmony Email | API (ICES), inline option | API, no MX change | Quote | Ireland region option | Inline-via-API and many SaaS apps |
| Libraesva | Gateway plus API | MX or API; cloud or on-prem | Quote | Local or chosen cloud | On-prem or private-cloud gateway in Europe |
| Proofpoint | Gateway and API | MX or Microsoft Graph | Quote | EU or US data centre (API product); some US processing | Enterprises wanting a full suite |
| Abnormal AI | API (ICES) | API, no MX change | Quote | US or EU (Ireland), by subscription | Large enterprises |
| Cloudflare Email Security | Gateway, API or BCC | MX, API or journaling | Quote | Processing region selectable, incl. Germany | Cloudflare Zero Trust customers |
| Google Workspace built-in | Native | Gmail | Included in Workspace | Europe data region (edition-dependent) | Workspace tenants as a baseline |
The 7 Barracuda alternatives in detail
- 1
Sentaro
Our pickBest for: EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace that want strong BEC and phishing protection without a gateway project.
Sentaro is the focused alternative to Barracuda’s bundle: an API-based email and SaaS security platform for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, built in Stockholm and hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure. Strengths: multi-tenant and white-label ready for MSPs, with each client tenant connected over API in four minutes; BEC, vendor fraud and OAuth consent phishing in one product; $6 per protected account per month ($68 a year), first account free, prices in USD. Not in the box: backup, archiving, encryption, DMARC reporting or training, which Barracuda’s plans bundle.
Sentaro vs Barracuda Best for: SMBs on Microsoft 365 Business Premium who want one fewer vendor.
Native threat protection in Exchange Online. Strengths: Business Premium includes Plan 1 (impersonation protection, Safe Links and Safe Attachments) for up to 300 users; nothing to connect. Limits, per Microsoft Learn as of 18 October 2026: Microsoft 365 only; backup and archiving are separate Microsoft products (Microsoft 365 Backup, Purview).
Best for: MSPs that want API protection plus simulation and training under one console.
API protection built for the MSP channel. Strengths: states 3,000+ MSPs on a multi-tenant console with per-tenant policies; behavioral AI plus community intelligence; encryption and DLP in Email Protect 360 and Pro; simulation in Complete Protect. Limits, per ironscales.com as of 18 October 2026: quote-based; no backup or archive found.
Best for: Microsoft 365 customers who want the bundle, including backup, from a European-heritage vendor.
Tiered Microsoft 365 suite. Strengths: encryption from Plan 1, archiving from Plan 2, backup of mailboxes, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint and Entra ID from Plan 3, DMARC management and training in Plan 4; MX, API or hybrid modes. Limits, per hornetsecurity.com as of 18 October 2026: Google Workspace not confirmed on vendor pages; owned by Proofpoint since December 2025.
Best for: Mid-market organizations that need archive, continuity and on-premises Exchange.
Gateway or API suite. Strengths: Email Archive, DMARC Analyzer and training; on-premises and hybrid Exchange support. Limits, per mimecast.com as of 18 October 2026: pricing not published; no Microsoft 365 backup product confirmed.
Best for: Teams that want inline blocking through the API across many SaaS apps.
API-based protection with an inline option. Strengths: shadow IT detection and account takeover in every tier; wide collaboration-app coverage; Ireland data residency region. Limits, per checkpoint.com as of 18 October 2026: archiving, DMARC and training are add-ons; pricing not published.
- 7
Libraesva
Best for: European organizations that want a gateway they can run on-premises or in a private cloud.
Italian gateway-plus-API vendor. Strengths: deployable in its cloud, a private cloud or on-premises; supports Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and on-premises Exchange. Limits, per libraesva.com as of 18 October 2026: archiving, DMARC (LetsDMARC) and phishing simulation (PhishBrain) are separate products; hosting regions not listed.
Barracuda and the alternatives side by side
| Capability | Sentaro | Barracuda | Defender for Office 365 | IRONSCALES | Hornetsecurity | Mimecast | Check Point Harmony Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment and platforms | |||||||
| Deployment | API, no MX change | API-first, no MX change | Native to Exchange Online | API, alongside a gateway | MX, API or hybrid | Gateway (MX) or API | API with inline prevention |
| Microsoft 365 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Workspace | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Not publicly documentedNot confirmed on vendor pages | Yes | Yes |
| On-premises Exchange | NoCloud mailboxes only | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | PartialStandalone EOP | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesOn-premises and hybrid | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented |
| Threat coverage | |||||||
| BEC and impersonation | YesMessage vector, live | Yes | YesImpersonation protection (Plan 1) | Yes | Not publicly documentedAdvanced threat protection named | Yes | Yes |
| QR-code phishing | YesDecoded and destination analyzed | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesSafe Links (Plan 1) | Yes | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Yes | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented |
| OAuth apps and shadow IT | YesApp vector, live | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | NoSeparate product: Defender for Cloud Apps | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | PartialPermission management (Plan 4) | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesShadow IT detection |
| Suite extras | |||||||
| DMARC report management | NoReads DMARC posture as a signal only | YesAll plans | NoEnforces DMARC; no report management | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesPlan 4 | Paid add-onDMARC Analyzer | Paid add-on |
| Archiving | No | YesPremium Plus | NoSeparate product: Purview | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesPlan 2 and above | YesEmail Archive | Paid add-on |
| Awareness training | NoNot offered by design | YesPremium Plus | YesAttack simulation training (Plan 2) | YesHuman Risk Management | YesPlan 4 | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Buying and data | |||||||
| Public pricing | Yes$6 per account/month | NoQuote-based | YesPlan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5 | NoTiers published, prices on quote | NoQuote-based via partners | NoQuote-based | NoQuote-based |
| EU hosting documented | YesHosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure; see DPA | PartialGateway: Frankfurt, London; API modules: US | YesEU Data Boundary | PartialAWS USA or Germany (subprocessor list) | Yes12 regional data centres (vendor) | PartialFrankfurt data centres (2018) | YesIreland region option |
“Not publicly documented” means we could not find it in the vendor’s public material on 18 October 2026, not that the capability is missing. Add-on means sold separately or in a higher tier.
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- On roadmap
- Paid add-on
- Not publicly documented
How to choose: bundle or focused layer?
| If you rely on Barracuda for… | Then look at |
|---|---|
| Backup and archiving as well as security | Hornetsecurity (Plan 3 backup, Plan 2 archiving), Mimecast (Email Archive) |
| Threat detection only | Defender for Office 365 plus Sentaro, IRONSCALES or Check Point |
| DMARC reporting | Hornetsecurity (Plan 4), Mimecast DMARC Analyzer, Cloudflare (with its DNS), or a dedicated DMARC service |
| A gateway for on-premises Exchange | Libraesva, Mimecast |
| Reselling to many clients as an MSP | IRONSCALES, Hornetsecurity, Sentaro (multi-tenant, white-label ready) |
Why Sentaro is our pick
Why Sentaro wins
- One published price for every client: $6 per protected account per month, or $68 per year, every feature included, published on sentaro.com/en/pricing; the first account is free, so you can test it before talking to sales. Prices in USD.
- Client onboarding in minutes: Sentaro connects over the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace admin APIs in four minutes, with no agents and no MX change (your MX record stays where it is, which you can check in DNS), and shows historical mail within 15 minutes.
- BEC caught on intent, not payload: The Message vector, live since Q2 2026, scores intent, sender identity and relationship signals before interaction, including vendor-compromise and thread-hijack detection, and every verdict shows its reasoning in the console, so you can audit its BEC calls on your own mail.
- App risk without another tool: The App vector, live since Q3 2026, inventories every app, AI tool and OAuth grant within 15 minutes of connecting, blocks consent phishing and revokes risky grants in one click.
- Hosting in writing: Hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure, with every subprocessor listed in the public DPA (sentaro.com/en/legal/dpa).
- You are an MSP that wants one price for every client and a multi-tenant dashboard, without bundling backup.
Consider another option only if
- Your clients expect backup, archiving, encryption or DMARC reporting from the same vendor; Sentaro does not offer them.
- Some clients run on-premises Exchange; only Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are supported.
- You need account-takeover monitoring or a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certificate today; see the roadmap and certification notes on this page.
How to switch from Barracuda
- 01
Split the bundle
List which Barracuda features you use: detection, backup, archive, encryption, DMARC, training. Assign each to a new tool, to Microsoft, or to nobody.
- 02
Protect your backups first
If Barracuda holds your Microsoft 365 backups or archive, start the replacement and retention plan before anything else.
- 03
Connect the new detection layer
API tools run in parallel with Barracuda. Sentaro connects in four minutes, with historical visibility within 15 minutes.
- 04
Compare for two to four weeks
Review catches and misses on the same traffic, especially BEC and supplier fraud.
- 05
Remove Barracuda’s access
Once enforcement runs in the new tool, revoke Barracuda’s app consent in the tenant and remove any mail flow rules it added.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Barracuda alternative?
Sentaro. For EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, Sentaro is our pick as the best Barracuda alternative: it connects over API in four minutes with no MX change, catches BEC and vendor fraud before interaction, blocks OAuth consent phishing in the same platform and costs $6 per protected account per month (USD), hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure. If you rely on Barracuda’s backup, archiving and DMARC bundle, Hornetsecurity and Mimecast are the closest suite alternatives.
What company owns Barracuda?
Barracuda is privately owned by KKR investment funds, which completed the acquisition from Thoma Bravo in 2022. Terms were not disclosed.
Is Mimecast better than Barracuda?
It depends on scope. Mimecast offers both gateway and API deployment and supports on-premises Exchange. Barracuda bundles backup, archiving, encryption, DLP and DMARC into its plans. Neither publishes prices. Compare quotes for the exact features you use.
What is a cheaper alternative to Barracuda email security?
If you are on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is already included. Sentaro publishes its price: $6 per protected account per month, or $68 per year, with the first account free. Barracuda does not publish prices, so ask for a quote to compare.
Which Barracuda alternative is best for MSPs?
IRONSCALES and Hornetsecurity are built around MSP channels. Sentaro offers a multi-tenant dashboard, white-label delivery and a reseller program, with each client tenant connected over API in four minutes. Pick based on whether your clients need backup and archive bundled.
Does Barracuda Email Protection need an MX change?
Barracuda’s current product page describes it as API-first, without MX record changes. Before planning a switch, check whether your own tenant uses that API mode or routes mail through Barracuda, because an MX cut-over adds steps.
Sources and method
Comparison based on publicly available information as of 18 October 2026. Product capabilities change; check each vendor’s current documentation. Trademarks belong to their owners. Corrections: contact Sentaro.
- Barracuda: Email Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Barracuda: Email Protection plans (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Business Wire: KKR completes acquisition of Barracuda (2022)
- Microsoft Learn: Why do I need Microsoft Defender for Office 365? (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Microsoft: Defender for Office 365 pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Microsoft Tech Community: Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 rolling out to Microsoft 365 E3 (2026-06-17)
- IRONSCALES: Home page (accessed 2026-10-18)
- IRONSCALES: Pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Hornetsecurity: 365 Total Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Proofpoint: Proofpoint completes acquisition of Hornetsecurity (December 2025)
- Mimecast: Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Datacentre News: Mimecast opens two Frankfurt data centres (2018)
- Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration admin guide, data residency
- Libraesva: Home page (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Libraesva: Proofpoint vs Libraesva (deployment options)
- Proofpoint: Core Email Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Abnormal AI: Inbound Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Cloudflare docs: Email Security setup and deployment modes
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Data regions (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Google Workspace pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Sentaro Data Processing Agreement and subprocessor list
- Abnormal AI: Subprocessors (updated 31 July 2026; accessed 2026-10-21)
- IRONSCALES: List of current sub-processors (PDF, December 2024; accessed 2026-10-21)
- Proofpoint: Data privacy information sheet, Core Email Protection API (updated 24 July 2026; accessed 2026-10-21)
- Barracuda Trust Center: Data center locations (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Cloudflare docs: Email Security regional processing (accessed 2026-10-21)