Dolibarr ERP/CRM is not a new kid on the block. First released in 2002 and actively maintained ever since, it’s a mature, modular, PHP-based business suite that combines ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) capabilities under one roof.
It’s open-source, self-hostable, highly customizable, and comes with a thriving community of users and contributors—especially in Europe. You can install it on your own server, host it in the cloud, or even run it on a modest shared hosting plan. Its modularity makes it accessible to freelancers, small businesses, and nonprofits who want the power of a business suite without the overhead.
And yes—it’s free.
Core Features
The UI isn’t flashy, but it’s logically laid out and significantly more intuitive than many of its competitors, especially for first-time ERP users. Dolibarr’s real strength lies in how much it can do out of the box without overwhelming the user. Some highlights include:
- CRM and Customer Management
- Invoicing and Quotes/Proposals
- Inventory and Stock Management
- Human Resources and Leave Tracking
- Projects and Tasks
- Accounting and Bank Reconciliation
- POS and Retail Capabilities
- Support for Contracts, Donations, and Foundations
- Email Campaigns and Document Templates
- Multilingual and Multi-Currency Support
- REST API for integrations and automations
💬 “I work with clients on multiple continents. I need proposals and invoices in different languages and currencies. Dolibarr supports multilingualism all the way through—proposals, invoices, products, services, etc. Dolibarr just works.”
Deployment and Hosting
One of the most attractive aspects of Dolibarr is its hosting flexibility. You can:
- Install it on a shared cPanel host (users report it runs fine with PHP and MySQL)
- Deploy it via Bitnami on AWS, Azure, or locally
- Use Docker containers for isolated environments
- Host it on your own hardware
For a lean, cost-effective ERP/CRM stack, Dolibarr is a standout. As one user put it:
💬 “We installed Dolibarr in a normal shared hosting server, you know, under $200 per year, and it runs smoothly. We tested up to 50 users at the same time and it was fine.”
Customization and Extensions
Dolibarr is incredibly flexible. Every entity—from customers to invoices—can be extended with custom fields, which are editable through the admin interface. You can define:
- Field type (text, select, checkbox, date, relational, etc.)
- Label and order
- Whether they appear on documents or listings
And it’s not just skin-deep. Developers can extend it further by:
- Writing custom modules
- Creating custom PDF templates
- Adjusting source code for highly specific needs
💬 “I’ve reached levels of customization in Dolibarr that would simply be impossible in any other solution.”
Thirdparty vs. Contacts
A unique concept in Dolibarr is the distinction between Thirdparties and Contacts:
- Thirdparties = Businesses or legal entities you interact with (clients, vendors, etc.)
- Contacts = The people working within those organizations
For example, if you do business with “Acme Corp,” that’s a Thirdparty. Their CEO and Sales Rep would be added as Contacts linked to that Thirdparty. This structure mirrors real-world business relationships and provides clarity when managing communications, invoices, and proposals.
REST API and Automation
Dolibarr includes a well-documented REST API that allows for:
- External integrations (e.g., Airtable, Zapier-like tools such as n8n)
- Automated document creation
- Workflow automations
- Multilingual content generation
One user shared that they built a module to automatically translate product descriptions using the API. Another integrated with Google Translate and Airtable to streamline proposals.
Community Experience and Longevity
Dolibarr is actively developed by a large open-source community and backed by the Dolibarr Foundation. It has been translated into dozens of languages and is popular especially in Europe, with growing usage in North America and Africa.
💬 “I think it gets less traction because of a lack of marketing, or maybe the fact that it’s mainly targeted to the European / French market.”
But that’s changing. As privacy and sovereignty become more important in business software, tools like Dolibarr are seeing renewed interest.
💬 “It’s been maintained for over 20 years, and constantly evolving. I can’t think of another solution that’s on par in terms of features.”
Pitfalls and Caveats
Like any tool, Dolibarr has its trade-offs:
- UI can feel dated, though it’s functional and getting better
- Codebase is messy in parts, due to its age and wide contribution base
- Learning curve for non-tech users when it comes to setup and customization
- Official modules and third-party extensions vary in quality
That said, the learning curve is far shallower than other ERPs, especially those built on complex stacks like Python or Java.
💬 “It’s not the most beautiful PHP (20+ years of development, and the code reflects it), but at least I can host it on my vacuum cleaner if needs be.”
ERPNext vs. Dolibarr
Many users compare Dolibarr to ERPNext, another open-source ERP:
| Feature | Dolibarr | ERPNext |
|---|---|---|
| Stack | PHP/MySQL | Python/Node/Redis/Postgres |
| Hosting Flexibility | High (even shared hosting) | Moderate (needs VPS or Docker) |
| UI | Functional, more colorful | Stark, minimalist |
| Custom Fields | Native, no coding required | Advanced, but harder to use |
| Community | Europe-heavy | Asia-heavy |
| Best For | SMEs, nonprofits, freelancers | Growing startups, tech-savvy orgs |
💬 “Dolibarr looks like someone actually thought about usability. ERPNext is just… white.”
Why the *arr Name Though?
Let’s get one thing straight: Not every tool ending in “-arr” has to involve piracy.
There’s Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, and now… Dolibarr? It sounds like it’s ready to download movies. But no—this one’s about invoices, VAT, and customer history. You’re not setting up a media server, you’re setting up your business backbone. Still, we can’t help but chuckle at the naming trend.
Who Should Use Dolibarr?
Dolibarr is not for everyone. If you need a plug-and-play solution with phone support and glossy brochures, look elsewhere. But if you’re:
- A business owner who wants full control over your data
- Comfortable self-hosting or hiring a developer
- Tired of overpriced SaaS tools with feature bloat
- Looking for a modular, stable platform that’s proven and free
Then Dolibarr is one of the best-kept secrets in open source ERP/CRM.
Bottom line: If your business can benefit from automating tasks, consolidating operations, and increasing productivity, Dolibarr is a tool worth your time. It’s not the loudest player, but it’s one of the most capable.