Open-Source Alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

Libre Workspace is a crucial part of my self-hosting infrastructure, running smoothly on one of my VPS instances at Hetzner¹. (As I wrote in Why I Still Self-Host) In this article we'll explore what Libre Workspace exactly is, how you can run it and what it replaces.

Libre Workspace is an modular server platform which aims to be an alternative to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and co. It relies only on free and open source components as its core. The collaboration platform is modular and developed as a free and open source (FOSS) project with its repository on Codeberg.

The project includes in its core Nextcloud with either Collabora Office or ONLYOFFICE as its Cloud and Online Office solutions, Matrix with the Element Web Client as an alternative to Microsoft Teams, Jitsi as its web meeting and call solution, Guacamole for the Cloud Desktop and Samba AD-DC for centralised user and group management.

Libre Workspace is also extendable with addons which are available via either the included Addon Manager or the Libre Workspace Forum. Some of the available Addons (official ones also have their repositories on Codeberg under the Libre Workspace organization) include Immich, Mailcow and Vaultwarden.

You have decided to run Libre Workspace and have four ways to do it.

One is that you decide to use the offer of Libre Workspace Cloud the let the developer of Libre Workspace manage it for you. The smallest offer only costs 12,30€/Month

If you want to run it on your own hardware you can either do the setup and management yourself or use the offerings of Libre Workspace Pilot.

If you want to also use addons or software that needs constant access to the wider internet (like Mailcow or Mastodon) then it's more preferable to setup Libre Workspace on an VPS. Here can you also use the One-Time Setup Service of Libre Workspace Pilot or you can do it yourself via the methods described in the documentation of Libre Workspace.

The project Libre Workspace simplifies self-hosting for me. It's Open ID Connect Provider allows me to use my account on my Libre Workspace instance to connect to multiple different self-hosted software and services.

Are you already self-hosting your workspace, or are you still relying on Microsoft and Google? Let me know in the comments or join the discussion on the Fediverse or the Libre Workspace forum!

If you want to hear more from me you can find me in the Fediverse at @gelbphoenix@social.gelbphoenix.de (Mastodon) or @gelbphoenix@gram.social (Pixelfed). For more posts like this subscribe to my new newsletter or support me by becoming a member.

¹ [Affiliate Link: Following this link gives you $20 in Hetzner Cloud Credit when registering]