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ERP · head to head

iDempiere vs Vtiger

iDempiere logo

iDempiere

ERP

Community-governed open source ERP, CRM and supply chain built on Java, OSGi and PostgreSQL

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: iDempiere there is no vendor, so there is no support contract, no service level agreement and nobody to escalate to; you either build the skills internally or you depend entirely on a local partner whose quality you must judge yourself.; Vtiger free One Pilot plan caps at 10 users and 3,000 records with 3 GB storage
  • They diverge on capability: iDempiere covers Application dictionary, Vtiger covers Contact management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iDempiere and Vtiger actually diverge.

Attributes where iDempiere and Vtiger differ
AttributeiDempiereVtiger
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, WindowsWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryERPCRM
FoundedUnknown2004

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 iDempiere

  • Application dictionary
  • OSGi plug-in architecture
  • Multi-organisation accounting
  • Materials management
  • Manufacturing
  • Workflow engine
  • Report and print engine
  • No paid edition

Only in Vtiger

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

What people use each for

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

iDempiere

  • A distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user ERP licence that scales with headcount.not Vtiger
  • An organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an ERP with no company that can make that decision.not Vtiger
  • A team needs heavy customisation of screens, fields and approval workflows that must survive version upgrades, which the application dictionary makes possible without forking.not Vtiger
  • A public sector or university body in Latin America or Indonesia needs a locally supportable ERP where the source and the implementation skills are both available in-country.not Vtiger

Vtiger

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

Where each one falls short

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

iDempiere

  • There is no vendor, so there is no support contract, no service level agreement and nobody to escalate to; you either build the skills internally or you depend entirely on a local partner whose quality you must judge yourself.
  • It demands real Java, OSGi and PostgreSQL administration, so the running cost is a systems engineer rather than a subscription, and that engineer is harder to hire than a PHP developer.
  • The ZK-based interface is dense and dated, with a data-entry feel inherited from Compiere that staff used to modern software find hostile, which drives up training cost.
  • Localisation depends on community contribution, so tax, payroll and statutory reporting for your country may be absent, out of date or maintained by one person, and you may end up funding it yourself.
  • The documentation is a community wiki with gaps and stale pages, and much of the practical knowledge sits in forum threads and partner heads rather than in anything you can hand to a new administrator.

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

iDempiere

Free
  • iDempiereFree
    • Full ERP, CRM and supply chain source
    • Unlimited users and organisations
    • No enterprise edition and no feature gating
  • Implementation partner$undefined/year
    • Local partners provide installation, configuration, training and support
    • Priced per engagement, not published
    • Realistically the only viable route for a production deployment

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 iDempiere if

  • You need application dictionary.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want osgi plug-in architecture.
iDempiere review

Choose Vtiger if

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

Questions people ask

Is iDempiere or Vtiger better?
Neither clearly leads. iDempiere 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, iDempiere or Vtiger?
iDempiere starts at Free and Vtiger at Free.
Does iDempiere or Vtiger run on more platforms?
iDempiere runs on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, Windows. Vtiger runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use iDempiere for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iDempiere best used for?
iDempiere is most often used for a distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user erp licence that scales with headcount., an organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an erp with no company that can make that decision., a team needs heavy customisation of screens, fields and approval workflows that must survive version upgrades, which the application dictionary makes possible without forking., a public sector or university body in latin america or indonesia needs a locally supportable erp where the source and the implementation skills are both available in-country.. Of those, a distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user erp licence that scales with headcount. and an organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an erp with no company that can make that decision. are not what Vtiger is typically brought in for.
What can iDempiere do that Vtiger cannot?
iDempiere covers Application dictionary, OSGi plug-in architecture, Multi-organisation accounting, Materials management. Vtiger covers Contact management, Sales pipeline, Service desk, Marketing automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iDempiere: Is iDempiere the same as ADempiere or Compiere?

It shares the lineage. iDempiere forked from ADempiere in 2011 to rebuild the platform on OSGi, and it is the branch that remains actively developed.

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
iDempiere: Is there a paid or enterprise edition?

No. There is no commercial owner and no feature gating. Money is spent on implementation partners and hosting, not on licences.

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
iDempiere: What does it actually cost to run?

Nothing in licence fees, and a great deal in skills: expect a partner implementation and ongoing Java and PostgreSQL administration, which for a mid-sized company is comparable to a commercial subscription.

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
iDempiere: Which database does it need?

PostgreSQL or Oracle. PostgreSQL is the mainstream community choice and the one most partners deploy.

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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