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Technology · head to head

Attio vs SuiteCRM

Attio logo

Attio

Technology

The CRM built for the next generation of companies

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SuiteCRM logo

SuiteCRM

CRM

Open source fork of SugarCRM with no per user licence fee, sold as hosting and support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Attio the free plan stops at 3 seats and 50,000 records; SuiteCRM the interface still carries SugarCRM conventions from over a decade ago, and sales teams used to modern CRMs frequently resist adoption, which is the most common reason SuiteCRM projects fail rather than any technical limit.
  • They diverge on capability: Attio covers Custom data model, SuiteCRM covers Studio module builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Attio and SuiteCRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Attio and SuiteCRM differ
AttributeAttioSuiteCRM
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, iOS, Android
CategoryTechnologyCRM
Founded2021Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Attio

  • Custom data model
  • Flexible views
  • Email integration
  • Calendar sync
  • Automations
  • Mobile app
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Templates

Only in SuiteCRM

  • Studio module builder
  • Workflow engine
  • Opportunity and quote management
  • Case management
  • Campaign module
  • Reporting engine
  • Security groups
  • REST API

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Attio

  • Sales pipelinenot SuiteCRM
  • Customer managementnot SuiteCRM
  • Deal trackingnot SuiteCRM
  • Investor relationsnot SuiteCRM
  • Partnership managementnot SuiteCRM

SuiteCRM

  • An organisation with two hundred occasional CRM users where per seat pricing from Salesforce or HubSpot would dominate the budgetnot Attio
  • A public sector body or regulated firm that must host customer data on infrastructure it controlsnot Attio
  • A company that needs custom modules modelling its own objects and wants to build them in Studio rather than pay for platform licencesnot Attio
  • A business that wants open source economics but whose procurement requires a warranty, which SuiteASSURED suppliesnot Attio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Attio

  • The free plan stops at 3 seats and 50,000 records
  • Outbound email is capped at 200 messages a month on the free plan and 1,000 on Plus
  • Call Intelligence, sequences, advanced reporting and permission controls all require the Pro tier
  • Custom objects are capped at 3 on free, 5 on Plus and 12 on Pro, with unlimited objects reserved for Enterprise
  • File storage is capped at 50 GB on the free and Plus tiers

SuiteCRM

  • The interface still carries SugarCRM conventions from over a decade ago, and sales teams used to modern CRMs frequently resist adoption, which is the most common reason SuiteCRM projects fail rather than any technical limit.
  • Zero licence fee does not mean zero cost: hosting, ten hours of annual support and a quick start implementation together run into thousands of pounds before anyone has configured a pipeline.
  • The integration marketplace is small compared with Salesforce or HubSpot, so common connections to marketing, telephony and finance tools are often paid third party add-ons or custom builds.
  • Upgrades between major versions can break customisations made outside Studio, so heavily customised instances tend to lag behind current releases and accumulate security debt.
  • Native email marketing and campaign functionality is basic next to a dedicated tool, so most deployments end up paying for a separate marketing platform and syncing it, undoing part of the cost saving.

Pricing, plan by plan

Attio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 3 seats
    • 50000 records
    • 3 objects
  • Plus$44/month
    • Up to 10 seats
    • 250000 records
    • 5 objects
  • Pro$99/month
    • Unlimited seats
    • 1000000 records
    • 12 objects
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited objects
    • Custom record limits

SuiteCRM

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • GPL licensed with no per user fee at any user count
    • All core CRM modules included
    • You provide hosting, upgrades and support
  • Managed hosting$50/month
    • Hosting, security patching, updates and monitoring
    • Still no per user licence fee
    • Support purchased separately
  • Standard support$1200/year
    • Ten support hours per year
    • Discount available when bought with managed hosting
    • Does not include implementation work
  • SuiteASSURED$3350/year
    • Warranty and legal indemnification over the open source code
    • Priority support and security assurances
    • Aimed at organisations whose procurement rules block unwarranted open source

Which should you pick?

Choose Attio if

  • You need custom data model.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want flexible views.
Attio review

Choose SuiteCRM if

  • You need studio module builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, iOS, Android.
  • You also want workflow engine.
SuiteCRM review

Questions people ask

Is Attio or SuiteCRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Attio starts at Free and SuiteCRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Attio or SuiteCRM?
Attio starts at Free and SuiteCRM at Free.
Does Attio or SuiteCRM run on more platforms?
Attio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. SuiteCRM runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, iOS, Android.
Can I use Attio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Attio best used for?
Attio is most often used for sales pipeline, customer management, deal tracking, investor relations. Of those, sales pipeline and customer management are not what SuiteCRM is typically brought in for.
What can Attio do that SuiteCRM cannot?
Attio covers Custom data model, Flexible views, Email integration, Calendar sync. SuiteCRM covers Studio module builder, Workflow engine, Opportunity and quote management, Case management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Attio: How much does Attio cost per user?

Attio's Plus plan is $44/user/month (or $35/month annually with 20% discount). Pro is $99/user/month (or $79/month annually). The Free plan includes up to 3 seats at no cost.

Source
SuiteCRM: Is SuiteCRM really free?

The software is, at any user count. SalesAgility charges for managed hosting from about 50 GBP per month, support from about 1,200 GBP per year and SuiteASSURED from about 3,350 GBP per year.

Attio: What are Attio's seat and record limits for each plan?

Free plan includes up to 3 seats with 50,000 records. Plus supports up to 10 seats with 250,000 records. Pro offers unlimited seats with 1 million records. Enterprise has custom record limits.

Source
SuiteCRM: How does it relate to SugarCRM?

It is a fork of SugarCRM Community Edition, created after SugarCRM discontinued its open source release.

Attio: Are there additional costs for Attio beyond the per-user subscription?

Yes, workspace credits are available as add-ons ($70-$475/month depending on volume). Annual billing provides a 20% discount on the base per-user cost.

Source
SuiteCRM: Are there per user fees?

No. This is the central commercial argument for it, particularly for organisations with many occasional users.

SuiteCRM: What is SuiteASSURED?

A paid subscription that adds warranty, indemnification and legal protections on top of the open source licence, for buyers whose procurement rules block unwarranted software.

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