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CRM · head to head

EspoCRM vs Pipedrive

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
Pipedrive logo

Pipedrive

CRM

The CRM that sales teams love to use

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only EspoCRM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Pipedrive email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user
  • They diverge on capability: EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EspoCRM and Pipedrive actually diverge.

Attributes where EspoCRM and Pipedrive differ
AttributeEspoCRMPipedrive
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: 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
  • Sales pipeline
  • Case management
  • Reports and dashboards
  • Workflow automation
  • REST API

Only in Pipedrive

  • Visual pipeline
  • Deal tracking
  • Activity reminders
  • Mobile apps
  • Reporting
  • Goal tracking
  • Lead management
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Email integration

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 Pipedrive
  • A public sector or healthcare team with data residency rules that rule out US-hosted commercial CRMnot Pipedrive
  • A developer or agency needing a CRM whose data model can be extended into a bespoke entity structure through configurationnot Pipedrive
  • An organisation with many light users, where self-hosting avoids paying seat prices for people who open the CRM twice a monthnot Pipedrive

Pipedrive

  • Sales pipeline management with kanban-style dashboardsnot EspoCRM
  • Multi-channel communication with email and calendar syncnot EspoCRM
  • Sales automation for small to mid-market teamsnot 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.

Pipedrive

  • Email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user

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

Pipedrive

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Pipedrive review.

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 Pipedrive if

  • You need visual pipeline.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.
Pipedrive review

Questions people ask

Is EspoCRM or Pipedrive better?
Neither clearly leads. EspoCRM starts at Free and Pipedrive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EspoCRM or Pipedrive?
EspoCRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for EspoCRM and On request for Pipedrive.
Does EspoCRM or Pipedrive run on more platforms?
EspoCRM runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android. Pipedrive runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use EspoCRM for free?
Yes. EspoCRM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pipedrive starts at On request.
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 Pipedrive is typically brought in for.
What can EspoCRM do that Pipedrive cannot?
EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Dynamic logic, Sales pipeline, Case management. Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Deal tracking, Activity reminders, Mobile apps. Both handle Email integration.

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.

Pipedrive: How long is Pipedrive's free trial and what's required to start?

Pipedrive offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access. No credit card is required to begin the trial, making it accessible to businesses of any size.

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.

Pipedrive: Are specific pricing tiers and costs detailed on the homepage?

The homepage does not list specific pricing amounts or tier names. Detailed subscription information and pricing costs are available on Pipedrive's dedicated pricing page.

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.

Pipedrive: What core features does Pipedrive include?

Pipedrive includes pipeline management, automation, AI capabilities, email sync, and reporting features. Feature availability at different price levels is detailed on their pricing page.

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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