Quick answer
EspoCRM is a free, open source project in the “Sales & General CRM” group, built with PHP, MySQL/MariaDB. It is released under AGPL-3.0, has 3,485 GitHub stars, and its repository was last updated in Oct 2026. You can self-host it on your own server. Verified 14 October 2026.
EspoCRM
Fast, flexible, highly customizable open-source CRM with excellent UI
Self-Hosted (Recommended)
Free open source edition • Official Docker • One-click installer
Self-Host Guide →🏠 Self-Hosted (Free Open Source Edition)
Best way for full control.
Download Full ZIPSetup time: 5–15 min • PHP 8.3+ & MySQL • VPS: 2GB RAM ok
Need a server to host it?
Most PHP and MySQL apps can run on ordinary web hosting, as long as the plan offers the PHP version and extensions the project requires. Check the requirements first. If you need more control, a VPS is the safer choice. Hostinger offers both shared web hosting and VPS plans.
Affiliate disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. CRMs are listed independently of any hosting partner. Learn more.
☁️ Official Cloud Hosted
How to start:
- Go to espocrm.com/cloud
- Choose Basic / Enterprise / Ultimate
- Free trial available
- Instant access
Pricing (Feb 2026):
- Basic: $15.00/user/month (min 3 users)
- Enterprise: $25.00/user/month (min 5 users)
- Ultimate: $69.00/user/month (min 10 users)
Self-Hosted vs Official Cloud – Detailed Comparison 2026
| Factor | Self-Hosted | Official Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $0 | $0 trial |
| Monthly Cost (10 users) | $5–15 (VPS) | $150 (Basic) |
| Data Ownership | 100% yours | Yours |
| Setup Time | 5–15 minutes | 2 minutes |
| Maintenance | You | Fully managed |
| Updates | Manual | Automatic |
| Support | Community | Official |
| Customization | Full code | High |
| Backup | You | Automatic |
| Best For | Most users, developers, cost saving | Non-tech teams, fast start |
Which is better for YOUR business?
Any real use (most people)
→ Self-Hosted
1-year cost ≈ $60–180 vs $1,800 on cloud.
No technical person at all
→ Official Cloud
Pay $15/user and relax.
Need maximum customization
→ Self-Hosted
Full PHP code access.
EspoCRM is loved because self-hosting is extremely easy and cloud is there only if you hate servers.
Frequently asked questions about EspoCRM
Is EspoCRM free and open source?
EspoCRM is released under AGPL-3.0. Always read the LICENSE file in the official repository before you use, modify or redistribute it. License details were verified on 14 October 2026.
What technology does EspoCRM use?
EspoCRM is built with PHP, MySQL/MariaDB.
Can I self-host EspoCRM?
Yes. You can download the source from the official GitHub repository and run it on your own server or VPS.
Who is EspoCRM best for?
Small and mid-sized teams that want an easy-to-run, customizable CRM.
What are good alternatives to EspoCRM?
Similar open source projects in this directory include Krayin CRM, SuiteCRM, Fat Free CRM. Compare them in the Sales & General CRM group.
Compare EspoCRM with other open source tools
Alternatives to EspoCRM
Krayin CRM
Free, open source CRM built with Laravel for SMEs and enterprises.
24k • MIT
SuiteCRM
Mature, enterprise-grade open source CRM with a huge community.
5.8k • AGPL-3.0
Fat Free CRM
Simple, lightweight Ruby on Rails CRM with no bloat.
3.6k • MIT
yshop CRM
Sales-team CRM with multi-tenant and WeCom (WeChat Work) support.
1.9k • MIT
OroCRM
B2B-focused CRM built on the Symfony-based OroPlatform.
687 • OSL-3.0
Django-CRM (DjangoCRM)
CRM and task management with email marketing, built on Django.
637 • AGPL-3.0
Data verified 14 October 2026 from the project's public repository. Details change, so check the official sources. See our disclaimer. Found a mistake? Tell us.