Kolab Groupware vs Kontact
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?
Kolab Groupware
Open-source groupware server with mail and calendaring
VS
Kontact
Integrated personal information manager for KDE
| Feature | Kolab Groupware | Kontact |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Groupware | Groupware |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2002 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra | Microsoft Outlook |
Why pick each one
Choose Kolab Groupware if…
- Built on proven components
- Strong standards support
Choose Kontact if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in C++
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Kolab Groupware or Kontact better?
Neither is universally better. Kolab Groupware has the larger community, while Kontact is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Kolab Groupware and Kontact free and open-source?
Yes. Kolab Groupware is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Kontact under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kolab Groupware and Kontact with Docker?
Kolab Groupware: yes. Kontact: check the project docs for container support.