Colanode vs Kopano Groupware Core
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Colanode
Collaboration suite with real-time messaging, rich text pages, file
VS
Kopano Groupware Core
Open-source collaboration platform with Outlook support
| Feature | Colanode | Kopano Groupware Core |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,006 | ★ 60 |
| First released | 2026 | 2016 |
| Replaces | — | Microsoft Exchange |
Why pick each one
Choose Colanode if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 5k GitHub stars
Choose Kopano Groupware Core if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Colanode or Kopano Groupware Core better?
Colanode is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Kopano Groupware Core if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Colanode and Kopano Groupware Core free and open-source?
Yes. Colanode is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Kopano Groupware Core under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Colanode and Kopano Groupware Core with Docker?
Colanode: yes. Kopano Groupware Core: yes.