Open Event Server vs Seatsurfing
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted calendar & contacts options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Open Event Server
Self-hosted event management and ticketing backend
VS
Seatsurfing
Webbased app to book seats, desks and rooms for offices
| Feature | Open Event Server | Seatsurfing |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Calendar & Contacts | Calendar & Contacts |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,006 | ★ 304 |
| First released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Eventbrite, Sched | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Open Event Server if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Choose Seatsurfing if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Event Server or Seatsurfing better?
Neither is universally better. Open Event Server has the larger community, while Seatsurfing is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Open Event Server and Seatsurfing free and open-source?
Yes. Open Event Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Seatsurfing under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Open Event Server and Seatsurfing with Docker?
Open Event Server: yes. Seatsurfing: yes.