Davis 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?
Davis
Modern admin interface for sabre/dav CalDAV server
VS
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
| Feature | Davis | Kolab Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 727 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2020 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, iCloud | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra |
Why pick each one
Choose Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Frequently asked questions
Is Davis or Kolab Groupware better?
Davis is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Kolab Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Davis and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Davis is licensed under MIT and Kolab Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Davis and Kolab Groupware with Docker?
Davis: yes. Kolab Groupware: yes.