can i fork it?
🤝 crm

Salesmate costs $23/mo.
These cost $0.

8 free alternatives to Salesmate, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.

See the 8 picks ↓

Salesmate vs Free Alternatives Matrix

Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $23/mo

AlternativeTypeLicenseWhere It RunsStarsHead-to-Head
Twentyopen sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted★ 54kSalesmate vs Twenty →
SuiteCRMopen sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted★ 5.5kSalesmate vs SuiteCRM →
EspoCRMopen sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host★ 3.2kSalesmate vs EspoCRM →
Frappe CRMopen sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted★ 3.2kSalesmate vs Frappe CRM →
HubSpot Free CRMfreeproprietary, freeHosted★ $0 foreverSalesmate vs HubSpot Free CRM →
Zoho CRM Freefreeproprietary, freeHosted★ $0 foreverSalesmate vs Zoho CRM Free →
Freshsales Freefreeproprietary, freeHosted★ $0 foreverSalesmate vs Freshsales Free →
Odoo CRM One App Freefreeproprietary, freeHosted★ $0 foreverSalesmate vs Odoo CRM One App Free →

The picks

4 open source · 4 free to use · ranked by fit

  1. 01

    Twenty

    open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted
    54kaug 2026

    A modern pipeline CRM with custom objects, views and mailbox sync; the subscription becomes a Compose file.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    Twenty synchronizes mailboxes but does not yet match Salesmate’s outbound sequences, telephony, and ready-made automation.

    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
  2. 02

    SuiteCRM

    open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted
    5.5kjul 2026

    The old-school full-fat CRM: every module you remember, plus the server you now own.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    SuiteCRM can support email campaigns, but the experience is far less polished and immediate than Salesmate’s cloud calling and sales workflow.

    Install, platforms & data +
    platforms
    webself-hostedself-host, real ops
    install
    Download the release and run the web/CLI installer on a LAMP server; paid managed hosting is optional
    setup
    Requires a correctly configured PHP web server and database, then ongoing backups, upgrades, and security maintenance
    your data
    CRM records in MySQL/MariaDB or MSSQL and attachments on the chosen server/object storage
    checked
    2026-08-10
  3. 03

    EspoCRM

    open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host
    3.2kaug 2026

    A traditional CRM that actually lets you change the data model; polished enough, but still your server.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    EspoCRM does not provide Salesmate’s polished built-in calling, email sequences, and workflow automation out of the box.

    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
  4. 04

    Frappe CRM

    open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted
    3.2kaug 2026

    A clean leads-and-deals board with notes, tasks and email; Frappe underneath means a real server, not a toy.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    Frappe CRM offers mailbox-linked deal work but lacks Salesmate’s integrated calling, sequences, and mature sales automation.

    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
  5. 05

    HubSpot Free CRM

    freeproprietary, freeHosted

    A real two-seat CRM for free; 1,000 contacts is where the upsell starts counting.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    HubSpot Free sharply limits the sequences, calling, and automation that make Salesmate more than a contact-and-deal database.

    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
  6. 06

    Zoho CRM Free

    freeproprietary, freeHosted

    Contacts, deals, and 150 emails a day for three users; enough for permissioned, low-volume selling.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    Zoho CRM Free covers low-volume email but its automation, mass-email, and calling capabilities are much more restricted than Salesmate’s.

    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
  7. 07

    Freshsales Free

    freeproprietary, freeHosted

    A three-user CRM with built-in email and one pipeline; sequences live in paid land.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    Freshsales Free supplies a basic pipeline and email but leaves sequences and richer workflow automation to paid plans.

    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
  8. 08

    Odoo CRM One App Free

    freeproprietary, freeHosted

    A hosted pipeline with email activities for unlimited users; mass-mail cleverness is elsewhere.

    The catch vs Salesmate

    Odoo’s one-app-free CRM does not include the separate email-marketing and marketing-automation apps needed to approach Salesmate’s outreach workflow.

    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

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers · Salesmate open-source replacements

What is the best free alternative to Salesmate?+

The top free alternative to Salesmate 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 Salesmate replacements include SuiteCRM, EspoCRM, Frappe CRM.

Can I self-host a free replacement for Salesmate?+

Yes. Of the 8 free alternatives to Salesmate, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Twenty (AGPL-3.0), SuiteCRM (AGPL-3.0), EspoCRM (AGPL-3.0), Frappe CRM (AGPL-3.0).

How much does switching from Salesmate to a free alternative save?+

Salesmate starts at $23/month per seat ($276/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Twenty saves $1,380 per year in software subscription fees.

Should I vibe-code or build my own Salesmate clone from scratch?+

Our build verdict for Salesmate is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Salesmate, track contacts and deals and send low-volume permissioned email through a user provider. The hard boundary is built-in calling, texting, sequences, automations, and sales integrations, plus integrations, data quality, and workflow lock-in.

What is the catch when switching from Salesmate to Twenty?+

Twenty synchronizes mailboxes but does not yet match Salesmate’s outbound sequences, telephony, and ready-made automation.