Softwr

CRM · head to head

EspoCRM vs Mixmax

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
Mixmax logo

Mixmax

CRM

Email productivity and sales engagement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Mixmax free plan severely limits email tracking to 20 emails per month
  • They diverge on capability: EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Mixmax covers Email tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EspoCRM and Mixmax actually diverge.

Attributes where EspoCRM and Mixmax differ
AttributeEspoCRMMixmax
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, AndroidWeb, Gmail
FoundedUnknown2014

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 EspoCRM

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

Only in Mixmax

  • Email tracking
  • Meeting scheduling
  • Email sequences
  • Templates
  • Mail merge
  • Gmail
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

What people use each for

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

EspoCRM

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

Mixmax

  • Email outreachnot EspoCRM
  • Meeting schedulingnot EspoCRM
  • Follow-up automationnot EspoCRM
  • Sales trackingnot EspoCRM

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Mixmax

  • Free plan severely limits email tracking to 20 emails per month
  • Download tracking in Outlook only works through web app, not desktop
  • Tracking indicators not supported for Outlook desktop users
  • Limited integration with email clients beyond Gmail

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Mixmax

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Email tracking (100/mo)
    • Basic scheduling
    • Email templates
  • SMB$34/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Sequences
    • Mail merge
  • Growth$65/month
    • All SMB features
    • Automation rules
    • Dialer
  • EnterpriseFree
    • All Growth features
    • Admin controls
    • SSO

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Mixmax if

  • You need email tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Gmail.
  • You also want meeting scheduling.
Mixmax review

Questions people ask

Is EspoCRM or Mixmax better?
Neither clearly leads. EspoCRM starts at Free and Mixmax at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EspoCRM or Mixmax?
EspoCRM starts at Free and Mixmax at Free.
Does EspoCRM or Mixmax run on more platforms?
EspoCRM runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android. Mixmax runs on Web, Gmail.
Can I use EspoCRM for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is EspoCRM best used for?
EspoCRM is most often used for a small business that wants a crm on its own hosting with no per-seat fee and no vendor holding its customer data, a public sector or healthcare team with data residency rules that rule out us-hosted commercial crm, a developer or agency needing a crm whose data model can be extended into a bespoke entity structure through configuration, an organisation with many light users, where self-hosting avoids paying seat prices for people who open the crm twice a month. Of those, a small business that wants a crm on its own hosting with no per-seat fee and no vendor holding its customer data and a public sector or healthcare team with data residency rules that rule out us-hosted commercial crm are not what Mixmax is typically brought in for.
What can EspoCRM do that Mixmax cannot?
EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Dynamic logic, Email integration, Sales pipeline. Mixmax covers Email tracking, Meeting scheduling, Email sequences, Templates.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Mixmax: Does Mixmax integrate with Gmail?

Yes. Mixmax is a Chrome extension that integrates directly with Gmail and Google Workspace. It adds email tracking, templates, meeting scheduling, and workflow automation features directly into Gmail.

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.

Mixmax: What email tracking does Mixmax provide?

Mixmax tracks email opens, clicks, and downloads in real time. The free plan includes tracking for up to 20 emails per month, while paid plans offer unlimited tracking across all emails.

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.

Mixmax: What does Mixmax cost?

Mixmax offers a free plan with limited tracking (20 emails/month) and basic features. Paid plans include Inbox Copilot, Engagement Copilot, and Mixmax Suite with unlimited tracking and advanced automation.

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.

Share

Related pages

More on EspoCRM

More on Mixmax

Keep looking

Other head to heads