EspoCRM 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.
EspoCRM
Fast and lightweight open-source CRM
VS
Corteza
Low-code platform with built-in CRM and case management
| Feature | EspoCRM | Corteza |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,383 | ★ 2,165 |
| First released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Salesforce, HubSpot | Salesforce, Microsoft Power Apps |
What are EspoCRM and Corteza?
EspoCRM
EspoCRM is a fast, lightweight, open-source CRM for managing contacts, leads, opportunities, and customer relationships. It targets small and mid-sized businesses wanting a responsive CRM. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- Responsive single-page interface
- Customizable entities and layouts
- Workflow automation
- Email and calendar integration
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
EspoCRM vs Corteza: key differences
EspoCRM is written in PHP, while Corteza is built with Go. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for EspoCRM versus Apache-2.0 for Corteza. EspoCRM is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Corteza. EspoCRM is the more established project (first released 2014), while Corteza arrived in 2019.
Why pick each one
Choose EspoCRM if…
- Fast and responsive
- Highly customizable
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Advanced extensions are paid
- Smaller ecosystem
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 EspoCRM or Corteza better?
EspoCRM 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 EspoCRM and Corteza free and open-source?
Yes. EspoCRM is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Corteza under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EspoCRM and Corteza with Docker?
EspoCRM: yes. Corteza: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, EspoCRM or Corteza?
EspoCRM 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.