DAViCal vs Nextcloud 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?
DAViCal
Server for sharing calendars and address books via DAV
VS
Nextcloud Groupware
Mail, calendar and contacts bundle for Nextcloud
| Feature | DAViCal | Nextcloud Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 1,169 |
| First released | 2007 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace |
Why pick each one
Choose DAViCal if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Nextcloud Groupware if…
- Tight Nextcloud integration
- Standards-based sync
Frequently asked questions
Is DAViCal or Nextcloud Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Nextcloud Groupware has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are DAViCal and Nextcloud Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. DAViCal is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nextcloud Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run DAViCal and Nextcloud Groupware with Docker?
DAViCal: yes. Nextcloud Groupware: yes.