ERPNext vs PartKeepr
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 | PartKeepr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,502 | ★ 1,531 |
| First released | 2010 | 2012 |
| Replaces | SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce | NetSuite |
What are ERPNext and PartKeepr?
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
PartKeepr
PartKeepr is an open-source inventory management solution focused on electronic components. It tracks parts, stock levels, storage locations, and distributors.
- Electronic parts inventory
- Storage location tracking
- Distributor and pricing data
- Datasheet attachments
ERPNext vs PartKeepr: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: PartKeepr's repository is archived and no longer developed, while ERPNext is actively maintained. ERPNext is written in Python, while PartKeepr is built with JavaScript. PartKeepr is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for ERPNext. ERPNext is the more established project (first released 2010), while PartKeepr arrived in 2012. ERPNext has the considerably larger community, at 39,502 GitHub stars versus 1,531.
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 PartKeepr if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is ERPNext or PartKeepr better?
Neither is universally better. ERPNext has the larger community, while PartKeepr is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ERPNext and PartKeepr free and open-source?
Yes. ERPNext is licensed under GPL-3.0 and PartKeepr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ERPNext and PartKeepr with Docker?
ERPNext: yes. PartKeepr: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ERPNext or PartKeepr?
PartKeepr has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for ERPNext. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.