Zentyal
Zentyal develops an all-in-one Linux server platform, distributed via partner channel, that delivers native Microsoft Active Directory compatibility, integrated mail, gateway, and infrastructure services through a unified web interface for small and medium businesses, public sector, and education customers seeking to replace or extend Windows Server deployments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersZaragoza, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Zentyal does
Zentyal, operated by the Spanish private company Gesforeda, S.L. and distributed in the United States by Millsico LLC, develops and sells Zentyal Server, an all-in-one Linux server platform built on Ubuntu Server LTS (currently Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in version 8.1) that bundles Active Directory-compatible domain and directory services, mail, gateway, and infrastructure functions behind a single web-based graphical management interface. Its core technical differentiator is what the company describes as the first native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux, using Samba and Kerberos to let Windows clients join the domain without Client Access Licenses or operational disruption, supported by an integrated mail stack (Postfix, Dovecot, SOGo, ActiveSync, ClamAV, SpamAssassin) and infrastructure services (DHCP, DNS, NTP, CA, VPN, firewall, IDS/IPS via Suricata, virtualization). Distribution is primarily channel-led through a three-tier partner program (Affiliate at 20% commission, Distributor with reseller networks, OEM/white-label) covering more than 20 countries, complemented by direct self-serve e-commerce, a 15-day free trial, and a free Development Edition for community users. Revenue is generated from tiered annual subscriptions (Micro $230/year for 25 users through Enterprise $3,600/year for unlimited users), add-on support tickets, training courses, the ZeCA certification program, and official documentation/books; a 30% discount applies to education, non-profit, and public administration buyers. The customer base spans small and medium businesses, managed service providers, and public sector/education/healthcare organizations, with named anchor deployments including the Provincial Council of Toledo (200 municipalities, 690,000 inhabitants) and Advans Group (2,500+ staff across seven affiliates).
Zentyal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zentyal
- Legal name
- Gesforeda, S.L.
- Website
- https://zentyal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zentyal develops an all-in-one Linux server platform, distributed via partner channel, that delivers native Microsoft Active Directory compatibility, integrated mail, gateway, and infrastructure services through a unified web interface for small and medium businesses, public sector, and education customers seeking to replace or extend Windows Server deployments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zentyal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Linux Server Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate) (BPAEAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Incident Response, On-Call & Operational Readiness (BPAEAKAL)
Keywords
Where Zentyal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zaragoza
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Zentyal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Annual Server Subscriptions: Annual subscription licenses for Zentyal Server Commercial Edition with tiered user limits (Micro: 25 users, Small: 75 users, Medium: 300 users, Enterprise: unlimited users). Subscriptions include software updates, security patches, version upgrades, and support tickets. Priced at €195-€2,995 per server annually ($230-$3,600 USD).
- Perpetual Licenses: One-time perpetual license purchases available for servers, with annual support renewal required for continued updates and support. Customers can convert subscriptions to perpetual licenses at any time before expiration.
- Support Tickets: On-demand single support tickets available for specific issues: Business Ticket ($295) with 2 business day response time, Express Ticket ($600) with 4 business hour response time. Tickets valid for 12 months from purchase date.
- Training and Certification: Online courses and certification exams for Zentyal Server functionality including Gateway, Infrastructure, Communications, Domain & Directory Server courses ($140 each). Bundle pack with all courses, book, and ZeCA certification exam coupon ($600). ZeCA certification exam: €119 or $119.
- Books and Documentation: Zentyal for Network Administrators book available as e-book or printed edition covering all aspects of configuring and managing Zentyal Server with practical exercises.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Micro - Up to 25 users, €195/$230 per server annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Small - Up to 75 users, €495/$600 per server annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Medium - Up to 300 users, €995/$1,200 per server annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise - Unlimited users, €2,995/$3,600 per server annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Support Ticket - Single issue resolution |
| Subscription | Annual | Express Support Ticket - Priority single issue resolution |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Training Courses - Gateway, Infrastructure, Communications, Domain |
| Subscription | Annual | Training Bundle - All courses + Book + ZeCA Certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | ZeCA Certification Exam - Online proctored exam |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Zentyal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zentyal provides an all-in-one Linux server platform built on Ubuntu LTS that delivers native Microsoft Active Directory compatibility, network infrastructure (gateway, DHCP, DNS, HTTP proxy), mail and groupware, file sharing, and remote access, all managed through a single web-based graphical interface. The company offers a free Development Edition for evaluation, a Commercial Edition for production use, paid annual subscriptions, tiered support plans, and paid training and certification programs aimed at small and medium businesses and education customers.
Product overview
Zentyal is an all-in-one Linux server platform combining Active Directory compatibility, mail server, gateway, and infrastructure management through a unified web-based interface. The core product is Zentyal Server, available in two editions: Development Edition (free, community-supported) and Commercial Edition (subscription-based with professional support). The Commercial Edition includes four subscription tiers (Micro, Small, Medium, Enterprise) ranging from $230 to $3,600 per year, with additional support tickets available for purchase. The platform also offers training and certification through ZeCA (Zentyal Certified Associate) exams, five online courses covering gateway, infrastructure, communications, domain, and directory services, plus a comprehensive training bundle. The product portfolio is rounded out by an official network administrators book. Zentyal was founded in 2004 and is developed by Gesforeda, S.L. based in Zaragoza, Spain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zentyal Server - Commercial Edition
- Zentyal Server - Development Edition
- Zentyal Yearly Subscription License
- Business Support Tickets Per-incident Business-grade support tickets for Zentyal Server customers needing assisted troubleshooting and configuration help beyond the standard subscription support.
- Express Support Tickets Lower-cost Express-tier per-incident support tickets for Zentyal Server customers who need a smaller scope of assisted support than the Business option.
- ZeCA Certification Exam Paid certification exam (Zentyal Certified Administrator) that validates an administrator's competence in deploying and managing Zentyal Server; primarily used by IT professionals, MSPs and channel partners.
- Official Zentyal Training Courses Paid instructor-led Zentyal training courses (Fundamentals and Advanced) covering installation, configuration and administration of Zentyal Server for IT professionals preparing for ZeCA or deploying the platform for end customers.
- Training Bundle (Training + ZeCA Exam) Bundled paid offering that combines an official Zentyal training course with the ZeCA certification exam at a discounted price.
- Zentyal Free Introductory Online Course Free online introductory course that provides basic Zentyal Server training, often used as a lead-in to the paid Fundamentals/Advanced courses and ZeCA certification.
- Zentyal for Network Administrators (Book) Published book on Zentyal Server for network administrators, sold through the Zentyal website and used as a reference and learning resource for the platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200 municipalities served by single Provincial Council deployment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Zentyal
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zentyal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Zentyal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ElektacoreElekta partnered with Zentyal to develop a tailored radiotherapy product component. Zentyal's flexible and responsive involvement was essential to delivering this important part of their product suite. Zentyal provided adaptation of existing code and new feature development for their specific needs.
- Advanced Consulting Enterprises, Inc.minorListed as a Zentyal partner providing IT support and services in the partner ecosystem.
- AvosecminorPartner offering Zentyal-based solutions. James Norris states: 'Security features and native compatibility in Windows environments allow us to offer our resellers an easy server solution.'
- NovadevsminorPartner offering Zentyal solutions. Óscar Olivares states: 'Affordable, easy and fast to deploy. Perfect for customers who need an easy IT infrastructure that is ready out of the box.'
- IT Servicios Informáticos (Hugo Ricciardi)minorPartner stating: 'Zentyal is a robust tool that allows me to deploy, manage and maintain my client's infrastructure in an easy and agile way.'
- IT Support and Service Providers (20+ Countries)corePartnership agreements with IT support and service providers in more than 20 countries guarantee the distribution of Zentyal-based solutions to customers worldwide. Partners provide commercial support, installation, integration, configuration, updates, remote server monitoring, and maintenance services.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zentyal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Univention Corporate Server: Univention Corporate Server is a Linux-based server platform with native Microsoft Active Directory compatibility and a web-based management interface. It is the closest direct peer to Zentyal, targeting the same SMB/education segment with an analogous all-in-one domain, directory, and app suite.
- ClearOS: ClearOS is a Linux server distribution for SMBs combining gateway, directory, mail, and network services behind a unified web interface. It competes with Zentyal in the same small-business Windows-Server-alternative niche with overlapping feature sets.
- NethServer: NethServer is a community-driven Linux server distribution bundling mail, directory, firewall, VPN, and file sharing under a web-based GUI. It targets the same small/mid-market segment seeking an easy-to-administer alternative to Windows Server, making it a head-to-head open-source competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Canonical (Ubuntu Server): Canonical develops Ubuntu Server, the underlying LTS base (24.04) that Zentyal 8.1 is built on. As a much larger incumbent, Canonical offers comparable enterprise Linux infrastructure plus managed cloud (OpenStack, Kubernetes), competing for the same IT-modernization budgets.
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Red Hat provides enterprise Linux server platforms, directory and identity services (via IdM/FreeIPA), and virtualization stack. It competes for the same SMB-to-enterprise Linux-infrastructure wallet with a much broader portfolio and global support.
- Microsoft Windows Server: Microsoft Windows Server (and Active Directory / Entra ID) is Zentyal's primary incumbent alternative in the SMB segment. It owns the category Zentyal is positioning against, bundling directory, identity, and management into the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Emerging players
- JumpCloud: JumpCloud is a cloud-based directory-as-a-service platform providing user/device management, SSO, and Active Directory bridging. It competes for the same SMB IT-modernization budget with a SaaS-first, hybrid AD model rather than an on-prem server.
- ManageEngine (Zoho): ManageEngine offers a broad suite of on-prem and cloud IT management tools (Active Directory management, endpoint management, password self-service) that overlap with the directory and identity functions of Zentyal Server while serving a much wider problem set.
Others
- Synology: Synology's DiskStation Manager provides an all-in-one NAS and small-business server platform with directory, mail, VPN, and backup services. While not a direct competitor, it overlaps with Zentyal in the SMB "easy all-in-one IT box" purchase decision.
- Samba Project: The Samba open-source project provides the underlying Active Directory and SMB/CIFS compatibility that Zentyal builds on. As the upstream enabler of Zentyal's core differentiation, it is a key ecosystem dependency rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zentyal social profiles
Digital presenceZentyal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zentyal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Zentyal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zentyal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zentyal
What does Zentyal do?
Zentyal provides an all-in-one Linux server platform built on Ubuntu LTS that delivers native Microsoft Active Directory compatibility, network infrastructure (gateway, DHCP, DNS, HTTP proxy), mail and groupware, file sharing, and remote access, all managed through a single web-based graphical interface. The company offers a free Development Edition for evaluation, a Commercial Edition for production use, paid annual subscriptions, tiered support plans, and paid training and certification programs aimed at small and medium businesses and education customers.
Is Zentyal a public or private company?
Zentyal is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Zentyal founded?
Zentyal was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zentyal based?
Zentyal is headquartered in Zaragoza, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Zentyal make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Annual Server Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are perpetual Licenses, support Tickets, training and Certification and books and Documentation.
Who are Zentyal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Univention Corporate Server, ClearOS and NethServer. Broad incumbents are Canonical (Ubuntu Server), Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Microsoft Windows Server. Emerging players are JumpCloud and ManageEngine (Zoho). Others are Synology and Samba Project.
Does Zentyal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zentyal.
What industry is Zentyal in?
Zentyal's product category is Linux Server Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAKAO, Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate), with a secondary code of BPAEAKAL, Incident Response, On-Call & Operational Readiness. Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7372.