SHSelfHostIndex

Nextcloud Groupware vs SOGo

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?
NE Nextcloud Groupware Mail, calendar and contacts bundle for Nextcloud VS SOGo Scalable groupware server with webmail, calendar and contacts
FeatureNextcloud GroupwareSOGo
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score64 · Good86 · Excellent
CategoryGroupwareGroupware
LicenseAGPL-3.0GPL-2.0
LanguageJavaScriptObjective-C
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM1,024 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 1,187★ 2,165
First released20162009
ReplacesMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceMicrosoft Exchange, Microsoft 365

What are Nextcloud Groupware and SOGo?

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

Read the full Nextcloud Groupware guide →

SOGo

SOGo is a fully featured, scalable groupware server offering shared calendars, address books, and webmail. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Outlook via ActiveSync and with CalDAV/CardDAV clients.

  • CalDAV and CardDAV support
  • Microsoft ActiveSync compatibility
  • Shared calendars and contacts
  • Integrated AJAX webmail

Read the full SOGo guide →

Nextcloud Groupware vs SOGo: key differences

Nextcloud Groupware is written in JavaScript, while SOGo is built with Objective-C. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Groupware versus GPL-2.0 for SOGo. SOGo is the more established project (first released 2009), while Nextcloud Groupware arrived in 2016.

Why pick each one

Choose Nextcloud Groupware if…

  • Tight Nextcloud integration
  • Standards-based sync

Watch out for

  • Requires Nextcloud
  • Mail app needs external IMAP
Nextcloud Groupware details

Choose SOGo if…

  • Strong Outlook compatibility
  • Scales to many users

Watch out for

  • Complex initial setup
  • Requires separate mail server
SOGo details

Frequently asked questions

Is Nextcloud Groupware or SOGo better?

Neither is universally better. SOGo has the larger community, while Nextcloud Groupware is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Nextcloud Groupware and SOGo free and open-source?

Yes. Nextcloud Groupware is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SOGo under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Nextcloud Groupware and SOGo with Docker?

Nextcloud Groupware: yes. SOGo: yes.

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