Free, open-source alternatives to Google Groups
Mailing lists and forums from Google. 4 apps you can run yourself instead of Google Groups, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
MailmanBest match
Manage electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists.
Sympa
Mailing list manager.
Discourse
Advanced forum / community solution based on Ruby and JS.
mlmmj
Mailing list management made joyful.
Side by side
Why replace Google Groups?
Google Groups works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Google Groups?
Mailman is the closest open-source replacement for Google Groups in our list. Sympa and Discourse are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Google Groups?
Yes. All 4 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.