DAViCal vs Horde Groupware
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
Horde Groupware
Archived
PHP groupware suite with webmail and calendaring
| Feature | DAViCal | Horde Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 242 |
| First released | 2007 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange | Microsoft Exchange |
What are DAViCal and Horde Groupware?
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
Horde Groupware
Horde Groupware is a collaboration suite built on the Horde framework that combines webmail, calendar, address book, tasks, and notes. It is a long-running PHP groupware project for teams.
- Webmail with calendar
- Shared address books
- Tasks and notes
- Modular Horde framework
DAViCal vs Horde Groupware: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Horde Groupware's repository is archived and no longer developed, while DAViCal is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. DAViCal is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Horde Groupware. Horde Groupware is the more established project (first released 2003), while DAViCal arrived in 2007. DAViCal lists first-class Docker deployment; Horde Groupware does not.
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 Horde Groupware if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is DAViCal or Horde Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Horde Groupware has the larger community, while DAViCal is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are DAViCal and Horde Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. DAViCal is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Horde Groupware under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run DAViCal and Horde Groupware with Docker?
DAViCal: yes. Horde Groupware: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, DAViCal or Horde Groupware?
DAViCal has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Horde Groupware. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.