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CRM · head to head

Krayin vs Vim

Krayin logo

Krayin

CRM

Open source Laravel CRM for sales teams that want to own the code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vim logo

Vim

Technology

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Krayin it is far less mature than EspoCRM, SuiteCRM or Vtiger, with thinner reporting, weaker forecasting and fewer built-in integrations, so evaluations that start from a feature checklist will not favour it.; Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • They diverge on capability: Krayin covers Lead pipelines, Vim covers Modal editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Krayin and Vim actually diverge.

Attributes where Krayin and Vim differ
AttributeKrayinVim
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefree
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Docker, LinuxLinux, Unix, macOS, Windows
CategoryCRMTechnology
FoundedUnknown1988

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 Krayin

  • Lead pipelines
  • Contacts and organisations
  • Quotes
  • Workflow automation
  • Email integration
  • Custom attributes
  • Roles and permissions
  • Laravel package architecture

Only in Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

What people use each for

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

Krayin

  • A PHP or Laravel development shop wants a CRM it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an OEM licence.not Vim
  • An organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted CRM.not Vim
  • A small sales team wants an unlimited-user CRM where adding a tenth or fiftieth user costs nothing beyond server capacity.not Vim
  • A Bagisto ecommerce store wants a CRM from the same vendor that shares its technology stack and conventions rather than a bridged integration.not Vim

Vim

  • Code editingnot Krayin
  • Configuration filesnot Krayin
  • System administrationnot Krayin
  • Remote editingnot Krayin
  • Terminal-based developmentnot Krayin

Where each one falls short

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

Krayin

  • It is far less mature than EspoCRM, SuiteCRM or Vtiger, with thinner reporting, weaker forecasting and fewer built-in integrations, so evaluations that start from a feature checklist will not favour it.
  • Practical functionality such as certain telephony, messaging and marketing connectors sits in paid marketplace extensions from Webkul, so the free CRM plus the extensions you actually need is not free.
  • The roadmap is controlled by a single services company whose revenue depends on selling implementation and extensions, so there is a structural incentive against making the core complete.
  • You are responsible for the whole operational burden: PHP and MySQL hosting, backups, security patching, mail deliverability and upgrades, and a botched upgrade of a customised install is your problem alone.
  • The cloud hosting page does not publish prices, so the managed option that would remove that burden cannot be budgeted without contacting sales, which undercuts the transparency the open licence otherwise offers.

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

Pricing, plan by plan

Krayin

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full MIT-licensed source
    • Unlimited users
    • No feature gating
  • Cloud hosting and extensions$undefined/month
    • Starter and Pro managed hosting packs from Webkul
    • Premium extensions sold individually in the Krayin marketplace
    • White label and custom development quoted separately

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

Which should you pick?

Choose Krayin if

  • You need lead pipelines.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux.
  • You also want contacts and organisations.
Krayin review

Choose Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim review

Questions people ask

Is Krayin or Vim better?
Neither clearly leads. Krayin starts at Free and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Krayin or Vim?
Krayin starts at Free and Vim at Free.
Does Krayin or Vim run on more platforms?
Krayin runs on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux. Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Krayin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Krayin best used for?
Krayin is most often used for a php or laravel development shop wants a crm it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an oem licence., an organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted crm., a small sales team wants an unlimited-user crm where adding a tenth or fiftieth user costs nothing beyond server capacity., a bagisto ecommerce store wants a crm from the same vendor that shares its technology stack and conventions rather than a bridged integration.. Of those, a php or laravel development shop wants a crm it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an oem licence. and an organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted crm. are not what Vim is typically brought in for.
What can Krayin do that Vim cannot?
Krayin covers Lead pipelines, Contacts and organisations, Quotes, Workflow automation. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Krayin: Is Krayin really free?

The CRM itself is MIT licensed with no user limit and no enterprise edition. Premium extensions, managed hosting and custom development from Webkul are paid.

Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

Source
Krayin: Who maintains it?

Webkul Software of Noida, India, the same company behind the Bagisto open source ecommerce platform.

Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

Source
Krayin: What do I need to run it?

A standard LAMP or LEMP stack with PHP, Composer and MySQL or MariaDB. Any host that runs Laravel will run Krayin.

Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

Source
Krayin: How does it compare to EspoCRM?

EspoCRM is more mature with deeper reporting and a longer track record. Krayin is easier for a Laravel developer to extend and has a more permissive licence.

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