Top Open Source ERP and CRM Solutions in the world
Here’s a clear and detailed comparison table for each of these billing, CRM, and accounting tools to help you understand their key features, ideal use-cases, and strengths:
| Tool | Type | Key Features | Primary Use Cases | Ideal Users | Open Source? | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHMCS | Billing & Client Management (Commercial) | Domain registration, hosting billing automation, subscription management, ticketing system, client portal | Web Hosting Providers, Domain Registrars, IT Resellers | Web hosting automation leader, strong third-party integrations, comprehensive client support | ❌ No | |
| Dolibarr | ERP & CRM (Open Source) | ERP, CRM, invoicing, accounting, HR management, inventory management, project management, sales tracking | Small & Medium Businesses (multi-purpose ERP/CRM) | Easy-to-use, highly customizable, modular, multi-language, comprehensive open-source ERP/CRM solution | ✅ Yes | |
| FrontAccounting | ERP & Accounting (Open Source) | Financial accounting, sales invoicing, banking, inventory management, reporting | Small and Medium Businesses needing a robust yet straightforward financial/accounting system | Strong accounting features, easy to use, simple setup | ✅ Yes | |
| SuiteCRM | CRM (Open Source) | Sales pipeline, marketing automation, customer support management, campaign tracking, workflow automation | Medium to Large Businesses, Sales teams, marketing, enterprise-scale companies | Fully-featured CRM, scalable, community-driven, highly customizable, suitable as an enterprise CRM | ✅ Yes | |
| Vtiger | CRM & Sales Automation (Open Source & Commercial Editions) | CRM, sales pipeline, marketing automation, customer support tools, project management, email campaigns | SMBs, Sales teams, Marketing and Customer support departments | Flexible and customizable CRM, robust sales automation, good integrations, user-friendly UI | ✅ Yes (Community) / ❌ No (Commercial Editions) | |
| Blesta | Billing & Client Management (Commercial) | Recurring billing, invoicing, hosting management, support & ticketing, client portal | Web Hosting companies, small businesses, SaaS billing | User-friendly, modular architecture, security-focused, reliable support | ❌ No | |
| ClientExec | Billing & Client Management (Commercial) | Web hosting management, billing, invoicing, automated account provisioning, domain registration, support ticketing | Web hosting businesses, IT service providers | Easy to use, strong hosting integrations, trusted by many hosting providers | ❌ No | |
| InvoiceNinja | Billing & Invoicing (Open Source & Commercial Editions) | Online invoicing, payment processing, recurring billing, expense management, project & task management | Freelancers, Small to Mid-sized Businesses, service-oriented businesses | Rich feature set, modern interface, flexible billing and invoicing, popular open-source tool | ✅ Yes | |
| InvoicePlane | Billing & Invoicing (Open Source) | Simple invoicing, payments, quotes, client management, PDF invoices, multi-language | Freelancers, small businesses, entrepreneurs | Easy-to-use, basic invoicing capabilities, community-supported, free solution for SMBs | ✅ Yes |
Comparative Analysis Summary:
💡 CRM & ERP Capabilities
- SuiteCRM & vtiger: Excellent CRM systems suited for medium to larger companies needing sales pipeline management, marketing automation, and extensive client relationship capabilities. SuiteCRM tends toward enterprise scalability, while vtiger is simpler and more SMB-focused.
- Dolibarr: Versatile all-in-one ERP and CRM suited for SMBs who need both accounting and client management in a single interface.
Recommended for Accounting & Financial Management:
- FrontAccounting: Best for businesses needing a strong financial reporting and management system with essential ERP functionalities, focusing heavily on accounting.
Recommended for Hosting Business & Billing Management:
- WHMCS: Leader in hosting/domain management automation, comprehensive functionality but commercially licensed.
- ClientExec & Blesta: Excellent WHMCS alternatives, simpler and cost-effective, yet robust billing solutions for hosting/domain providers.
Recommended for General-purpose Invoicing & Billing:
- InvoiceNinja: Excellent open-source solution for SMEs needing versatile invoicing, recurring billing, and modern features.
- InvoicePlane: A straightforward invoicing tool suitable for freelancers and small businesses seeking simplicity.
🚀 Final Recommendations (Based on Use Cases):
- Web hosting/domain companies:
WHMCS (richest features, hosting-specific, best automation)
ClientExec, Blesta (alternative simpler commercial options). - SMBs wanting an All-in-one CRM & ERP:
Dolibarr (Strong choice for combined CRM, accounting, ERP) - Accounting-focused SMBs:
FrontAccounting (Easy setup, robust accounting) - CRM-focused (Enterprise-level, advanced):
SuiteCRM - CRM-focused (Easy to use, SMB-friendly):
Vtiger CRM - General-purpose Invoicing (Flexible, modern):
InvoiceNinja - Simple Invoicing (Freelancers & Small Biz):
InvoicePlane
Choose based on your precise business requirements, company size, budget, and preferred feature set!
Based on your requirements for a 100% open-source solution that can be freely redistributed and integrated into your websites, here’s a comparison of the relevant tools:
| Tool | License | Programming Language | Latest Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolibarr | GNU General Public License v3.0 | PHP | February 27, 2025 | Comprehensive ERP & CRM solution suitable for various business needs. citeturn0search1 |
| SuiteCRM | Affero General Public License | PHP | November 7, 2024 | Feature-rich CRM system, forked from SugarCRM. citeturn0search10 |
| InvoicePlane | MIT License | PHP | Version 1.6.2 | Focused on invoicing, suitable for freelancers and small businesses. citeturn0search4 |
Key Points:
- Open Source & Redistribution: All three tools are 100% open source, allowing you to modify, integrate, and redistribute them without cost.
- Integration: Developed in PHP, these tools can be seamlessly integrated into your existing PHP-based websites.
- Functionality:
- Dolibarr: Offers a wide range of ERP and CRM features, making it suitable for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution.
- SuiteCRM: Provides advanced CRM functionalities, ideal for organizations focusing on customer relationship management.
- InvoicePlane: Specializes in invoicing and client management, perfect for freelancers and small businesses requiring straightforward billing solutions.
By choosing any of these tools, you can ensure a cost-effective, customizable, and integrative solution that aligns with your business needs.
🚀 Recommended Choices (Based on your need):
| Use Case | Best Recommended Tool |
|---|---|
| General-purpose CRM (Open-Source, advanced) | SuiteCRM or Vtiger |
| ERP & CRM combined solution | Dolibarr |
| ERP (accounting-oriented) | FrontAccounting |
| Simple, clean invoicing & billing | InvoicePlane |
| Advanced invoicing & billing features | InvoiceNinja |
Here’s your detailed comparison table, clearly filled out to assist you in decision-making:
| Tool | License | Resell Freely? | Integrate in Your Site? | Primary Language | Latest Release | Purpose | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolibarr | GPL-3.0 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 18.0.1 (Jan 21, 2024) | ERP, CRM, Accounting, HR, Inventory, Sales Management | SMBs needing all-in-one ERP & CRM solution |
| SuiteCRM | AGPL-3.0 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 8.5.11 (Nov 7, 2024) | CRM, Sales, Marketing Automation, Customer Management | Medium-to-large enterprises focused on advanced CRM |
| FrontAccounting | GPL-3.0 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 2.4.16 (Jan 16, 2024) | ERP & Accounting, Financial Management, Invoicing, Inventory | SMBs needing robust Accounting & Inventory Management |
| Vtiger (Open Source) | MPL 1.1 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 7.5.0 (Jan 19, 2023) | CRM, Sales Automation, Customer Support, Project Management | Small businesses needing CRM and Sales Automation with ease-of-use |
| InvoiceNinja | AAL (Attribution Assurance License – Open Source) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 5.8.31 (Feb 7, 2024) | Advanced Invoicing, Billing, Time Tracking, Client Management | Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, SMEs needing advanced invoicing & billing |
| InvoicePlane | MIT | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Web-based) | PHP | 1.6.1 (Oct 11, 2023) | Simple invoicing, Client Management, Payment Management | Small Businesses & Freelancers wanting simple billing |
🚩 Quick Licensing Clarifications:
- GPL / AGPL:
Fully open-source, free redistribution allowed. AGPL requires any modifications be shared publicly if delivered as a service (like SuiteCRM). - MIT/MPL:
Permissive; free redistribution, minimal restrictions, modifications can remain private (like Vtiger’s MPL). - MIT/GPL-3.0:
Free and open redistribution, commonly used licenses (e.g., Dolibarr & FrontAccounting).
📌 Best Overall Picks (Based on your requirements):
- All-In-One ERP & CRM Solution:
✅ Dolibarr – Recommended for maximum flexibility and comprehensive features. - Advanced CRM Solution:
✅ SuiteCRM – Ideal for powerful, enterprise-level CRM with customizations. - Accounting-focused ERP:
✅ FrontAccounting – Perfect for small businesses requiring strong accounting features. - Easy and Modern Invoicing:
✅ InvoiceNinja – Best for modern invoicing, billing flexibility, client portals. - Simple Invoicing Solution:
✅ InvoicePlane – Ideal for simple, straightforward invoicing needs.
🎯 Top Recommendations:
Based on your intent of resale, ease of integration, and usage clarity:
- All-in-one SMB Solution:
Dolibarr (comprehensive, flexible) - Enterprise CRM:
SuiteCRM (advanced CRM, large community) - Easy Invoicing:
InvoicePlane (simple invoicing) or InvoiceNinja (feature-rich, flexible invoicing)
💡 Final Advice:
- For a comprehensive solution integrating ERP, CRM, and billing:
Dolibarr is your best choice. - For purely CRM-centric use (larger-scale):
Go with SuiteCRM. - For simple, clean billing/invoicing needs:
InvoicePlane or InvoiceNinja are both excellent, lightweight, and open-source choices.
This comparison should clarify your options clearly and help you choose the right tool based on your exact business requirements!