SHSelfHostIndex

Kopano Groupware Core vs Kolab Groupware

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted groupware options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

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KO Kopano Groupware Core Open-source collaboration platform with Outlook support VS KO Kolab Groupware Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
FeatureKopano Groupware CoreKolab Groupware
CategoryGroupwareGroupware
LicenseAGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageC++PHP
Setup difficultyHardHard
Min. RAM2,048 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metalbare-metal, docker
GitHub stars★ 60★ 200
First released20162002
ReplacesMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Exchange, Zimbra

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++
Kopano Groupware Core details

Choose Kolab Groupware if…

  • Built on proven components
  • Strong standards support
Kolab Groupware details

Frequently asked questions

Is Kopano Groupware Core or Kolab Groupware better?

Neither is universally better. Kolab 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 Kolab Groupware free and open-source?

Yes. Kopano Groupware Core is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Kolab Groupware under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Kopano Groupware Core and Kolab Groupware with Docker?

Kopano Groupware Core: yes. Kolab Groupware: yes.

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