SHSelfHostIndex

Docker Mailserver vs Nextcloud Groupware

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
DO Docker Mailserver Production-ready, config-driven mail server in a container VS NE Nextcloud Groupware Mail, calendar and contacts bundle for Nextcloud
FeatureDocker MailserverNextcloud Groupware
CategoryMail ServersGroupware
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageShellJavaScript
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM2,048 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 18,682★ 1,169
First released20152016
ReplacesGoogle Workspace, Microsoft 365Microsoft 365, Google Workspace

Why pick each one

Choose Docker Mailserver if…

  • Reproducible, version-controllable config
  • Lightweight
Docker Mailserver details

Choose Nextcloud Groupware if…

  • Tight Nextcloud integration
  • Standards-based sync
Nextcloud Groupware details

Frequently asked questions

Is Docker Mailserver or Nextcloud Groupware better?

Neither is universally better. Docker Mailserver has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Docker Mailserver and Nextcloud Groupware free and open-source?

Yes. Docker Mailserver is licensed under MIT and Nextcloud Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Docker Mailserver and Nextcloud Groupware with Docker?

Docker Mailserver: yes. Nextcloud Groupware: yes.

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