Open Event Server vs Xandikos
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
Xandikos
Git-backed CalDAV and CardDAV server
| Feature | Open Event Server | Xandikos |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Calendar & Contacts | Calendar & Contacts |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,006 | ★ 593 |
| First released | 2016 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Eventbrite, Sched | Google Calendar, iCloud |
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 Xandikos if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Event Server or Xandikos better?
Neither is universally better. Open Event Server has the larger community, while Xandikos is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Open Event Server and Xandikos free and open-source?
Yes. Open Event Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Xandikos under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Open Event Server and Xandikos with Docker?
Open Event Server: yes. Xandikos: yes.