Cozy Contacts 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?
Cozy Contacts
Contacts management app for the Cozy personal server
VS
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
| Feature | Cozy Contacts | Kolab Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | source | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2018 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Google Contacts | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra |
Why pick each one
Choose Cozy Contacts if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Frequently asked questions
Is Cozy Contacts or Kolab Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Kolab Groupware has the larger community, while Cozy Contacts is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Cozy Contacts and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Cozy Contacts is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Kolab Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cozy Contacts and Kolab Groupware with Docker?
Cozy Contacts: check the project docs for container support. Kolab Groupware: yes.