EteSync vs Xandikos
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
Xandikos
Git-backed CalDAV and CardDAV server
| Feature | EteSync | Xandikos |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 20 · At risk | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Calendar & Contacts | Calendar & Contacts |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,770 | ★ 606 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, iCloud | Google Calendar, iCloud |
What are EteSync and Xandikos?
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
Xandikos
Xandikos is a lightweight CalDAV and CardDAV server that stores all data in a Git repository. This gives version history for every calendar and contact change with minimal infrastructure.
- Git-backed storage with history
- No database required
- Lightweight footprint
EteSync vs Xandikos: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for EteSync versus GPL-3.0 for Xandikos. Xandikos is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for EteSync. EteSync has the considerably larger community, at 1,770 GitHub stars versus 606.
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 Xandikos if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is EteSync or Xandikos 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 Xandikos free and open-source?
Yes. EteSync is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Xandikos under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EteSync and Xandikos with Docker?
EteSync: yes. Xandikos: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, EteSync or Xandikos?
Xandikos has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for EteSync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.