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CRM · head to head

EspoCRM vs Snov.io

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
S

Snov.io

CRM

Lead generation, email verification, outreach automation and CRM 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.; Snov.io linkedIn automation is a separate paid add-on rather than bundled into core plans.
  • They diverge on capability: EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Snov.io covers Email finder and verifier.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EspoCRM and Snov.io actually diverge.

Attributes where EspoCRM and Snov.io differ
AttributeEspoCRMSnov.io
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, Androidweb, api
FoundedUnknown2017

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 Snov.io

  • Email finder and verifier
  • Outreach automation
  • Email warm-up
  • Built-in CRM
  • LinkedIn automation
  • Data enrichment

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

Snov.io

  • Finding and verifying prospect email addressesnot EspoCRM
  • Running multichannel outreach campaigns with follow-upsnot EspoCRM
  • Warming up sending inboxes to protect deliverabilitynot EspoCRM
  • Managing deals in a lightweight built-in CRMnot 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.

Snov.io

  • LinkedIn automation is a separate paid add-on rather than bundled into core plans.
  • Data enrichment is billed separately via a token system, adding cost complexity.
  • Higher-volume Ultra tier pricing jumps sharply compared to mid-tier plans.
  • Interface and feature sprawl across many bundled tools can feel less focused than single-purpose competitors.

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

Snov.io

Free
  • TrialFree
    • 50 credits
    • 100 recipients
    • 1 warm-up slot
  • Starter$39/month
    • 1,000 credits
    • 5,000 recipients
    • 3 warm-up slots
  • Pro S$99/month
    • 5,000 credits
    • 25,000 recipients
    • Unlimited warm-ups
  • Ultra$738/month
    • 200,000+ credits
    • 400,000+ recipients
    • Unlimited team seats

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 Snov.io if

  • You need email finder and verifier.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want outreach automation.
Snov.io review

Questions people ask

Is EspoCRM or Snov.io better?
Neither clearly leads. EspoCRM starts at Free and Snov.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EspoCRM or Snov.io?
EspoCRM starts at Free and Snov.io at Free.
Does EspoCRM or Snov.io run on more platforms?
EspoCRM runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android. Snov.io runs on web, api.
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 Snov.io is typically brought in for.
What can EspoCRM do that Snov.io cannot?
EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Dynamic logic, Email integration, Sales pipeline. Snov.io covers Email finder and verifier, Outreach automation, Email warm-up, Built-in CRM.

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.

Snov.io: What does Snov.io cost?

Snov.io's paid plans start at $39/month for Starter (1,000 credits), rising through Pro tiers up to $738/month for Ultra (200,000+ credits), with a custom Ultra tier for larger volumes and a 25% discount for annual billing.

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.

Snov.io: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Snov.io offers a 7-day free trial with 50 credits, 100 recipients, and one email warm-up slot, giving access to all features at reduced volume.

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.

Snov.io: What does Snov.io integrate with?

Snov.io integrates with HubSpot, Pipedrive, Clay, Zapier, Make, Calendly and n8n, and also supports MCP servers for AI tool connections.

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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