EGroupware — Open-Source Groupware That Covers the Basics
General Information
EGroupware has been around for quite a while. It started as a PHP-based groupware project and slowly grew into a suite that does most of what a small office or NGO needs: email, calendars, contacts, tasks, and a bit of project tracking. It’s not flashy, but it works, and for teams that don’t want to live in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, it offers a way to keep collaboration on their own server.
Admins like it because it doesn’t need monster hardware and can run happily on a modest Linux VM. U…
How It Works
EGroupware sits on top of a standard LAMP stack. Mail itself comes from an IMAP backend (Dovecot, Cyrus, whatever is already in place), and EGroupware just ties it into the web UI alongside calendars and files. Accounts can be local or pulled from LDAP/Active Directory.
Sync to phones and desktops works through CalDAV, CardDAV, and ActiveSync, so Outlook, Thunderbird, and mobile devices can all connect. For admins, most changes happen in the web console: add users, set quotas, turn modules o…
Functions
Feature | What it looks like in practice
—|—
Mail integration | Connects to existing IMAP servers, shown in the web client
Calendars & contacts | Shared scheduling, resource booking, sync via CalDAV/CardDAV/ActiveSync
Tasks & projects | Simple project tracking, time sheets, task lists
File sharing | Built-in file manager, can link to Nextcloud
Directory support | Works with LDAP/AD for single sign-on
Security | TLS/SSL for sessions, role-based access, basic logging
Platforms | Linux server with Apache/Nginx + PHP
Licensing | Open source (GPL), paid support available
Installation Guide
1. Spin up a Linux server (Debian/Ubuntu or CentOS).
2. Install Apache/Nginx, PHP, and a database (MySQL or PostgreSQL).
3. Pull in EGroupware packages from the official repo.
4. Run the setup wizard in the browser — define DB creds and admin login.
5. Connect it to your IMAP server and LDAP if needed.
6. Test logins with a couple of accounts before rolling out wider.
Setup is about as complex as deploying a CMS like Drupal — nothing exotic, but some patience is required.
Everyday Use
– SMBs and NGOs use it as a budget-friendly alternative to Office 365.
– Schools keep it for calendars and shared tasks, where simple beats fancy.
– IT teams drop it on a VM to provide staff with a single place for email and schedules.
Day-to-day, it’s fairly routine: users check mail, schedule meetings, share files, and move on. Admins handle user changes, SSL renewals, and the occasional upgrade.
Limitations
The interface is a bit old-school compared to slick SaaS suites. It’s fine for function, not for looks. Scaling to thousands of users can be painful, and integration beyond the built-in modules requires effort. If teams expect real-time chat or video, they’ll need something else.
Comparison
Tool | Platforms | Strengths | Typical Fit
—|—|—|—
EGroupware | Linux/PHP | Open source, modular, runs light | SMBs, NGOs, education
Zimbra OSE | Multi-platform | Bigger community, mature mail + calendar | Schools, SMBs, mixed environments
Nextcloud | Linux | File sharing focus, extendable apps | Teams centered on documents/files
Microsoft 365 | Multi-platform | Deep enterprise features, polished | Corporates, compliance-heavy orgs
Google Workspace | Browser | Fast, SaaS, minimal admin work | SaaS-first organizations
Notes from the Field
Admins say EGroupware isn’t the tool you brag about, but it’s dependable. It gets the job done for offices that just need mail + calendar + tasks in one place. A common pattern is to pair it with Nextcloud: EGroupware covers groupware basics, Nextcloud handles heavy file collaboration. Together they can replace a good chunk of commercial suites.