Django-CRM vs Corteza
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted crm & business apps options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Django-CRM | Corteza |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,426 | ★ 2,165 |
| First released | 2016 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Salesforce, Zoho CRM | Salesforce, Microsoft Power Apps |
What are Django-CRM and Corteza?
Django-CRM
Django-CRM is a free, open-source customer relationship management application built with Django. It manages leads, contacts, accounts, and opportunities with a straightforward web interface for small teams.
- Lead and contact management
- Opportunity pipeline
- Account tracking
- Django-based
Corteza
Corteza is an open-source, low-code platform that includes a ready-made CRM, service desk, and the ability to build custom business applications. It provides workflow automation, dashboards, and fine-grained access control.
- Built-in CRM and service desk
- Low-code app builder
- Workflow automation
- Role-based access control
Django-CRM vs Corteza: key differences
Django-CRM is written in Python, while Corteza is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Django-CRM versus Apache-2.0 for Corteza. Django-CRM is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Corteza. Django-CRM is the more established project (first released 2016), while Corteza arrived in 2019.
Why pick each one
Choose Django-CRM if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Watch out for
- Basic reporting
- Manual data entry
Choose Corteza if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
Watch out for
- Resource intensive
- Learning curve for builder
Frequently asked questions
Is Django-CRM or Corteza better?
Django-CRM is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Corteza if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Django-CRM and Corteza free and open-source?
Yes. Django-CRM is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Corteza under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Django-CRM and Corteza with Docker?
Django-CRM: yes. Corteza: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Django-CRM or Corteza?
Django-CRM has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Corteza. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.