Open source means you can run the CRM yourself and keep your data. It does not mean free of cost: someone has to host, update and secure it.
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We compare open-source CRMs on license, what is in the free edition versus paid extensions, and what managed hosting costs. In our score, a self-hosted core plan gets a neutral cost rating, because server and admin time are real costs we cannot price for you.
order = fact score · computed, not negotiated · methodology
Open-core suite whose CRM app is free for unlimited users on Odoo Online if it is your only app; adding other apps moves you to paid per-user plans.
License: LGPLv3 (Community edition). Community: yes, LGPLv3 (github.com/odoo/odoo). Enterprise: proprietary license; self-hosting only on the Custom plan (download Odoo Enterprise) or Odoo.sh
Modern open-source CRM: self-host the AGPL core for free, or use the cloud from $9 per user per month with unlimited custom objects and workflows.
License: AGPL-3.0 (some files under a commercial license). yes - mostly AGPL-3.0; some files under a commercial 'Enterprise' license; MIT for SDK/UI packages; repo https://github.com/twentyhq/twenty
Lightweight open-source CRM (AGPLv3) with custom entities and REST API in the free core; workflows and advanced reports need the paid Advanced Pack.
License: AGPLv3. yes - AGPLv3 (github.com/espocrm/espocrm), commercial license option available
Mature open-source CRM (AGPL-3.0) with workflows, campaigns, reports and no-code custom modules; free to self-host, paid hosting and support priced in GBP.
License: AGPL-3.0. yes - AGPL-3.0; repos github.com/SuiteCRM/SuiteCRM (v7, 5.8k stars) and github.com/SuiteCRM/SuiteCRM-Core (v8)
| # | CRM | Score | Core plan | 5 users / yr 1 | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Odoo CRM | 9.3 | One App Free · free | $0 | free plan |
| 2 | Twenty | 9.1 | Pro (cloud) · $9 | $540 | self-host |
| 3 | EspoCRM | 7.4 | Self-hosted · free | $0 | free plan |
| 4 | SuiteCRM | 6.7 | Self-hosted · free | $0 | free plan |
Compare the top 3 side by side →
Odoo CRM ranks first on our documented criteria. If you want to self-host, compare what the free edition includes: some tools keep workflows or reports in paid extensions.
The license is free. Hosting, backups, updates and security are not. If no one on your team can run a server, a hosted plan is usually cheaper than it looks.