ERPNext vs Frappe CRM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted crm & business apps options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | ERPNext | Frappe CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,502 | ★ 3,585 |
| First released | 2010 | 2023 |
| Replaces | SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive |
What are ERPNext and Frappe CRM?
ERPNext
ERPNext is a comprehensive open-source ERP covering accounting, inventory, manufacturing, HR, CRM, and more. It targets small and mid-sized businesses wanting an all-in-one system. It is deployed via Docker or the Frappe bench tool.
- Full ERP modules in one suite
- Accounting and inventory
- Manufacturing and HR
- Built on the Frappe framework
Frappe CRM
Frappe CRM is a clean, modern, and open-source customer relationship management tool built on the Frappe framework. It manages leads, deals, and customer communication.
- Lead and deal pipelines
- Built-in call and email
- Kanban deal views
- Custom fields and automations
ERPNext vs Frappe CRM: key differences
ERPNext is written in Python, while Frappe CRM is built with Vue. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for ERPNext versus AGPL-3.0 for Frappe CRM. Frappe CRM is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for ERPNext. ERPNext is the more established project (first released 2010), while Frappe CRM arrived in 2023. ERPNext has the considerably larger community, at 39,502 GitHub stars versus 3,585.
Why pick each one
Choose ERPNext if…
- Very comprehensive
- Active community
- Fully open source
Watch out for
- Complex to deploy and learn
- Resource heavy
Choose Frappe CRM if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vue
Frequently asked questions
Is ERPNext or Frappe CRM better?
Neither is universally better. ERPNext has the larger community, while Frappe CRM is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ERPNext and Frappe CRM free and open-source?
Yes. ERPNext is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Frappe CRM under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ERPNext and Frappe CRM with Docker?
ERPNext: yes. Frappe CRM: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ERPNext or Frappe CRM?
Frappe CRM has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for ERPNext. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.