EteSync vs Decsync Calendar Sync
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted calendar & contacts options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
EteSync
End-to-end encrypted sync for contacts and calendars
VS
Decsync Calendar Sync
File-based calendar and contacts synchronization
| Feature | EteSync | Decsync Calendar Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 20 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Category | Calendar & Contacts | Calendar & Contacts |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,770 | ★ 699 |
| First released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, iCloud | Google Calendar |
What are EteSync and Decsync Calendar Sync?
EteSync
EteSync is a secure, end-to-end encrypted, and journaled solution for syncing contacts, calendars, and tasks. Data is encrypted on the client so the server never sees plaintext.
- End-to-end encryption
- Journaled change history
- Android and iOS apps
Decsync Calendar Sync
Decsync is a method and toolset for synchronizing calendars and contacts via a shared folder rather than a central server. Self-hosters pair it with a file-sync service to keep events consistent across devices.
- Folder-based sync
- No central server
- Calendar and contacts
- Pairs with any file sync
EteSync vs Decsync Calendar Sync: key differences
EteSync is written in Python, while Decsync Calendar Sync is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for EteSync versus GPL-3.0 for Decsync Calendar Sync. Decsync Calendar Sync is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for EteSync. EteSync has the considerably larger community, at 1,770 GitHub stars versus 699. EteSync lists first-class Docker deployment; Decsync Calendar Sync does not.
Why pick each one
Choose EteSync if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Choose Decsync Calendar Sync if…
- Server-free architecture
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Requires a sync layer
- Setup is non-trivial
Frequently asked questions
Is EteSync or Decsync Calendar Sync better?
Neither is universally better. EteSync has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are EteSync and Decsync Calendar Sync free and open-source?
Yes. EteSync is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Decsync Calendar Sync under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EteSync and Decsync Calendar Sync with Docker?
EteSync: yes. Decsync Calendar Sync: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, EteSync or Decsync Calendar Sync?
Decsync Calendar Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for EteSync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.