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CRM · head to head

Capsule CRM vs SuiteCRM

Capsule CRM logo

Capsule CRM

CRM

The customer relationship management CRM

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: Capsule CRM free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline; 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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Capsule CRM and SuiteCRM differ
AttributeCapsule CRMSuiteCRM
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWebWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, 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 SuiteCRM does not also cover.

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.

Capsule CRM

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

SuiteCRM

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

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

Capsule CRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Capsule CRM review.

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 Capsule CRM if

  • You want to start without paying.
Capsule CRM 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 Capsule CRM or SuiteCRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Capsule CRM 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, Capsule CRM or SuiteCRM?
Capsule CRM starts at Free and SuiteCRM at Free.
Does Capsule CRM or SuiteCRM run on more platforms?
Capsule CRM runs on Web. SuiteCRM runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, 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 SuiteCRM is typically brought in for.
What can Capsule CRM do that SuiteCRM cannot?
SuiteCRM covers Studio module builder, Workflow engine, Opportunity and quote management, Case management.

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
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.

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
SuiteCRM: How does it relate to SugarCRM?

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

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
SuiteCRM: Are there per user fees?

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

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
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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