SHSelfHostIndex

Horde Groupware 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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HO Horde Groupware PHP groupware suite with webmail and calendaring VS KO Kolab Groupware Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
FeatureHorde GroupwareKolab Groupware
CategoryGroupwareGroupware
LicenseGPL-2.0AGPL-3.0
LanguagePHPPHP
Setup difficultyHardHard
Min. RAM512 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, sourcebare-metal, docker
GitHub stars★ 243★ 200
First released20032002
ReplacesMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Exchange, Zimbra

Why pick each one

Choose Horde Groupware if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • Written in PHP
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Horde Groupware details

Choose Kolab Groupware if…

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Horde Groupware or Kolab 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 Horde Groupware and Kolab Groupware free and open-source?

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

Can I run Horde Groupware and Kolab Groupware with Docker?

Horde Groupware: check the project docs for container support. Kolab Groupware: yes.

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