Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Harvest · ⏳ time tracking
Harvest vs Dolibarr
Harvest is in there somewhere, behind an entire ERP; the price is zero and the setup vocabulary is not. Here is how Dolibarr ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Harvest ($11/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Dolibarr
$0.00/mo · GPL-3.0+
Harvest vs Dolibarr Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Harvest (Paid) | Dolibarr (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $11 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $132 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $132) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $660 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $660) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,320 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,320) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source GPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopwebself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 7.5k (active jul 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Harvest to Dolibarr
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Dolibarr buries a simple timer-to-invoice job inside an ERP and lacks Harvest's focused timer experience, polished native apps, reminders, approvals, and integration breadth.
How to deploy Dolibarr
DoliWamp, DoliDeb, DoliRPM, Docker, or a conventional PHP web-server installation
What it takes to run
A packaged desktop-style installer exists on some platforms, but a durable deployment still needs a web server or Docker, database, HTTPS, backups, updates, and localization.
Where your data lives
Business records live in MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, while uploaded and generated documents live in Dolibarr's documents directory or mounted volume.
Why fork Dolibarr instead of vibe-coding a Harvest clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Harvest, track project time, turn approved entries into simple invoices, and export reports. The hard boundary is team timesheets, integrations, invoicing, reminders, support, and reliability, plus ubiquitous capture, coaching, and team workflow.
Harvest vs Dolibarr FAQ
Is Dolibarr a good free alternative to Harvest?+
Yes. Dolibarr is a verified open-source (GPL-3.0+) replacement for Harvest. Harvest is in there somewhere, behind an entire ERP; the price is zero and the setup vocabulary is not.
What is the catch when switching from Harvest to Dolibarr?+
Dolibarr buries a simple timer-to-invoice job inside an ERP and lacks Harvest's focused timer experience, polished native apps, reminders, approvals, and integration breadth.
How much do you save switching from Harvest to Dolibarr?+
Harvest costs $11/mo ($132/yr) per seat, whereas Dolibarr is $0/mo. Switching saves $132/yr for a solo user, $660/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,320/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Dolibarr instead of Harvest?+
Install: DoliWamp, DoliDeb, DoliRPM, Docker, or a conventional PHP web-server installation. Setup: A packaged desktop-style installer exists on some platforms, but a durable deployment still needs a web server or Docker, database, HTTPS, backups, updates, and localization.
