Best Open Source CRM Software (2024)

With an open source CRM, you can save time and money. Learn what open source CRM is, the benefits of using it, and the most popular software solutions.

Below are some of the top open source CRM providers in the market, each with unique features and functions that make them best suited to specific needs.

Find out which CRM is best for your business:

Odoo is the best all-in-one open source CRM/ERP
OroCRM is the best option for scalability
SuiteCRM is the best solution for community support
HubSpot is best for ease-of-use
VTiger is best for customization

Software Spotlight: HubSpot^SPONSORED

HubSpot, known for its inbound marketing expertise, offers a free CRM solution that is a core component of its business management suite. This free CRM includes essential tools like contact management and email templates, along with integrations for Gmail and Outlook.

Some open-source tools HubSpot offers include:

Event App [beta] for leveraging CMS Hub tools for efficient consumer needs fulfillment.

Node Packages and CLI for local development and continuous deployment on HubSpot CMS.

CMS Boilerplate as a foundation for website building on HubSpot CMS.

VS Code HubL Language Extension for rapid CMS page development.

Developer Chrome Extension adding a menu and shortcuts for HubSpot CMS development.

CrankShaft Framework to accelerate build times on HubSpot CMS.

HubXML Blog Importer for converting blog content into HubSpot importable XML files.

Visit HubSpot

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Contact Management

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Task Management

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Odoo

OroCRM

SuiteCRM

HubSpot

VTiger

What is an open source CRM?

What sets open source CRMs apart from proprietary solutions is that its source code is publicly available. Developers and users can access, modify, and distribute the software freely.

The concept of open source CRMs can be traced back to the 1990s and early 2000s when open source software started gaining popularity. The rise of open source CRMs was driven by a growing demand for customizable and cost-effective solutions to manage customer relationships and the increasing awareness of the benefits of open source software.

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At TechnologyAdvice, we assess a wide range of factors before selecting our top choices for a given category. To make our selections, we rely on our extensive research, product information, vendor websites, competitor research and first-hand experience. We then consider what makes a solution best for customer-specific needs. By defining business needs, we can determine the essential features organizations in various sectors require, and select platforms that will cover all bases. Reputable providers known for their ease of use and customer satisfaction are added to our compilation list for further analysis. We then evaluate each solution on the list based on the features they offer, considering the platform’s usability, integration capabilities, customization options, mobile access, and any other relevant functionalities. Price plans, hidden fees, customer reviews, and customer support are also assessed in the selection process. TechnologyAdvice writers will often take advantage of free trials and demos to get a first-hand user experience of available software. Finally, we curate a comprehensive list based on the previously stated factors, ensuring readers have the necessary tools to make an informed decision.

Open source CRM solutions

Odoo — All-in-one

Pros

Cost-effective CRM solution
All-in-one ERP
Cloud and on-premises deployment solutions
Active developer community
Scalability
Modular approach

Cons

Limited official support
Non-intuitive integration
Customization costs

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CRM: As an ERP, Odoo offers a built-in CRM to manage leads, opportunities, and customer interactions and data
Modular architecture: Odoo has a wide range of apps that can be integrated and customized to fit specific business needs
Suite of apps: An integrated suite powered by AI can handle everything from HR to project management, accounting, marketing, and more

Open source (Community Edition): Free
Open core (Enterprise Edition): $6-$25/month per app

Odoo made the list due to its outstanding adaptability and its comprehensive suite of integrated applications, from sales to inventory, offers a unified, cost-effectve business solution. The robust community backing is a significant plus, and the modular, scalable design further cements Odoo as a top open-source option.

Odoo is more than a CRM, it is an all-in-one solution that combines finance, HR, sales, and other software. Known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, Odoo can automate every aspect of your business.

The platform’s comprehensive features, modular design, and flexibility have skyrocketed it to one of the most popular CRMs in 2023. Users can add or remove applications based on their needs and its highly scalable design allows the suite to grow with the business.

Built on open source code, Odoo offers an open source model known as the Community Edition and open core model called the Enterprise Edition.

OroCRM — Best for scalability

Pros

Customization
Multi-channel support
Scalability

Cons

Learning curve
Resource-intensive
Maintenance cost

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360-degree customer view
Reporting and analytics
Flexible modular architecture

Open source (Community Edition): Free
Open core (Enterprise Edition): Contact OroCRM

We selected OroCRM for its strong focus on e-commerce businesses, offering a multitude of features specifically tailored to industry needs. Its ability to track, analyze, and manage customer data across multiple channels is a significant draw. OroCRM’s flexibility as an open source solution allows users to customize it to fit specific requirements, making it a powerful tool in any company’s arsenal.

OroCRM advertises itself as the most flexible CRM on the market — and for good reason. The platform’s flexibility is one of its core strengths, offering a customizable data model that enables users to create custom fields to match their unique customer data requirements and sales workflows. Like Odoo, OroCRM features a modular architecture that allows developers to easily extend its functionality by creating custom modules, plugins, and integrations.

Configurable workflows—again an extension of the platform’s flexibility—allow users to implement custom workflows for processes such as lead qualification, customer support, and opportunity management. Scalability, multi-channel support, and integration capability are just a few of the other features adding to the platform’s flexibility.

SuiteCRM — Best for community support

Pros

Open source
Community support
Customizable workflows

Cons

Learning curve
Limited out-of-the-box features
Limited documentation

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SuiteCRM 8: The latest upgrade to the platform offers better control of data and business solutions
Sales territory management: Users can define and manage sales territories, enabling assignment of leads based on region
Security suite: This feature provides advanced security options including role-based access control, group-based permissions, and customizable user roles

Open source (Community edition): Free
Fully-supported (SuiteAssured edition): Contact SuiteCRM

SuiteCRM boasts an impressive balance between powerful features and cost-effectiveness. It offers comprehensive CRM capabilities, including sales automation, marketing campaigns, and customer support. The added bonus of being an open-source platform, providing customization flexibility and a vibrant community support, makes SuiteCRM an obvious choice.

Developed in 2006, SuiteCRM has benefited from more than 15 releases. Being one of the few early CRMs to continue into the 2020s means developers have had ample time to adjust, update, and add to the platform. The result is a well-oiled machine with a considerable community of developers and advocates.

SuiteCRM also offers a fully supported version of the software called SuiteAssured that includes additional service and support compared to the self-hosted, open-source version.

HubSpot — Best for ease of use

Pros

User-friendly interface
Third-party integrations
Documentation and resources

Cons

Free version has limited features
Customization limitations
Scaling limitations

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Contact management: Easily keep track of interactions and sales
Pipeline management: Track deals through each stage of the sales process
Integration with HubSpot ecosystem: Integrate the free CRM with with other HubSpot tools and third-party applications

Limited version: Free

Cloud-hosted version: Contact HubSpot

HubSpot’s CRM platform offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, designed with the intent to simplify complex customer relationship management processes.

Its intuitive interface allows users, regardless of their technical background, to quickly adapt and make the most of its features. HubSpot’s open-source CRM ensures businesses of all sizes have access to essential customer data management without the burden of a steep learning curve.

It empowers users to centralize and organize their customer interactions effortlessly, ultimately boosting productivity and efficiency. HubSpot CRM’s user-friendliness and open-source nature make it a top choice for those seeking accessible CRM solutions.

HubSpot CRM offers a wealth of free tutorials, resources, and extensive documentation and guides to get users started. The catalog of available training videos helps speed up adoption of the software, and provides articles, guides, and step-by-step guides to augment the training process. While HubSpot CRM is not strictly an open source platform, HubSpot’s Products and Services include free and open source software developed by third parties.

Vtiger CRM — Best for customization

Pros

Comprehensive features
Customization options
Third-party integrations
Active community

Cons

Limited documentation
Learning curve
Performance and resource usage

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Layout and UI Customization: Modify the user interface by rearranging fields, sections, and related lists
Custom API development: Utilize Vtiger’s RESTful API to build custom integrations or develop new features
Extension marketplace and third-party integrations: Vtiger’s extension marketplace offers a variety of plugins and add-ons to extend the platform’s functionality

Open source: Free
Open core (VTiger One): Contact VTiger

Vtiger CRM stands out for its unparalleled adaptability, allowing users to tailor the CRM environment to their specific needs. It offers an extensive array of customization options, from modifying fields and modules to creating personalized workflows and reports. This level of flexibility empowers businesses to align their CRM precisely with their unique processes and objectives.

If you are looking for full-customization and scalability capability, look no further. Built on the LAMP/WAMP (Linux/Windows, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) stack, Vtiger CRM enables extensive personalization. As an open source solution, Vtiger allows users to tailor the platform to their unique needs by offering custom fields and modules, layout and user interface customization, custom views and filters, and much more.

However, because of VTiger’s innate customization features, novice users can find the CRM overwhelming. This is a platform for the CRM veteran, and works best when businesses have developers available to update and customize the software on a regular basis.

Which software is right for your business?

Advantages of open source code

For businesses of every size, there are myriad advantages to opting for open source CRM solutions.

Businesses can tailor the CRM to their specific needs as they have access to the source code. This allows for more flexibility in meeting unique requirements.

Open source CRMs are also generally more affordable than proprietary alternatives. There are no licensing fees and users can benefit from the contributions of a large community of developers. Open source projects offer the benefit of a robust development community, resulting in a strong and reliable CRM platform.

Advantages of proprietary software

While open source CRMs offer numerous benefits, there are some advantages to using proprietary CRM solutions. Each business is unique and must find what works best on an individual basis.

Proprietary CRM vendors can provide dedicated customer support, including technical assistance and troubleshooting. Community support is available with open source CRMs but can be slow and less efficient than assistance from established software vendors.

Proprietary CRMs also come with regularly scheduled updates and upgrades. Regular updates promise quick bug fixes and enhanced security — crucial elements for businesses that lack the in-house technical expertise to manage software updates. Businesses could arguably use more resources on handling updates and integrations than would be used with a monthly subscription for proprietary software.

Many essential features and tools are readily available with proprietary CRMs. These platforms are specifically designed to cater to individual business needs. These features can save businesses a significant amount of time in customization and configuration.

Looking for the latest in CRM solutions? Check out our CRM Software Buyer’s Guide.

How we choose our top picks

At TechnologyAdvice, we assess a wide range of factors before selecting our top choices for a given category.

To make our selections, we rely on our extensive research, product information, vendor websites, competitor research and first-hand experience. We then consider what makes a solution best for customer-specific needs.

For our Top Open Source CRM list, we looked at 20 options before whittling them down to the five that cover all accounting needs for startups all the way up to enterprises.

Featured Partners: CRM

FAQ

What is an open source CRM?

Open source CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is developed and distributed under an open source license, allowing users to access and modify the application’s source code.

What are the benefits of open source CRM?

Small and medium-sized businesses can benefit greatly from open source CRM software because it is free to use and modify while offering the same functionality as expensive proprietary CRM software without the cost.

Aron Vaughan

Staff Writer

Aron Vaughan is a TechnologyAdvice Staff Writer focused on coverage and research in the fields of Business Intelligence, Sales, and IT software categories. During his career, he has covered a wide array of cutting-edge tech topics from Artificial Intelligence to Sustainable Energy, Augmented Reality, and more. With a background in journalism, he is dedicated to crafting articles that inform readers and deliver the best possible answers for data-driven decision making.

Best Open Source CRM Software (2024)

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