ERPNext vs LedgerSMB
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted crm & business apps options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
ERPNext
Open-source ERP for growing businesses
VS
LedgerSMB
Integrated accounting and ERP system for small and midsize businesses,
| Feature | ERPNext | LedgerSMB |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 37,773 | ★ 554 |
| First released | 2010 | 2026 |
| Replaces | SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce | — |
Why pick each one
Choose LedgerSMB if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Perl
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is ERPNext or LedgerSMB better?
Neither is universally better. ERPNext has the larger community, while LedgerSMB is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ERPNext and LedgerSMB free and open-source?
Yes. ERPNext is licensed under GPL-3.0 and LedgerSMB under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ERPNext and LedgerSMB with Docker?
ERPNext: yes. LedgerSMB: yes.