8 open-source CRMs to freely upgrade your customer management in 2024
To choose or not to choose an open-source CRM, that's the dilemma.
Deciding which customer relationship management (CRM) system is best suited to your business or organization is no easy task, especially considering the sheer number of options on the market today.
If you are interested in customer service and satisfaction, you need CRM software.
Now, if you’re unsure what an open-source CRM platform is all about, what the best options are and want to discover the advantages that this type of tool brings to your company or enterprise, this article is for you.
We’ll compare the best open-source CRM software so that you can make the right choice for your business or enterprise without wasting valuable time searching for information all over the internet.
Let's get started!
What is an open-source CRM?
Starting off simply, a CRM or Customer Relationship Management software allows businesses to interact with customers or potential buyers and manage their information. This software centralizes their data, tracks interactions, manages sales activity, and more.
Why are CRMs useful? Because they allow you to learn more about your customers, increase client satisfaction, improve prospecting and selling, and be more responsive.
When it comes to open-source CRM software, they are a kind of blueprint that allows users to create their own customized system, tailored to their needs. In this sense, because the code is public, it is possible to edit and distribute freely.
Because any programmer can work on the code, the benefit of such open platforms is that the application is gradually improved until it becomes more useful and bug-free.
However, unlike most proprietary CRMs, you may need a programmer to modify the code of the open-source solution or platform. Despite this, most open source programs don’t need too many alterations to be operationally functional.
As long as you have the right people on your team, an open-source CRM platform is an excellent choice for your business!
The PRO’s and CON’s of an open source CRM
PRO’s
- Free or Cheap: The majority of open-source software is free to use. While the fundamental code is free, some developers charge a fee for greater levels of assistance. You can significantly reduce license costs if you have the skills and time to alter the code to suit your needs.
- Customizable: Open-source software is designed to be disassembled, modified, and rebuilt. The source code may be modified by your team to become anything you require. Open-source CRM can be right for you if you know exactly what you need and don't want a lot of superfluous components.
- Zero Commitment: The majority of commercial CRM providers demand a licensing commitment of at least a few months. As a result, you can end up paying for a system that you dislike or never use. There are no time commitments with open-source CRM. You are not subject to any consequences if you use it for whatever long you want or stop using it.
- Simple to control: You don't need to keep track of license issues or keep track of the CRM features you currently have because there is no contract and no feature cap. Another significant aspect is that you may maintain numerous features without incurring additional costs to do so.
- The limitless scope for improvements: The developer community is more expensive than ever and is still expanding. Since open source CRM is available to everyone, anybody may investigate possible issues. This "community property" mentality has the added benefit of making things better over time.
CON’s
- Maintenance: Open source CRM may be downloaded and installed by even a novice developer. However, maintaining and updating the software is a task that requires expertise and knowledge. And that is where many firms ultimately fall short by lacking the technological know-how.
- Reliance on availability and assistance: The free versions are rarely supported by Open-source CRM suppliers. It raises the cost further if you don't have an internal developer. Open source CRM offers countless opportunities, but you might need assistance from a specialist to take use of it.
- Limited support: Vendors of open-source CRM don't provide a lot of assistance for their free versions. Although there are some possibilities for premium assistance, if you're going to take that path, you might as well buy the CRM. Most of your open-source help will come from developer forums, which may not answer promptly or appropriately.
- Less functions: Open-source CRM might not be the greatest choice if you're seeking for all the bells and whistles. Since a lot of the work is done by people in their own time, crucial functionality is prioritized above swanky user interfaces and strong integrations.
Advantages of an open-source CRM
These are some of the main advantages of choosing an open-source CRM for your business:
- Its flexibility and adaptability allow you to meet the needs of your business, as well as having a unique and customizable tool.
- Reduced costs, or even free of charge.
- Most open-source CRM applications can be managed free of charge or at reduced costs.
- Constant updates thanks to the continuous collaboration of numerous programmers.
- The scalability of the tool allows it to grow with your business.
- No long-term contracts are required, so if you don't find what you need in the software, you can look for another one without further commitment.
- Ownership of your CRM. Even if the software producers decide to abandon the project, your CRM will continue to work albeit with more work required on your end.
Comparison table of the best open source CRM software
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 Bitrix24 |  CiviCRM |  EspoCRM |  SugarCRM |  SuiteCRM |  Vtiger CRM |  Yetiforce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For companies with more than 1 employees | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Bitrix24 | Learn more about CiviCRM | Learn more about EspoCRM | Learn more about SugarCRM | Learn more about SuiteCRM | Learn more about Vtiger CRM | Learn more about Yetiforce |
1. Bitrix24
Who is the software for?
For enterprises and NGOs of all sizes, Bitrix24 is a multi-component online collaboration, automation, and marketing software platform. Technically speaking, Bitrix24 is an online cloud service that you may access through a browser or a desktop/mobile application.
Major strengths
Businesses get an excellent value from Bitrix24 in terms of the quantity of features they get for the cost. It may assist a small or medium-sized firm in managing staff, potential clients, and consumers in a number of ways. Each price tier, including the Free tier, includes instant messaging, group chat, email, voice calling, and activity tracking.
Through Bitrix24, businesses can:
- Categorize and manage the current state of their leads in a number of different ways.
- Choose a Kanban view, which shows the flow of leads through the pipeline visually. When using the program for the first time, beginners may find it simpler to utilize the mobile app than the desktop version of the interface.
Their features are designed for effective client and customer management, acquisition, and retention. It adds leads for you to the CRM database from sources including your website, social media accounts, phone calls, and other locations. Analytics regarding your company's marketing initiatives are produced through sales and marketing automation.
What We Think
You may initiate video calls with up to 48 individuals using Bitrix24 to speak with team members. It also provides resources for organizing projects, monitoring time, and allocating tasks. You may create a funnel for new prospects and keep track of every contact's activities, including sales and customer service contacts.
You may build up a customer help desk with email ticketing, live chat, and phone assistance with Bitrix24's contact center. Over 100 editable landing page and online store designs are available in the website builder.
Pricing
Bitrix24 offers many different plans that you can either pay every month, every three months or every year (you get a 35% discount).
Considering you want to pay a monthly subscription, here are the different plans:
- Free Version: unlimited users
- Basic: up to 5 users, $61 per month for all users
- Standard: up to 50 users, $124 per month for all users
- Professional: up to 100 users, $249 per month for all users
- Enterprise: up to 250 users, $499 per month for all users
Bitrix24
2. CiviCRM
Who is the software for?
The open source initiative CiviCRM creates software for nonprofit and public sector companies. CiviCRM may be used to handle volunteers, activists, and voters as well as more basic types of business relationships like workers, clients, or vendors.
Major strengths
Even the most sophisticated organizations may benefit from CiviCRM's vast array of functionality:
- You may record a variety of events, such as meetings and phone conversations, when you go to a contact and select the "activities" tab.
- You may add additional activity types with ease if you wish to track various tasks that your team completes that may not be on that list.
The "price set" feature of CiviCRM enables you to establish a cost for participants to sign up for a breakout group. After setting up your new pricing to be used for events, start adding the price fields. The API CSV importer plugin can import in the background and supports very huge data sets.
What We Think
Any size firm can centralize all communication and collaboration with CiviCRM. The focus is on CiviEvents and memberships, which also offer the opportunity to enjoy discounts. All of these services are modular. You may construct connected CRM and websites using Drupal, Wordpress, and Joomla integrations. The features CiviMail, Scheduled Jobs, and Reports are only a handful of.
Pricing
- Up to 10 users: $65/user and you get unlimited contacts
- From 10 to 20 users: $60/user and you get unlimited contacts
- 20 or more: custom pricing
CiviCRM
3. EspoCRM
Who is the software for?
EspoCRM is an open-source CRM for all types of companies and sectors:
- Brick and mortar businesses and e-commerce,
- banks and insurance companies,
- call centers,
- industries,
- health,
- real estate,
- education, etc.
Major strengths
It’ll stay free if you deploy it yourself locally. There is no limit on database size, and you can change and develop the code however you want. In its basic version, EspoCRM covers most CRM needs (sales automation, sales opportunity management, calendar and shared calendar, emailing, mass marketing, etc.)
With the extensions, the Sales Pack, or the Advanced Pack (all paid versions), you can strengthen the software by adding additional modules. These include, for example:
- Stock management,
- VoIP telephony,
- analytical reports,
- workflow management, etc.
The software offers support for 26 languages. It also has a sleek, modern, and responsive design. On top of that, EspoCRM is constantly evolving, with new features released every couple of months.
What We Think
EspoCRM’s functionalities and potential to evolve make it tempting for companies that choose to turn to free software.
Many EspoCRM users emphasize its intuitiveness and ease of use (once the tool has been installed and configured), due in particular to a rather pleasant interface and navigation.
Pricing
- Basic: $15/user/month (minimum of 3 users)
- Enterprise: $25/user/month (minimum of 5 users)
- Ultimate: $69/user/month (minimum of 10 users)
EspoCRM
4. Odoo CRM
Who is Odoo CRM for?
Odoo CRM allows companies to go beyond just the CRM and touch on other business aspects like accounting, enterprise resource planning, and more. It can be used successfully by small to medium-sized businesses and larger companies or organizations.
Major strengths
Beyond its flexibility, Odoo CRM offers many in-house and third-party integrations, but that’s not all. To help sell faster and create more leads for your business, the software has extensive functionalities:
- Get insights along with accurate forecasts
- Use custom dashboards to get a snapshot of your business
- Create segmented campaigns for lead nurturing
- Score leads with specific criteria
- Organize activities and manage your calls
- Get an overview of your pipeline and manage it with a drag and drop interface
- Plan next actions and schedule priority tasks
- Create email templates for repeat communications
- Analyze your opportunities pipeline
- Track KPI advancements and trends
What We Think
The modular aspect of this open-source solution is very useful for companies that need more than just a CRM. It also provides a modern interface that tracks and centralizes all your customer information.
Despite this, it can also be somewhat technical and require some more support to get started, but this is understandable due to its extensive features and various apps.
Pricing
- Free Version
- Standard: 24,90€/user/month
- Custom: 37,40€/user/month
5. SugarCRM
Who is the software for?
SugarCRM is suitable for very small companies as well as large groups. It offers very advanced and ideal functionalities for a controlled management of customer relations.
Major strengths
The database can be consulted and modified by all members of the company’s staff in order to have valuable knowledge of each customer or prospect profile:
- The software makes it easy to manage different business leads, opportunities, and activities from the platform. This makes it easier to organize calls, tasks, and appointments.
- Correspondence is carried out via the database and makes it possible to work on incoming emails, automatic responses, letters or texts to customers.
It offers multi-channel management of marketing campaigns. Emailing, faxing, direct mail, texts, all media are used to reach a targeted population according to predefined parameters. Workflows are adjustable and processes automated for simplicity.
What We Think
Sugar CRM is one of the most powerful software and is considered the world leader in open source customer relationship management solutions. It has gradually established itself in the field since its release in 2004.
It has great flexibility thanks to numerous settings and its great accessibility on all media.
Pricing
- Sell: $49/user/month (minimum of 3 users)
- Serve: $80/user/month (minimum of 3 users)
- Enterprise: $85/user/month (minimum of 3 users)
- Market: $1000 for all users and 10k contacts
SugarCRM
6. SuiteCRM
Who is SuiteCRM for?
SuiteCRM is an open-source CRM that was created as an evolution of the SugarCRM solution by using its code.
The software is more particularly intended for VSEs and SMEs, but it also works great for big organizations and companies.
Major strengths
There is no need to manually perform updates or manage maintenance requests thanks to the SaaS model of this application.
Whether the software is running on Linux, Mac, or Windows, Suite CRM can be used anytime, anywhere thanks to its SaaS model, all you need is a stable internet connection. This means you always have access to core functions such as account and contact management and opportunity management. The software data is stored directly at SuiteCRM, ensuring its secure storage.
The strengths of SuiteCRM:
- completely free open-source software, based on the open-source version of Sugar CRM,
- help with installation and get insights and tips from a very active community of users, who regularly update and enrich the tool's functionalities,
- the integration of a project management tool,
- the creation of emailing campaigns,
- a clear and uncluttered interface for efficient reading of relevant information in the database, easy detection of opportunities, and better customer and prospect management.
What We Think
SuiteCRM is a helpful solution for increasing sales. The software provides a clear view of the processes that affect sales and customers, as well as elements that allow you to easily spot new opportunities.
With its Open API and its extensive catalog of plugins, SuiteCRM integrates seamlessly with other solutions, such as Outlook, WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook, Gmail, Quickbooks, LinkedIn, and many more.
Pricing
This CRM is free in its standalone version, but like other open-source options, you’ll have to pay to use the software on the cloud.
All their “On-demand” cloud plans are for unlimited users and offer a free 30-day trial after which you will be billed annually.
- Silver: $1500/year (15 hours of support)
- Gold: $3000/year (30 hours of support)
- Platinum: $5000/year (50 hours of support)
SuiteCRM
7. VTiger
Who is the software for?
VTiger is an open-source CRM inspired by SugarCRM since it is an evolution created from the app’s code.
Rather modern, the tool is more particularly intended for VSEs and SMEs. While it is sales-oriented (as expected of any good CRM), it is also support and customer service-oriented.
Major strengths
The open-source version of VTiger is free if you install it on your own servers, as well as their cloud-based version for companies that are just starting to use a CRM.
The solution includes many features to optimize your sales, but also your customer relationships, such as:
- contact and lead management,
- sales pipeline management,
- HelpDesk management, with conversion of customer emails into tickets,
- stock and price catalog management,
- dashboards to monitor your performance in real-time, etc.
This CRM system can be built according to your needs thanks to the numerous integrations. This open-source solution allows fine control of user access, thanks to the assignment of roles and profiles by administrators.
The software is also available in 25 languages for international usage.
If you want to move to the cloud without paying extra, there is a Pilot version of VTiger, which is quite comprehensive in terms of features and is completely free for up to 10 users.
What We Think
VTiger is known for its ease of use and its large community. It is therefore perfectly suited to young companies who wish to embark on the adventure of open-source CRM.
The tool is also very customizable and scalable, thanks to the new extensions that are regularly developed and that will complete your basic version if necessary.
Pricing
For a professional:
- Standard: $42/user/month
- Single App: $28/user/month
For an enterprise:
- Standard: $58/user/month
- Single App: $42/user/month
Vtiger CRM
8. YetiForce
Who is the software for?
YetiForce is an open source CRM program that is a multichannel system that may be customized to any company's needs. It comes with over 100 admin and user modules and it can also be combined with other packages to provide an even more complete solution.
Major strengths
The dashboard may be customized with widgets and module summaries to display all the operations graphically which will facilitate your decision-making by delivering data analysis on a single screen. The collection of pre-configured widgets also contains many more items such as a history, timer, calendar, tickets, and leads. Infinite possibilities are made possible by the system's flexibility. You may send and receive emails right to your system using the built-in email module in YetiForce.
This assures very high security and total confidentiality for all of your emails. Emails may easily be connected to contacts, leads, accounts, partners, competitors, and a variety of procedures and subprocesses. The ability to swap mailboxes is another feature that, for example, enables support workers to manage their own inbox.
What We Think
You can easily set up on your localhost or a remote server thanks to the open source and PHP and MySQL architecture. You may use it on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop since it is responsive. This program may be modified and customized to meet the needs of large-scale enterprises. YetiForce is incredibly easy to use and user-friendly.
Pricing
- Free version
- Hosting + support: 45€/month (up to 20 users)
- Cloud + support: 65€/month
- 5h package: 350€ (one time)
Yetiforce
How to choose the best open-source CRM for your company
As we have said above, when choosing your open-source software there are many features to take into account. However, these are the most basic and relevant:
- the cost of the tool: look for a tool that fits your budget.
- the ease of customization: even if you have a highly skilled team, a tool that is easy to customize will save you time, and therefore money.
Finally, remember to choose your tool according to your needs and take into account the time you are willing to invest in developing and customizing it. We all know that time is money and this factor is essential when choosing.
If you still haven't decided which CRM software to choose, we invite you to take a look at our directory of Customer Relationship Management software and evaluate all the options that Appvizer has for you.