Part-DB 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.
Part-DB
Web-based inventory for electronic components
VS
PartKeepr
Archived
Inventory management for electronic parts
| Feature | Part-DB | PartKeepr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | CRM & Business Apps | CRM & Business Apps |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,774 | ★ 1,531 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | NetSuite | NetSuite |
What are Part-DB and PartKeepr?
Part-DB
Part-DB is an open-source, web-based inventory management application for electronic components and parts. It tracks stock, suppliers, prices, and storage locations.
- Component inventory tracking
- Supplier and price history
- Storage location hierarchy
- Barcode and label support
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
Part-DB vs PartKeepr: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: PartKeepr's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Part-DB is actively maintained. Part-DB is written in PHP, while PartKeepr is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Part-DB versus GPL-3.0 for PartKeepr. PartKeepr is the more established project (first released 2012), while Part-DB arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Part-DB if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in PHP
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 Part-DB or PartKeepr better?
Neither is universally better. Part-DB has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Part-DB and PartKeepr free and open-source?
Yes. Part-DB is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PartKeepr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Part-DB and PartKeepr with Docker?
Part-DB: yes. PartKeepr: yes.