SHSelfHostIndex

Stalwart Mail Server vs Kolab 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?
ST Stalwart Mail Server Modern all-in-one mail server in a single binary VS KO Kolab Groupware Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
FeatureStalwart Mail ServerKolab Groupware
CategoryMail ServersGroupware
LicenseAGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageRustPHP
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM512 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdocker, binary, bare-metalbare-metal, docker
GitHub stars★ 14,059★ 200
First released20202002
ReplacesMicrosoft Exchange, Google WorkspaceMicrosoft Exchange, Zimbra

Why pick each one

Choose Stalwart Mail Server if…

  • Single modern binary
  • Strong security defaults
Stalwart Mail Server details

Choose Kolab Groupware if…

  • Built on proven components
  • Strong standards support
Kolab Groupware details

Frequently asked questions

Is Stalwart Mail Server or Kolab Groupware better?

Stalwart Mail Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Kolab Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Stalwart Mail Server and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?

Yes. Stalwart Mail Server 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 Stalwart Mail Server and Kolab Groupware with Docker?

Stalwart Mail Server: yes. Kolab Groupware: yes.

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