Etherpad vs Kamailio
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Etherpad
Real-time collaborative document editor
VS
Kamailio
High-performance SIP server for VoIP infrastructure
| Feature | Etherpad | Kamailio |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,481 | ★ 2,899 |
| First released | 2011 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Google Docs | Twilio |
Why pick each one
Choose Kamailio if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
Frequently asked questions
Is Etherpad or Kamailio better?
Etherpad is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Kamailio if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Etherpad and Kamailio free and open-source?
Yes. Etherpad is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Kamailio under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Etherpad and Kamailio with Docker?
Etherpad: yes. Kamailio: yes.