Top 5 EDB to PST Converter Tools
If you need to open an Exchange mailbox without the server that created it, an EDB-to-PST converter is usually the fastest way to get there. After comparing the main options, Stellar Converter for EDB comes out on top for most people, mainly because you can start for free in a browser and move to a desktop version when the job gets bigger.
The timing matters too. Microsoft ended support for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 in October 2025, and a lot of companies are now moving to Exchange Server SE or Microsoft 365. That move tends to turn up old databases, offline servers, and mailboxes of people who left years ago. Every one of those is locked inside an EDB file that Outlook can't read.
Below, we look at the top EDB to PST converter tools available right now, what each one does well, and where each one falls short.
Why convert EDB to PST at all?
Exchange keeps every user's mail, attachments, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes in one database file with an .edb extension. That's fine while the server is up. Once it's gone, the file is close to useless, because Outlook only opens PST files, and EDB files can't simply be moved to another machine and opened.
Converting solves that. Here are the situations where admins reach for a converter most often:
- The server is gone. Old or offline EDB files can still be read after the original server has been retired or has failed.
- Former employees. Mailboxes of people who have left can be saved as PST files for legal holds, audits, or retention rules.
- Single-mailbox backups. A PST gives you a copy of one mailbox without dismounting or backing up the whole database.
- Shrinking a bloated database. Moving years-old mail out to PST keeps the live database smaller and easier to manage.
- The built-in tools fail. Exchange's own New-MailboxExportRequest cmdlet needs a healthy, mounted database. When it errors out, or the database won't mount, a converter can read the EDB file directly.
Migration. Converted mailboxes can go into Outlook, a new Exchange server,r or Microsoft 365.
1. Stellar Converter for EDB
Stellar is the only tool on this list with two ways in: a free online EDB to PST converter for quick jobs and a desktop edition for large or multi-database work. That flexibility is the main reason it takes first place.
The online version pulls emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, es and folders out of the EDB file and keeps the folder structure as it was. You don't need Exchange Server or Outlook installed, and the original EDB file is never changed.
What stands out:
- Reads EDB files from Exchange 5.5 all the way to 2019 and Exchange Server SE
- Free for files up to 500 MB, with no credit card asked for
- Shows mailboxes, folders, and item counts before you download anything
- Works when New-MailboxExportRequest fails or can't be used
- Handles legacy and offline databases, which is useful for archiving old mailboxes
- Runs in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari; Stellar says more than 100,000 files have been converted through it
How the online converter works
Sign in and upload the EDB file over an encrypted connection.
The file is analysed and converted automatically, with no person looking at it.
Preview the mailboxes, then download the PST files together as a ZIP.
Editions and pricing
| Edition | Price | File size limit |
Mailboxes |
Files kept for |
|
Online Free |
$0 |
500 MB |
One EDB file per session |
24 hours |
|
Online Premium |
$99.99 for 10 mailboxes |
5 GB |
10 (5, 2,5 and 50 also available) |
48 hours |
|
Desktop Technician |
$399 per year |
No limit |
500 mailboxes, multiple EDB files |
Saved on your own PC |
The desktop edition runs offline and saves everything to your own machine, so nothing goes to the cloud. That makes it the better choice for confidential mailboxes. It can also export straight to PST, a live Exchange server or Microsoft 365.
2. Kernel for Exchange Server
Kernel shows up near the top of many current roundups, and for good reason. It repairs large or corrupted EDB files and exports primary mailboxes, archive mailboxes, and public folders without needing Exchange services to be running.
- Exports to PST, MSG, EML, HTML, TXT, and RTF
- Migrates directly to a live Exchange server or Microsoft 365
- Recovers public folders and deleted items
- Built-in filter removes duplicate items
- Supports Exchange 5.0 through 2019
Worth knowing: there's no browser-based option, so even a small one-off job means installing the software.
3. SysTools EDB to PST Converter
SysTools is built for a do-it-yourself workflow. Its dual scanning mode handles both healthy and corrupted EDB files, and it can also open password-protected and otherwise inaccessible databases.
- Date and time filters, plus the option to export only chosen mailboxes
- Splits large PST files by size so Outlook doesn't struggle with them
- Previews items before saving
- Exports to PST, EML, MBOX, MSG, PDF and HTML
- Supports Exchange 2003 through 2019, on 32-bit and 64-bit systems
Worth knowing: support starts at Exchange 2003, so it won't help with older 5.5 or 2000 databases.
4. KDETools EDB to PST Converter
KDETools recovers data from corrupt, inaccessible, or damaged EDB files, including emails, contacts, calendar items, tasks, ks and distribution lists. Batch processing and custom conversion settings make it workable for bigger jobs.
- Moves multiple users to Microsoft 365 or Exchange Server
- Exports to PST, EML, MSG, VCF, ICS, HTML, EMLX, NSF, PDF and Gmail
- Converts several mailboxes in one batch
Worth knowing: it's light on migration extras like duplicate filtering, so test it on a copy of your database before you buy.
5. Shoviv EDB to PST Converter
Shoviv repairs damaged EDB files and handles bulk conversion, which suits IT teams cleaning up a database with dozens of old mailboxes.
- Exports to PST, Microsoft 365, or a live Exchange server
- Repairs damaged EDB files before converting them
- Converts mailboxes in bulk
Worth knowing: it has fewer export formats than SysTools or KDETools, so it's a better fit for migrations than for one-off archiving in formats like PDF or MBOX.
Top EDB to PST Converter Tools Compared
|
Tool |
Best for | Online option | Exports to Microsoft 365 / live Exchange | Exchange versions |
|
Stellar Converter for EDB |
Starting free, scaling up |
Yes (free up to 500 MB) |
Yes (desktop edition) |
5.5 to 2019 and SE |
|
Kernel for Exchange Server |
Damaged databases, public folders |
No |
Yes |
5.0 to 2019 |
|
SysTools EDB to PST Converter |
Filtered, selective exports |
No |
Not listed |
2003 to 2019 |
|
KDETools EDB to PST Converter |
Many output formats |
No |
Yes |
Not listed |
|
Shoviv EDB to PST Converter |
Bulk mailbox clean-ups |
No |
Yes |
Not listed |
Final thoughts
Any of these five tools will turn an EDB file into PST files Outlook can open. The right one depends on the size of the job, the state of the database, and how much you trust the cloud with your mail.
For most readers, Stellar Converter for EDB is the easiest place to start. You can try it free in a browser with no Exchange or Outlook installed, check the mailboxes before downloading, and switch to the desktop edition once files pass 5 GB or you need to push mailboxes straight into Microsoft 365 or a live Exchange server.
Whichever EDB to PST converter you pick, work on a copy of the database rather than the original, and check a few converted mailboxes in Outlook before you delete anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open an EDB file in Outlook directly?
No. Outlook only reads PST and OST files. You need an EDB to PST converter, or a working Exchange server where you can mount the database and export from there.
Is there a free EDB to PST converter?
Yes. Stellar's online converter is free for EDB files up to 500 MB. Most desktop tools also offer trial versions, but these usually limit how many items you can save.
Do I need Exchange Server running to convert an EDB file?
Not with a third-party tool. All five converters here read the EDB file on its own. Exchange's built-in New-MailboxExportRequest is different: it only works on a mounted, healthy database.
Is it safe to upload an EDB file online?
It depends on what's in the mailboxes. Reputable online services use encrypted uploads and delete files after a set time; Stellar keeps them for 24 to 48 hours. For legal, financial, or HR mail, an offline desktop tool keeps the data on your own hardware.
Which is the top EDB to PST converter for corrupted files?
Stellar, Kernel and SysTools all handle corrupted databases well. If public folders matter, Kernel is a strong choice. If you want to try before you pay, start with Stellar's free online version.
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