Who crm is for#
Small sales team replacing per-seat CRM billing
A growing team can add reps without raising licensing costs and keep leads, deals, and organizations in one pipeline.
Skip if:
You need a large marketplace of prebuilt third-party integrations out of the box.
Phone and WhatsApp-driven sales
Teams that sell by phone or WhatsApp can log calls through Twilio or Exotel and keep conversations linked to the deal record.
Skip if:
Your team relies on channels beyond those listed, such as a specific dialer the CRM does not integrate with.
Companies already on ERPNext or Frappe
Existing Frappe users can add the CRM to the same ecosystem and connect it to ERPNext for invoicing and accounting.
Skip if:
You have no interest in running or learning the Frappe stack and want a plain single-binary install.
The problem it solves#
Many CRMs charge per user, so every new salesperson raises the bill. Others are too basic to model a real sales process, or too complex to adopt without a consultant. Frappe's own sales team ran into this and found no tool that was simple, affordable, and open source. The result is teams stuck between spreadsheets and expensive hosted CRMs, with customer data held by a vendor they cannot switch away from easily. Frappe CRM targets that gap with a simple interface, unlimited users, and code you can host and modify yourself.
How it solves it#
All-in-one lead and deal page
Activities, comments, notes, tasks, and other details for a lead or deal sit on a single page, so reps do not jump between screens to update a record.
Kanban board and custom views
Drag leads and deals across pipeline stages on a Kanban board, or build views with custom filters, sorting, and columns. Views can be saved, made public, or pinned for quick access.
Calling and messaging integrations
Twilio and Exotel are built in for making and receiving calls, with call recording. WhatsApp messaging works through the Frappe WhatsApp app, and the website describes pulling Facebook and Instagram leads into the pipeline.
Customizable on the Frappe Framework
Add custom fields and tables, or attach pluggable Python scripts for automation. The CRM uses the same framework as other Frappe apps, so extending data models follows one pattern.
ERPNext connection
Connect the CRM to ERPNext to add invoicing, accounting, and more alongside sales tracking.
Strengths and trade-offs#
Strengths
- No per-user pricingSelf-hosting has no seat fee, and Frappe's hosted plans are priced on compute, from $5 per month for unlimited users.
- Extensible by designBecause it is a Frappe app, teams can add fields, tables, and Python automation without forking the CRM.
- Active developmentThe repository was last pushed on 2026-09-29, has 3,634 stars, and runs frontend, server, and migration test workflows.
- Flexible deployment optionsChoose the easy-install script, Docker Compose, a local bench setup, or Frappe Cloud managed hosting.
Trade-offs
- -AGPL-3.0 license termsYou can run it yourself, including for your own company's sales team, and modify it. AGPL-3.0 requires that if you offer a modified version to users over a network, you publish that modified source under the same license.
- -Frappe stack to operateSelf-hosting means running the Frappe Framework, its database and services, through easy-install or Docker. Teams without that experience may prefer Frappe Cloud.
- -Version 2 is unstableThe README lists main (v1.x) as stable and develop (future v2.x) as unstable, and it targets Frappe and ERPNext v15 and v16 on the stable branch.
- -Open issue backlogThe repository lists 263 open issues, so expect some rough edges and check for a fix before relying on a specific workflow.
crm vs alternatives#
Pricing model
Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, and Pipedrive are commercial products, and Frappe's own materials note that most CRMs are priced per user. Frappe CRM is free to self-host under AGPL-3.0 with unlimited users. If you use Frappe's hosted plans instead, pricing is based on compute, starting at $5 per month for unlimited users.
Data ownership and hosting
The paid CRMs run as vendor-hosted services. Frappe CRM can run on your own server through the easy-install script or Docker, so customer records stay in a database you control. Frappe Cloud is available if you prefer managed hosting.
Customization
Frappe CRM is built on the Frappe Framework, so you can add custom fields and tables or attach Python scripts, and you have access to the source code. The paid tools offer their own configuration options, but you cannot change the product's code.
Core sales features
Frappe CRM covers leads, deals, contacts, organizations, a Kanban board, custom views, and call logging through Twilio and Exotel. WhatsApp requires the separate Frappe WhatsApp app. Large paid suites such as Salesforce and HubSpot cover a much wider range of marketing, service, and reporting products, and this pack does not show Frappe CRM matching that breadth.
Which to choose
Pick Frappe CRM if per-seat cost and data control matter more than a large integration marketplace. Stay with the paid tools if you depend on their specific ecosystems or need a vendor-run service with contractual support.
Quick start#
Self-hosting runs in Docker: download the compose file and setup script, then start the container on your server.
```bash
mkdir frappe-crm
cd frappe-crm
wget -O docker-compose.yml https://raw.githubusercontent.com/frappe/crm/develop/docker/docker-compose.yml
wget -O init.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/frappe/crm/develop/docker/init.sh
docker compose up -d
```What it's built on#
- Languages
- JavaScriptPythonTypeScript
- Frameworks
- Vue
FAQ#
What license does Frappe CRM use?
Frappe CRM is licensed under AGPL-3.0. You can self-host and modify it. If you run a modified version as a network service for others, the license requires you to make that modified source available.
Is there a per-user fee?
No. The project describes itself as a CRM for unlimited users. Frappe's hosted pricing is based on compute, with instances starting at $5 per month for unlimited users. Self-hosting has no seat fee.
How do I self-host Frappe CRM?
The README documents an easy-install script that deploys a production instance with Docker images, which it says takes about 5 minutes. It also provides a Docker Compose setup and a local bench setup for development.
Does it integrate with calling and WhatsApp?
Yes. Twilio and Exotel are built-in integrations for making and receiving calls, with call recording. WhatsApp works through the separate Frappe WhatsApp app. ERPNext integration adds invoicing and accounting.
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