DAViCal vs Baïkal
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
DAViCal
Server for sharing calendars and address books via DAV
VS
Baïkal
Lightweight CalDAV and CardDAV server with web admin
| Feature | DAViCal | Baïkal |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 3,319 |
| First released | 2007 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange | Google Calendar, iCloud |
What are DAViCal and Baïkal?
DAViCal
DAViCal is a mature CalDAV and CardDAV server that stores calendars and address books in a PostgreSQL database. It supports sharing and fine-grained access control between users.
- CalDAV and CardDAV server
- PostgreSQL-backed storage
- Calendar sharing and permissions
- LDAP authentication support
Baïkal
Baïkal is a lightweight CalDAV and CardDAV server built on the sabre/dav library, providing calendar and contact synchronization with a simple web admin panel. It suits individuals and small teams.
- CalDAV and CardDAV server
- Web-based administration
- SQLite or MySQL storage
- Standards-compliant sync
DAViCal vs Baïkal: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for DAViCal versus GPL-3.0 for Baïkal. Baïkal is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for DAViCal. DAViCal is the more established project (first released 2007), while Baïkal arrived in 2012. Baïkal has the considerably larger community, at 3,319 GitHub stars versus 200.
Why pick each one
Choose DAViCal if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Dated administration UI
- PostgreSQL required
Choose Baïkal if…
- Simple and lightweight
- Easy admin interface
Watch out for
- No web calendar interface
- Admin tool, not full groupware
Frequently asked questions
Is DAViCal or Baïkal better?
Baïkal is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider DAViCal if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are DAViCal and Baïkal free and open-source?
Yes. DAViCal is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Baïkal under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run DAViCal and Baïkal with Docker?
DAViCal: yes. Baïkal: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, DAViCal or Baïkal?
Baïkal has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for DAViCal. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.