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CRM · head to head

EspoCRM vs Vtiger

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
Vtiger logo

Vtiger

CRM

Open source CRM for growing businesses

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.; Vtiger free One Pilot plan caps at 10 users and 3,000 records with 3 GB storage
  • They diverge on capability: EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Vtiger covers Contact management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EspoCRM and Vtiger actually diverge.

Attributes where EspoCRM and Vtiger differ
AttributeEspoCRMVtiger
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2004

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
  • Case management
  • Reports and dashboards
  • Workflow automation
  • REST API

Only in Vtiger

  • Contact management
  • Service desk
  • Marketing automation
  • Reporting
  • Mobile app
  • API access
  • Zapier
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Sales pipeline

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

Vtiger

  • Sales CRM and pipeline managementnot EspoCRM
  • Marketing automation and email campaignsnot EspoCRM
  • Help desk and customer supportnot EspoCRM
  • Project managementnot EspoCRM
  • Time tracking and billingnot 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.

Vtiger

  • Free One Pilot plan caps at 10 users and 3,000 records with 3 GB storage
  • One Growth plan is limited to 15 users
  • Standard users on One Enterprise cost $42 per user per month billed, more than double the Single App User rate of $30

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

Vtiger

Free
  • One PilotFree
    • Up to 10 users
    • Up to 3,000 records
    • Contact management
  • One Growth$12/month
    • Standard User: $12 per user per month
    • Up to 15 users
    • Up to 100,000 records
  • One Professional$30/month
    • Standard User: $30 per user per month
    • Single App User: $20 per user per month
    • Marked as Popular tier
  • One Enterprise$42/month
    • Standard User: $42 per user per month
    • Single App User: $30 per user per month

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 Vtiger if

  • You need contact management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want service desk.
Vtiger review

Questions people ask

Is EspoCRM or Vtiger better?
Neither clearly leads. EspoCRM starts at Free and Vtiger at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EspoCRM or Vtiger?
EspoCRM starts at Free and Vtiger at Free.
Does EspoCRM or Vtiger run on more platforms?
EspoCRM runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android. Vtiger runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Vtiger is typically brought in for.
What can EspoCRM do that Vtiger cannot?
EspoCRM covers Entity manager, Dynamic logic, Email integration, Case management. Vtiger covers Contact management, Service desk, Marketing automation, Reporting. Both handle Sales pipeline.

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.

Vtiger: How much does Vtiger One Growth plan cost?

Vtiger One Growth costs $12 USD per standard user per month and supports up to 15 users with 100,000 records. Yearly billing saves up to 34% compared to monthly 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.

Vtiger: What user types does Vtiger offer?

Vtiger offers Standard Users with full access to all apps and features, and Single App Users with full access to one app (Sales, Marketing, Help Desk, Projects, or Inventory) plus view-only access to others. Single App Users cost less than Standard Users across all paid tiers.

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.

Vtiger: What is included in Vtiger One Pilot free plan?

Vtiger One Pilot is free and supports up to 10 users with 3,000 records, including contact management, marketing automation with 1,000 emails monthly, help desk, project management, and sales pipeline features.

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.

Vtiger: What are the higher pricing tiers for Vtiger?

Vtiger offers One Professional ($30 per standard user or $20 per single app user monthly), One Enterprise ($42 per standard user or $30 per single app user monthly), and One AI ($50 per standard user or $38 per single app user monthly with new AI capabilities).

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