Group-Office vs Horde 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?
Group-Office
Web-based groupware and CRM with email and calendar
VS
Horde Groupware
PHP groupware suite with webmail and calendaring
| Feature | Group-Office | Horde Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 275 | ★ 243 |
| First released | 2003 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace | Microsoft Exchange |
Why pick each one
Choose Group-Office if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Choose Horde Groupware if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Group-Office or Horde Groupware better?
Group-Office is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Horde Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Group-Office and Horde Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Group-Office is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Horde Groupware under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Group-Office and Horde Groupware with Docker?
Group-Office: yes. Horde Groupware: check the project docs for container support.