Colanode vs Horde Groupware
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
Horde Groupware
PHP groupware suite with webmail and calendaring
| Feature | Colanode | Horde Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,006 | ★ 243 |
| First released | 2026 | 2003 |
| 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 Horde Groupware if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Colanode or Horde Groupware better?
Colanode is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Horde Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Colanode and Horde Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Colanode is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Horde Groupware under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Colanode and Horde Groupware with Docker?
Colanode: yes. Horde Groupware: check the project docs for container support.