GroupServer is a list server, or mailing list manager, like GNU Mailman and Google Groups. This comparison describes the similarities and differences between these systems in three key areas:
In addition to Mailman 2 and Google Groups, this comparison refers to Mailman version 3, which is currently in development.
In summary, of the systems compared, only GroupServer and Google Groups provide full integration between the web and email interfaces. Unlike the proprietary Google Groups, however, GroupServer and Mailman 2 are free software. GNU Mailman version 3, which is currently in development, is also free software, and aims to provide a high level of integration between its email and web interfaces.
Free software provides the freedom to implement, inspect, and even modify the software. This is explained further by the Free Software Foundation and Free Culture Foundation.
We thank KαΊra and members of GNU Mailman developers, for help with compiling this comparison.
Please let us know your feedback, suggestions and corrections about this comparison.
GNU Mailman is the most widely installed open source email mailing list manager. Primarily used via email, Mailman 2 has a web-based admin UI. To view posts in public on the web, you may use a third party archiver such as Pipermail, MonHarc or Mail archive.
This comparison assumes the use of Mailman 2 in conjunction with a web archiver.
Mailman 3 is a major upgrade of Mailman that is currently in development. Mailman 3 itself provides the email user interface, and a REST interface for administration. You can build or integrate your own UI to interact with Mailman 3, or use Postorius, a component that is being developed to provide the web-based admin UI. A third component Hyperkitty, is being developed to provide a web interface to posts.
This comparison assumes the use of Mailman 3 in conjunction with Postorious and Hyperkitty, and lists the development goals of those projects.
Google Groups is a web-based mailing list manager provided by Google. The free version is ad-supported.
Google Groups for business is a version of Google Groups that is part of the paid Google Apps for Business service. The Groups for Business administrator FAQ explains the differences between Google Groups for Business and the free version.
Freedom |
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GroupServer | GNU Mailman | Google Groups | |||
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Feature | version 2 | version 3 (unreleased) | free version | for business | |
Free software | β | β | β | β | β |
Code your own enhancements | β | β | β | β | β |
Custom deployment | β | β | β | β | β |
Virtual domain | β | β | β | β | β |
No advertisements | β | β | β | β | β |
Scriptable administration | β | β | β | β | β |
Server-side logging | β | β | β | β | β |
Packaged installation | β | β | β | β | β |
Web user interface |
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GroupServer | GNU Mailman | Google Groups | |||
Feature | version 2 | version 3 (unreleased) | free version | for business | |
Groups on a dedicated site | β | β | β | β | β |
Posts and administration on a single site | β | β | Β½ | β | β |
Post messages and files from the web | β | β | β | β | β |
CSS customisation | β | β | β | β | β |
Editable pages | β | β | β | β | β |
Multi-lingual user interface | β | ? | ? | β | β |
Posts on the web | |||||
Search | β | β | β | β | β |
Multi-group search | β | β | β | β | β |
Embedded YouTube video | β | β | ? | β | β |
Automatic keywording | β | β | β | β | β |
HTML posts | β | β | ? | β | β |
Shareable link to post or topic | β | β | β | β | β |
Email address masking | β | β | β | β | β |
Unicode support | β | β | β | β | β |
Usage statistics | β | β | β | β | β |
Configurable timezone | β | β | ? | β | β |
Quoted text hiding | β | β | β | β | β |
Files stored online | β | β | β | β | β |
Web feeds from posts | β | β | β | β | β |
Web feeds from files | β | β | ? | β | β |
Web feeds from searches | β | β | ? | β | β |
Profiles | |||||
User post summaries | β | β | ? | β | β |
Secure password reset | β | β | β | β | β |
User profiles | β | β | β | β | β |
Multiple email addresses | β | β | β | β | β |
Member contact requests | β | β | β | β | β |
Site-side account activity logging | Β½ | β | β | β | β |
Email user interface |
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GroupServer | GNU Mailman | Google Groups | |||
Feature | version 2 | version 3 (unreleased) | free version | for business | |
CSS customisation | Β½ | β | β | β | β |
Email footer can contain a link to the post on the web | β | β | β | β | β |
Posting rate restriction | β | β | β | β | β |
Email footer customisation | β | β | β | β | β |
Email address blocking | β | β | β | β | β |
Vacation message loop handling | β | β | β | β | β |
Bounce handling | β | β | β | β | β |
Digest mode | β | β | β | β | β |
Moderation | β | β | β | β | β |
Subscription commands | β | β | β | β | β |
Monthly subscription reminder | β | β | β | β | β |
HTML email | β | β | β | β | β |
Multi-lingual user interface | β | β | β | β | β |
Settings API | β | β | β | β | β |
LMTP | β | β | β | β | β |