Decsync Calendar Sync vs Xandikos
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted calendar & contacts options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Decsync Calendar Sync | Xandikos |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Calendar & Contacts | Calendar & Contacts |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Kotlin | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | source, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 699 | ★ 606 |
| First released | 2018 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Calendar | Google Calendar, iCloud |
What are Decsync Calendar Sync and Xandikos?
Decsync Calendar Sync
Decsync is a method and toolset for synchronizing calendars and contacts via a shared folder rather than a central server. Self-hosters pair it with a file-sync service to keep events consistent across devices.
- Folder-based sync
- No central server
- Calendar and contacts
- Pairs with any file sync
Xandikos
Xandikos is a lightweight CalDAV and CardDAV server that stores all data in a Git repository. This gives version history for every calendar and contact change with minimal infrastructure.
- Git-backed storage with history
- No database required
- Lightweight footprint
Decsync Calendar Sync vs Xandikos: key differences
Decsync Calendar Sync is written in Kotlin, while Xandikos is built with Python. Xandikos is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Decsync Calendar Sync. Xandikos is the more established project (first released 2016), while Decsync Calendar Sync arrived in 2018. Xandikos lists first-class Docker deployment; Decsync Calendar Sync does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Decsync Calendar Sync if…
- Server-free architecture
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Requires a sync layer
- Setup is non-trivial
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 Decsync Calendar Sync or Xandikos better?
Neither is universally better. Decsync Calendar Sync has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Decsync Calendar Sync and Xandikos free and open-source?
Yes. Decsync Calendar Sync is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Xandikos under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Decsync Calendar Sync and Xandikos with Docker?
Decsync Calendar Sync: check the project docs for container support. Xandikos: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Decsync Calendar Sync or Xandikos?
Xandikos has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Decsync Calendar Sync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.