iRedMail vs Kopano Groupware Core
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?
iRedMail
Free, full-featured mail server solution
VS
Kopano Groupware Core
Open-source collaboration platform with Outlook support
| Feature | iRedMail | Kopano Groupware Core |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mail Servers | Groupware |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,835 | ★ 60 |
| First released | 2007 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange, Google Workspace | Microsoft Exchange |
Why pick each one
Choose Kopano Groupware Core if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is iRedMail or Kopano Groupware Core better?
iRedMail is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Kopano Groupware Core if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are iRedMail and Kopano Groupware Core free and open-source?
Yes. iRedMail is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Kopano Groupware Core under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run iRedMail and Kopano Groupware Core with Docker?
iRedMail: check the project docs for container support. Kopano Groupware Core: yes.