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ERP · head to head

Dolibarr vs MUI

Dolibarr logo

Dolibarr

ERP

Modular open source ERP and CRM for very small businesses, installable on shared hosting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MUI logo

MUI

Web Development

React component library implementing Material Design

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dolibarr the core is deliberately shallow, so a serious requirement such as advanced manufacturing, EDI or a specific payment gateway usually means buying a DoliStore module from a third-party author, and the quality and maintenance of those modules varies widely.; MUI escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • They diverge on capability: Dolibarr covers Module toggles, MUI covers Large component set.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dolibarr and MUI actually diverge.

Attributes where Dolibarr and MUI differ
AttributeDolibarrMUI
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOpen-source core with paid tiers for advanced components
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Docker, Windows, macOS, Linux, AndroidWeb
CategoryERPWeb Development

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 Dolibarr

  • Module toggles
  • Third-party management
  • Quotes to invoices
  • Stock and warehouses
  • Double-entry accounting
  • Projects and time
  • Point of sale
  • DoliStore

Only in MUI

  • Large component set
  • Theming system
  • Accessibility
  • TypeScript support

What people use each for

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

Dolibarr

  • A two-person consultancy wants quotes, invoices and basic accounting self-hosted on an existing five euro a month shared hosting account with no server administration.not MUI
  • A French or Spanish small business needs VAT handling and accounting exports that match local practice out of the box rather than after configuration.not MUI
  • An association or nonprofit needs membership, subscription and donation tracking alongside ordinary invoicing without paying per member.not MUI
  • A small distributor wants stock, purchase orders and sales orders in one system and is willing to buy a DoliStore module rather than commission bespoke development.not MUI

MUI

  • Building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already worknot Dolibarr
  • Teams needing accessible complex widgets without building themnot Dolibarr
  • Products where Material Design is an acceptable or desired starting pointnot Dolibarr

Where each one falls short

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

Dolibarr

  • The core is deliberately shallow, so a serious requirement such as advanced manufacturing, EDI or a specific payment gateway usually means buying a DoliStore module from a third-party author, and the quality and maintenance of those modules varies widely.
  • Accounting was designed around French practice, and the chart of accounts, VAT model and fiscal exports need real work to satisfy accountants in the United States, the UK or Australia.
  • The interface is functional rather than designed and shows its age against Odoo, which makes internal adoption harder when staff are comparing it to consumer-grade software.
  • Upgrades between major versions can break paid third-party modules, because module authors update on their own schedules and there is no guarantee your combination will work on version 24 the day it ships.
  • Support is community forums unless you buy a partner contract, and the documentation is a wiki of uneven quality with substantial parts written in French, so English-only teams hit dead ends.

MUI

  • Escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • Bundle size is significant, and careless imports pull in far more than needed
  • Advanced components such as the full data grid require a paid licence
  • Major version upgrades have historically required real migration work

Pricing, plan by plan

Dolibarr

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full GPL source, all core modules
    • Unlimited users
    • You provide PHP and MySQL hosting
  • Partner cloud hosting$14/month
    • Managed hosting from DoliCloud or a certified partner
    • Backups, updates and support included
    • Typically 10 to 30 euros per user per month

MUI

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core component library
    • Theming
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Dolibarr if

  • You need module toggles.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
  • You also want third-party management.
Dolibarr review

Choose MUI if

  • You need large component set.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want theming system.
MUI review

Questions people ask

Is Dolibarr or MUI better?
Neither clearly leads. Dolibarr starts at Free and MUI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dolibarr or MUI?
Dolibarr starts at Free and MUI at Free.
Does Dolibarr or MUI run on more platforms?
Dolibarr runs on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android. MUI runs on Web.
Can I use Dolibarr for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Dolibarr best used for?
Dolibarr is most often used for a two-person consultancy wants quotes, invoices and basic accounting self-hosted on an existing five euro a month shared hosting account with no server administration., a french or spanish small business needs vat handling and accounting exports that match local practice out of the box rather than after configuration., an association or nonprofit needs membership, subscription and donation tracking alongside ordinary invoicing without paying per member., a small distributor wants stock, purchase orders and sales orders in one system and is willing to buy a dolistore module rather than commission bespoke development.. Of those, a two-person consultancy wants quotes, invoices and basic accounting self-hosted on an existing five euro a month shared hosting account with no server administration. and a french or spanish small business needs vat handling and accounting exports that match local practice out of the box rather than after configuration. are not what MUI is typically brought in for.
What can Dolibarr do that MUI cannot?
Dolibarr covers Module toggles, Third-party management, Quotes to invoices, Stock and warehouses. MUI covers Large component set, Theming system, Accessibility, TypeScript support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dolibarr: Is Dolibarr genuinely free?

Yes. The full application is GPL with no user limit and no paid edition of the core. You pay only for hosting, optional DoliStore modules and optional partner support.

MUI: Is MUI free?

The core library is open source and free. Advanced components, including the full-featured data grid, require a paid licence.

Dolibarr: Can it run on shared hosting?

Yes, that is its main practical advantage. It needs only PHP and MySQL or MariaDB, so an ordinary cPanel account is enough.

MUI: Can MUI look non-Material?

Yes, through the theming system, but a substantial departure takes real work. Teams wanting full design control often prefer unstyled primitives instead.

Dolibarr: How does it compare to Odoo?

Odoo is deeper and better presented but its useful modules are in the paid Enterprise edition and it needs a proper deployment. Dolibarr is thinner but free end to end and far easier to host.

MUI: Does MUI handle accessibility?

Components follow WAI-ARIA patterns by default, which is a large part of why teams adopt it.

Dolibarr: Does it handle UK or US accounting?

Not comfortably out of the box. The accounting module reflects French conventions and needs configuration and often a local module to satisfy an accountant elsewhere.

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