Bigin costs $9/mo.
These cost $0.
8 free alternatives to Bigin, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Bigin vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $9/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 54k | Bigin vs Twenty → |
| Krayin CRM | open source | MIT | Local or hosted | ★ 24k | Bigin vs Krayin CRM → |
| EspoCRM | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 3.2k | Bigin vs EspoCRM → |
| Frappe CRM | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 3.2k | Bigin vs Frappe CRM → |
| HubSpot Free CRM | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Bigin vs HubSpot Free CRM → |
| Odoo CRM One App Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Bigin vs Odoo CRM One App Free → |
| Zoho CRM Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Bigin vs Zoho CRM Free → |
| Freshsales Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Bigin vs Freshsales Free → |
The picks
4 open source · 4 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Twenty
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted54kaug 2026A modern pipeline CRM with custom objects, views and mailbox sync; the subscription becomes a Compose file.
The catch vs BiginTwenty’s ready-made sales automation and small-business onboarding are thinner than Bigin’s out-of-the-box workflow.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted cloud signup or official one-line/Docker Compose self-host install
- setup
- Free use requires Docker, at least 2 GB RAM, PostgreSQL-backed containers, secrets, and domain/TLS configuration
- your data
- CRM records and configuration in PostgreSQL; files in local storage or S3-compatible object storage on the selected host
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Krayin CRM
open sourceMITLocal or hosted24kaug 2026A Laravel sales pipeline with leads, contacts and email; glossy enough, but it still wants a PHP stack.
The catch vs BiginKrayin is less mature and less plug-and-play around everyday email, calendar, mobile, and workflow use than Bigin.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Composer package, browser GUI installer, or Docker; managed cloud is also offered
- setup
- The free path requires PHP/Composer plus MySQL/MariaDB, or Docker and a server; HTTPS, backups, and updates remain yours
- your data
- CRM records in MySQL/MariaDB (Laravel database); uploads in storage/app/public on the chosen host
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
EspoCRM
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host3.2kaug 2026A traditional CRM that actually lets you change the data model; polished enough, but still your server.
The catch vs BiginEspoCRM is much heavier to configure and administer than Bigin’s deliberately simple small-business pipeline.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Docker Compose or upload the PHP package and run the web installer
- setup
- Requires a server, database, domain/TLS setup, and ongoing upgrades/backups
- your data
- CRM records in a self-hosted MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database; uploaded files in server/Docker volumes
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Frappe CRM
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted3.2kaug 2026A clean leads-and-deals board with notes, tasks and email; Frappe underneath means a real server, not a toy.
The catch vs BiginFrappe CRM needs considerably more configuration to reach Bigin’s ready-made pipeline and workflow experience.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- One-click Frappe Cloud signup or the official Python easy-install deployment script on your server
- setup
- Free use means self-hosting; the official production script still needs a Linux server, DNS, and command-line access
- your data
- CRM DocType records and attachments in the Frappe site database/files, on Frappe Cloud or the user's server
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
HubSpot Free CRM
freeproprietary, freeHostedA real two-seat CRM for free; 1,000 contacts is where the upsell starts counting.
The catch vs BiginHubSpot’s free tier puts much of the useful workflow automation behind paid hubs and surrounds the simple pipeline with a larger upsell-heavy suite.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup; optionally connect/import email, calendar, and contacts
- your data
- Structured CRM customer records stored and processed on HubSpot's cloud servers, with regional hosting options and exports
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 06
Odoo CRM One App Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA full hosted pipeline for unlimited users, provided CRM is the only Odoo app you marry.
The catch vs BiginOdoo is substantially more complex than Bigin, and the one-app-free bargain ends when the business needs another Odoo module.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted Odoo Online signup with CRM selected as the single free app
- your data
- Structured Odoo records in an Odoo-hosted customer database; records can be exported from list views
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 07
Zoho CRM Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA full little CRM for three users and 5,000 records; the wider Zoho maze is optional.
The catch vs BiginZoho’s free plan is capped at three users and withholds the workflow automation depth that makes Bigin useful beyond a bare pipeline.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted Zoho account signup
- your data
- Structured CRM service data stored on Zoho's cloud servers; Zoho states users can access, export, and delete service data
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 08
Freshsales Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA clean three-user pipeline with email and mobile apps; useful automation starts asking for rent.
The catch vs BiginFreshsales Free covers a basic pipeline but withholds multiple pipelines, richer workflows, and sales sequences that Bigin users may rely on.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted Freshworks signup
- your data
- Structured CRM records and uploaded files stored in Freshworks' cloud; account data can be exported
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Bigin open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Bigin?+
The top free alternative to Bigin is Twenty (open source, AGPL-3.0). A modern pipeline CRM with custom objects, views and mailbox sync; the subscription becomes a Compose file. Other popular Bigin replacements include Krayin CRM, EspoCRM, Frappe CRM.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Bigin?+
Yes. Of the 8 free alternatives to Bigin, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Twenty (AGPL-3.0), Krayin CRM (MIT), EspoCRM (AGPL-3.0), Frappe CRM (AGPL-3.0).
How much does switching from Bigin to a free alternative save?+
Bigin starts at $9/month per seat ($108/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Twenty saves $540 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Bigin clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Bigin is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Bigin, run a small-business pipeline with contacts, activities, and simple workflows. The hard boundary is zoho ecosystem, telephony, forms, integrations, and mobile apps, plus integrations, data quality, and workflow lock-in.
What is the catch when switching from Bigin to Twenty?+
Twenty’s ready-made sales automation and small-business onboarding are thinner than Bigin’s out-of-the-box workflow.
