Tine vs Kolab 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?
Tine
Professional open-source groupware and CRM
VS
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
| Feature | Tine | Kolab Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2007 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra |
Why pick each one
Choose Tine if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in HTML
Choose Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Frequently asked questions
Is Tine or Kolab Groupware better?
Neither is universally better. Kolab Groupware has the larger community, while Tine is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Tine and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. Tine 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 Tine and Kolab Groupware with Docker?
Tine: yes. Kolab Groupware: yes.