Kopano Groupware Core vs Horde Groupware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Kopano Groupware Core | Horde Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 1 · At risk | 9 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 60 | ★ 242 |
| First released | 2016 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange | Microsoft Exchange |
What are Kopano Groupware Core and Horde Groupware?
Kopano Groupware Core
Kopano Groupware Core is an open-source collaboration suite providing email, calendaring, and contacts with MAPI compatibility. It serves as the foundation of a self-hosted Exchange alternative.
- MAPI-based architecture
- Shared calendars and folders
- ActiveSync via Z-Push
- Web-based email client
Horde Groupware
Horde Groupware is a collaboration suite built on the Horde framework that combines webmail, calendar, address book, tasks, and notes. It is a long-running PHP groupware project for teams.
- Webmail with calendar
- Shared address books
- Tasks and notes
- Modular Horde framework
Kopano Groupware Core vs Horde Groupware: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Horde Groupware's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Kopano Groupware Core is actively maintained. Kopano Groupware Core is written in C++, while Horde Groupware is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Kopano Groupware Core versus GPL-2.0 for Horde Groupware. Horde Groupware is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Kopano Groupware Core. Horde Groupware is the more established project (first released 2003), while Kopano Groupware Core arrived in 2016. Horde Groupware has the considerably larger community, at 242 GitHub stars versus 60. Kopano Groupware Core lists first-class Docker deployment; Horde Groupware does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kopano Groupware Core if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Watch out for
- Complex multi-component setup
- Slower recent development
Choose Horde Groupware if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Kopano Groupware Core or Horde Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Horde Groupware has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Kopano Groupware Core and Horde Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Kopano Groupware Core 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 Kopano Groupware Core and Horde Groupware with Docker?
Kopano Groupware Core: yes. Horde Groupware: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Kopano Groupware Core or Horde Groupware?
Horde Groupware has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Kopano Groupware Core. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.