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CRM · head to head

Capsule CRM vs EspoCRM

Capsule CRM logo

Capsule CRM

CRM

The customer relationship management CRM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
EspoCRM logo

EspoCRM

CRM

AGPL open source CRM in PHP that you can self-host free or buy as cloud with seat minimums

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Capsule CRM free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline; EspoCRM the AGPLv3 licence obliges you to publish source modifications if you make the modified software available over a network, which blocks resellers who want to offer a customised hosted version without opening their code.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capsule CRM and EspoCRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Capsule CRM and EspoCRM differ
AttributeCapsule CRMEspoCRM
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
PlatformsWebWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android

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

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 Capsule CRM

Nothing recorded that EspoCRM does not also cover.

Only in EspoCRM

  • Entity manager
  • Dynamic logic
  • Email integration
  • Sales pipeline
  • Case management
  • Reports and dashboards
  • Workflow automation
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Capsule CRM

  • Centralizing customer data for salesnot EspoCRM
  • Tracking sales pipeline and conversionnot EspoCRM
  • Managing project delivery with kanban boardsnot EspoCRM
  • Automating task workflows for teamsnot EspoCRM

EspoCRM

  • A small business that wants a CRM on its own hosting with no per-seat fee and no vendor holding its customer datanot Capsule CRM
  • A public sector or healthcare team with data residency rules that rule out US-hosted commercial CRMnot Capsule CRM
  • A developer or agency needing a CRM whose data model can be extended into a bespoke entity structure through configurationnot Capsule CRM
  • An organisation with many light users, where self-hosting avoids paying seat prices for people who open the CRM twice a monthnot Capsule CRM

Where each one falls short

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

Capsule CRM

  • Free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline
  • Starter plan, the cheapest paid tier, still caps at 30,000 contacts before requiring an upgrade to Growth (60,000) or Advanced (120,000)
  • Ultimate tier, aimed at teams of 5 or more users, has no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Marketing features are not included in any core plan; the Transpond marketing add-on costs an additional $11/month minimum on top of the CRM price

EspoCRM

  • The AGPLv3 licence obliges you to publish source modifications if you make the modified software available over a network, which blocks resellers who want to offer a customised hosted version without opening their code.
  • Cloud plans carry seat minimums of three, five and ten users, so a two-person consultancy pays for three seats and a small team wanting the Ultimate features pays for ten.
  • Record ceilings are real on the cheaper cloud tiers, with Basic capped at 100,000 records, and hitting the cap means a tier upgrade rather than a small overage charge.
  • Marketing automation, sequences and native telephony are thin compared with HubSpot or Zoho, so most deployments end up wiring in a separate mailing tool and a separate dialler.
  • Self-hosting shifts the entire cost to your own team: PHP version upgrades, database backups and security patching are yours, and a neglected instance becomes an internet-facing liability holding your customer list.

Pricing, plan by plan

Capsule CRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Capsule CRM review.

EspoCRM

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • AGPLv3 licence, no fee
    • Runs on PHP with MySQL or MariaDB
    • Advanced Pack, Sales Pack and other extensions sold separately as one-off purchases
  • Cloud Basic$15/month
    • Three-user minimum
    • 3GB storage per user
    • Up to 100,000 records
  • Cloud Enterprise$25/month
    • Five-user minimum
    • 10GB storage per user
    • Up to 10 million records, extendable for a fee
  • Cloud Ultimate$69/month
    • Ten-user minimum
    • 400GB total storage
    • Unlimited records

Which should you pick?

Choose Capsule CRM if

  • You want to start without paying.
Capsule CRM review

Choose EspoCRM if

  • You need entity manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android.
  • You also want dynamic logic.
EspoCRM review

Questions people ask

Is Capsule CRM or EspoCRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Capsule CRM starts at Free and EspoCRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capsule CRM or EspoCRM?
Capsule CRM starts at Free and EspoCRM at Free.
Does Capsule CRM or EspoCRM run on more platforms?
Capsule CRM runs on Web. EspoCRM runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android.
Can I use Capsule CRM for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Capsule CRM best used for?
Capsule CRM is most often used for centralizing customer data for sales, tracking sales pipeline and conversion, managing project delivery with kanban boards, automating task workflows for teams. Of those, centralizing customer data for sales and tracking sales pipeline and conversion are not what EspoCRM is typically brought in for.
What can Capsule CRM do that EspoCRM cannot?
EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Dynamic logic, Email integration, Sales pipeline.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capsule CRM: How much does Capsule CRM cost?

Capsule CRM pricing is per-user, per-month with annual billing discounts up to 15%. Specific dollar amounts are not published on the pricing page; contact sales for exact pricing for Starter, Growth, and Advanced plans.

Source
EspoCRM: Is the self-hosted version really full featured?

The core CRM is, but several paid extension packs including Advanced Pack for reports and BPM are sold separately as one-off purchases and are not in the free download.

Capsule CRM: Does Capsule CRM offer a free tier?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a free plan for up to 2 users with 250 contacts, 5 custom fields, 1 sales pipeline, and basic features. A 14-day free trial with no card required is also available for paid plans.

Source
EspoCRM: What are the cloud seat minimums?

Three users on Basic, five on Enterprise and ten on Ultimate, so the advertised per-user rate is not the smallest bill you can pay.

Capsule CRM: What contact limit does each paid plan include?

Starter plan includes 30,000 contacts, Growth plan includes 60,000 contacts, Advanced plan includes 120,000 contacts, and Ultimate includes custom limits.

Source
EspoCRM: What does it need to run?

PHP, MySQL or MariaDB and a web server. It installs on ordinary shared hosting or a small VPS, which is unusual for a modern CRM.

Capsule CRM: Are there add-on costs beyond the base plan?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a Marketing Add-on starting at $11/month that includes email campaigns, social posting, and lead capture forms.

Source
EspoCRM: Can I move from cloud to self-hosted later?

Yes. EspoCRM states customers own their database and data files, so an export and reinstall is possible, though you take on all maintenance when you do.

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