EGroupware vs Nextcloud Groupware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | EGroupware | Nextcloud Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 64 · Good |
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 297 | ★ 1,187 |
| First released | 2003 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace |
What are EGroupware and Nextcloud Groupware?
EGroupware
EGroupware is a browser-based groupware suite that includes calendar, address book, email, project management, and file sharing. It supports CalDAV, CardDAV, and ActiveSync for client synchronization.
- Integrated calendar, mail and contacts
- Project management and timesheets
- CalDAV/CardDAV and ActiveSync
- Video conferencing module
Nextcloud Groupware
Nextcloud Groupware bundles the Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Deck apps to turn a Nextcloud instance into a full collaboration suite. It provides CalDAV and CardDAV synchronization for all clients.
- Integrated mail, calendar and contacts
- CalDAV and CardDAV sync
- Deck kanban boards
- Runs on existing Nextcloud
EGroupware vs Nextcloud Groupware: key differences
EGroupware is written in PHP, while Nextcloud Groupware is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for EGroupware versus AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Groupware. EGroupware is the more established project (first released 2003), while Nextcloud Groupware arrived in 2016. Nextcloud Groupware has the considerably larger community, at 1,187 GitHub stars versus 297.
Why pick each one
Choose EGroupware if…
- Broad feature set
- Long-established project
Watch out for
- Interface feels dated
- Many modules to configure
Choose Nextcloud Groupware if…
- Tight Nextcloud integration
- Standards-based sync
Watch out for
- Requires Nextcloud
- Mail app needs external IMAP
Frequently asked questions
Is EGroupware 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 EGroupware and Nextcloud Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. EGroupware 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 EGroupware and Nextcloud Groupware with Docker?
EGroupware: yes. Nextcloud Groupware: yes.