Feng Office vs Kolab Groupware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Feng Office
Web-based collaboration and project management suite
VS
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
| Feature | Feng Office | Kolab Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 106 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2007 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Basecamp, Microsoft Project | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra |
Why pick each one
Choose Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Frequently asked questions
Is Feng Office or Kolab Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Kolab Groupware has the larger community, while Feng Office is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Feng Office and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Feng Office 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 Feng Office and Kolab Groupware with Docker?
Feng Office: check the project docs for container support. Kolab Groupware: yes.