Dolibarr vs Frappe CRM (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Frappe CRM: it is third in our ranking of CRM tools, and it grades higher too, 3.0 against 2.2.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Frappe CRM grades higher on value for money, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Frappe CRM
Open-source CRM with unlimited users, billed by hosting
Which one is for you
Pick Dolibarr if
- Fits if you can run your own server and want one free suite for sales, invoices and stock
- Works for freelancers and associations that want modules switched on one at a time
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have no one to install and update a server, since the project sells no hosting
- Not for you if you want a plain CRM, as the suite brings ERP setup you will not use
- Watch out: third-party cloud hosts set their own prices, and the project only lists them
- Too light for phone use: no mobile apps are named on its pages
Pick Frappe CRM if
- Fits if you want a CRM with no per-seat price
- Works for teams that also run ERPNext
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want an app store app, as phones use the browser
- Watch out: the $5 entry price is a representative figure, and the bill varies by site, provider and region
- Watch out: Frappe's warranty support covers bugs in bundled apps, not functional support
- Watch out: implementation help comes through paid partners
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADolibarrFair | 3.0GPAFrappe CRMVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$0 to download, but it is only free if you have a server or pay a third-party host, so it sits in the middle for value. | A$5 a month per site on Frappe Cloud with unlimited users, under 60% of the $15 where the cheapest quarter starts. The page says the bill varies. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe full software is free to download with no paid plans from the project. You need your own server, which is the only real cost. | BFree to self-host with no record or user limits, plus a 14-day Frappe Cloud trial. |
| Features | BProspects, quotes, orders, billing, stock, projects, tickets, HR and accounting, with each module switchable. The listing names no gap in the CRM work, though it is a wider suite than a CRM. | BLeads, deals, contacts, SLAs, forecasting, multi-currency and customization. The listing shows no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. It is self-hosted, so you install and maintain it, and the suite has many modules to configure. | CFrappe Cloud takes the server work off you, but pipelines and fields still have to be built. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA web application. The listing names one add-on marketplace and a public API, and no phone or desktop apps. | BWeb only, used on a phone through the browser, with WhatsApp, ERPNext, Twilio and Exotel. |
| Best for | a free CRM and ERP you host yourself | a cheap open-source CRM with unlimited users |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Dolibarr and Frappe CRM. How we grade
Price against what you get
Dolibarr has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Frappe CRM starts at $5 a month and scores 2.7.
Frappe CRM scores higher, and starts $5 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other CRM tools on the chart, none scores higher than Dolibarr for less, and none scores higher than Frappe CRM for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Dolibarr also covers invoicing, inventory and quotes and estimates.
- Frappe CRM also covers kanban boards, workflow automation and reports.
At a glance
| Dolibarr | Frappe CRM | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $5 per month per site on Frappe Cloud, unlimited users |
| Free plan | The software is free to download and install on your own server; the project lists no paid plans of its own. | Self-host the AGPL-3.0 source for free; unlimited leads, deals, contacts and sales agents. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of Frappe Cloud hosting for your whole team |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Dolibarr | Frappe Technologies Pvt. Ltd. |
| Price read from | dolibarr.org | frappe.io |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dolibarr
- The project distributes software only; you need your own server or a hosting provider, and the project lists third-party cloud hosts rather than selling hosting itself.
- Third-party cloud offers set their own prices; the project's wiki lists them and notes that some start with a free trial.
- A broad ERP and CRM suite means more setup than a CRM alone.
- The project's website shows the suite as a web application; no separate mobile apps are named.
Frappe CRM
- The listed $5 entry price is a representative figure; Frappe says the bill varies by site, provider and region.
- Product Warranty support from Frappe engineers is limited to the bundled apps and covers bugs, not functional support.
- Mobile use is through the phone browser, which the FAQ says can be added to a home screen like an app.
- Implementation help comes through paid partners.
Key features
Dolibarr
- CRM and sales
- Prospects and customers, opportunities, proposals, sales orders, contracts and subscriptions, and a helpdesk with tickets.
- Billing and accounting
- Billing and payments, bank reconciliation and double-entry accounting.
- Products and stock
- Products and services, stock, purchasing, shipments and manufacturing.
- HR and projects
- Employees, expense reports, leave requests, timesheets, recruitment, membership, projects and tasks.
- Modular design
- Features can be enabled only as needed, and a Module Builder and the Dolistore marketplace extend the suite.
- API and connectivity
- A built-in API, import and export, and connectivity with external tools.
Frappe CRM
- Leads and deals
- Capture leads from web forms, WhatsApp, email and calls, then move deals through Kanban stages to won or lost.
- Contacts and organizations
- Each person and company keeps its deals and communication history in one place.
- Automation and SLAs
- Rules can update, assign and follow up on deals, and SLAs set how quickly a new lead gets a first reply.
- Forecasting and multi-currency
- Deals can be priced in any currency with totals converted, and a forecast shows expected revenue from open deals.
- Customization
- Add custom fields, rename statuses and build views without code, or extend it through the Frappe Framework.
- ERPNext link
- Create quotations from a deal and a customer in ERPNext when the deal is won.
Plans
Dolibarr
Self-hosted download$0
Free open source package for Windows, Mac, Linux and Docker, installed and maintained by you. Modules and add-ons come from the Dolistore marketplace.
Frappe CRM
Self-hosted$0
Deploy the open-source code on your own server with the install scripts; you run upgrades and backups.
Frappe Cloud Sites$5
per month and up, per site, unlimited users
A single site on shared servers with managed upgrades and backups; the price depends on site size, provider and region.
Frappe Cloud Servers$20
per month and up, per server
Your own virtual machine for several sites; a $60 and up tier adds stronger isolation, snapshots and autoscaling.
Ways to pay less
Dolibarr
No public discounts listed.
Frappe CRM
- Education
Discounts for education and nonprofits
Frappe's pricing FAQ says it supports education institutes and nonprofits with a discount; you contact the company to apply.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dolibarr or Frappe CRM?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dolibarr is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $5 a month for Frappe CRM. Dolibarr is free, and Frappe CRM starts at $5 per month per site on Frappe Cloud, unlimited users.
Which has a free plan, Dolibarr or Frappe CRM?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Dolibarr and Frappe CRM have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.