Dolibarr

Dolibarr is an open-source ERP and CRM suite for businesses, freelancers, and associations that want a configurable set of business workflows. It suits teams comfortable choosing and managing modules, or working with a partner to tailor the system. Its breadth and free self-hosted option are compelling; hosted SaaS comes from third parties.

Overview

Dolibarr brings customer and sales work together with finance, stock, orders, and manufacturing. Organizations can switch on the functions they need instead of adopting a fixed package, which makes it adaptable across small and large organizations. That flexibility also calls for deliberate setup: teams need to decide how modules fit their processes and how the system will be deployed.

The project began in 2003, and the Dolibarr association was created in 2009 to promote the software. The maker is based in Olivet, France.

Key features

Coverage spans proposals, orders, contracts, invoices, payments, bank reconciliation, accounting, shipments, and manufacturing. Finance, inventory, order management, manufacturing, and multi-entity support make Dolibarr a plausible choice for organizations that want sales and operational records in one system. Its scope is broad, though the value depends on configuring the relevant modules around each organization’s workflow.

CRM and sales, HR, products and stock, finance and billing, marketing, and project management can be enabled as needed. A marketplace of add-ons and a low-code Module Builder provide ways to extend or customize the application. This gives teams room to adapt Dolibarr, while organizations with limited capacity to configure software may prefer a more guided option.

REST APIs use HTTP and JSON to extract data and create, update, or delete records; triggers and hooks provide further extension points. Listed connectivity includes LDAP, PayPal, Stripe, Paybox, SMTP providers, Google services, and external e-commerce platforms. Synchronization modules cover PrestaShop, Magento, osCommerce, WooCommerce, and OpenCart. The embedded e-commerce module has a tentative availability date at the end of 2026, so teams needing that built-in capability sooner should consider the external integrations.

Security documentation describes encrypted passwords or security keys, optional forced HTTPS, protections against SQL injection, XSS, SSRF, and CSRF, and permission checks for pages and files. The project also documents a vulnerability reporting process, with reports usually processed in a few days.

Public forums cover installation, upgrades, and usage questions; a worldwide partner network offers assistance and custom development. Stable production downloads are provided for all operating systems, with modules and add-ons available through the Dolistore marketplace.

Pricing

The free plan makes Dolibarr worth considering for organizations able to run it on-premise or arrange cloud deployment. There is no paid tier described here to compare; readers seeking hosted SaaS should account for the fact that those offers come from third parties.

Platforms

Dolibarr is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as on the web and through self-hosted and hybrid deployment. An API is also available. The combination suits organizations that want deployment flexibility, though choosing and managing a deployment is part of adopting the system.

Who it's for

Dolibarr is a strong fit for SMEs, larger companies, freelancers, and associations that want a free, modular system spanning CRM and core business operations. It is particularly suitable when an organization can select and configure modules or draw on a partner for assistance and custom development. Teams that need a single provider to deliver hosted SaaS, or an embedded e-commerce module before its tentative end-of-2026 availability, should look elsewhere or plan around third-party services.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free open-source plan supports on-premise or cloud deployment, giving organizations a no-cost route to a broad ERP and CRM suite.
• Pros: Modular functions cover sales, HR, stock, finance, marketing, and projects, with workflows extending through accounting and manufacturing.
• Pros: REST APIs, hooks, a Module Builder, and marketplace add-ons give teams multiple ways to connect or adapt the system.
• Cons: Hosted SaaS is provided by third parties, so organizations wanting the suite and hosting from one supplier need another arrangement.
• Cons: The embedded e-commerce module has only a tentative end-of-2026 availability date; current e-commerce workflows rely on external synchronization modules.
• Cons: The modular approach puts responsibility on the organization to choose and configure the functions it needs.

Alternatives

For a manufacturing-focused shortlist, Odoo Manufacturing has a free One App plan with unlimited users and paid plans covering all apps; consider it when that plan structure better fits your needs. Cetec ERP is a paid option with a free trial and platforms including self-hosted and web. Global Shop Solutions ERP has tailored pricing with an upfront charge and ongoing quarterly cost. abas ERP, Epicor Kinetic, Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Traverse Edition, ECI M1, and Genius ERP are also manufacturing ERP alternatives; Aptean offers a free trial, while the others have paid pricing models or custom pricing.

Browse ERP Software for more options, or compare tools in Material Requirements Planning Software, Bill of Materials Software, and Gym Accounting Software.

Verdict

Choose Dolibarr if you want a free, modular ERP and CRM suite that can cover customer work, finance, stock, orders, and manufacturing, and you have the capacity to configure its modules and deployment. Its broad workflows and extension options are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you require hosted SaaS from the software maker or need the embedded e-commerce module before its tentative end-of-2026 availability.