Colanode vs Kolab 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
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
| Feature | Colanode | Kolab Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,006 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2026 | 2002 |
| Replaces | — | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra |
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 Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Frequently asked questions
Is Colanode or Kolab Groupware better?
Colanode is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Kolab Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Colanode and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Colanode is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Kolab Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Colanode and Kolab Groupware with Docker?
Colanode: yes. Kolab Groupware: yes.