5 best free ERP applications that can be the brain of your company

It’s time to forget the countless Excel files and e-mails and start managing the company from a single source. Get ERP and facilitate the processes of every department to help them work together in a better and more efficient way! 

What is ERP? 

ERP stands for enterprise resource planning. It is a system for integrated control of your company. An ERP system helps streamline processes across various departments by centralizing data and facilitating information flow throughout the organization. Imagine you can control all operations in your business from a single application. You can monitor the supply and production, utilize customer relationship management (CRM), sales management, distribution, accounting, human resources (HR), project management (PM), purchasing, etc. all from one place. Sounds exciting, right? The amazing thing is that you can find many completely free ERPs that can do all the above! Yes, there are also free ERP applications for small businesses! 

Read more about how an ERP works.  

Free ERPs vs Open-Source ERPs. What are the differences? 

When searching for the best free ERP software, you will immediately see both free and open-source apps options in the results. These terms refer to different concepts. 

Free ERP 

A free ERP is a software solution offered at no cost to the user. You can download, install, and use the software without paying any licensing fees.  

Some ERPs are completely free, with no cost for any features or updates. However, they may offer paid services like support, training, or hosting. Other ERPs provide a “freemium” model, where the basic version is free, but advanced features, additional modules, or premium support require payment. This software can’t be modified in terms of its source code. 

Open-source ERP 

An open-source ERP is a software whose source code is available to users. You are authorized to modify, customize, and distribute the software according to your needs, as long as you comply with the license’s terms. Open-source ERPs are typically free to use, but their defining feature is the openness of the source code. 

Customization is one of the key advantages of open-source ERPs. Businesses can tailor the software to their specific needs. This flexibility is essential for organizations with unique requirements not met by out-of-the-box solutions. 

Whеn choosing between the two, consider whether you need the flexibility to customize the software, and how skilled you are at managing the software’s technical aspects, which is harder for open-source solutions. Ready to find the best free ERP software?  

The five best free ERP applications  

iDempiere 

iDempiere, also known as OSGi ERP, is a free, powerful, open-source ERP/customer relationship management (CRM)/Supply Chain Management (SCM) system supported by a skillful community. It is a solution powered by Java and usually runs on top of a PostgreSQL database. It works on Linux and Windows (Linux vs Windows for servers?). It is among the best free open-source ERPs. 

Main Features 

• CRM: Customer management, sales forecasting, and marketing automation. 

• Manufacturing: Bill of materials (BOM), material requirements planning (MRP), production scheduling, and shop floor management. 

• Finance and accounting. 

• SCM: Inventory control, procurement, and order management. 

• PM: Task management, planning, and resource allocation. 

• HR and payroll: Management, processing, and time tracking. 

Advantages 

• Highly customizable. iDempiere’s architecture allows for extensive customization to meet specific business needs. 

• Comprehensive feature set. It covers diverse business processes, suitable for many industries. 

• Scalability. Capable of handling large data volumes and complex business operations. 

• Community. iDempiere’s community has grown over time and it actively works on enhancement and support. 

• Navigation. Easy and intuitive navigation, especially useful for new users. 

Disadvantages 

• Complexity. This powerful system has a steep learning curve, particularly for non-technical users. 

• Installation and maintenance. It requires significant technical expertise to set up and maintain. 

• Challenging documentation. While comprehensive, the documentation can be challenging to navigate for beginners. 

• Interface design. It has a basic and functional interface that might not be very eye-catching. 

Who can use iDempiere ERP? 

iDempiere is one of the best free ERP for small business. It can perfectly suit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Think about service industries, retail and wholesale distribution, project accounting industries such as construction accounting, light and outsourced manufacturing, etc. 

You can check out an iDempiere ERP demo and download iDempiere ERP software here.  

 

Dolibarr ERP 

Dolibarr is an easy-to-use ERP and CRM software for businesses. Dolibarr can be as simple or powerful as you need. It only depends on what you choose: the all-in-one suite, or the FOSS model. It is available on all platforms, on-premise, or as a SaaS application. 

Learn what SaaS means.  

Main Features 

• PM: Task management, timelines, and Gantt charts. 

• CRM and sales: Track your prospects and customers, opportunities, and commercial proposals; manage your workflow, sale orders, contracts, subscriptions, help desk, and tickets to answer issues. 

• HR: employees, expense reports, leave requests, time sheets, recruitment, etc. 

• E-commerce. integration with e-commerce platforms and online payments. 

• Product and stock: purchase, provisioning, manufacturing, shipments, warehouses, product and service catalog, prices and margins. 

• Finance and billing: double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, billing, and payments. 

• Marketing: surveys, e-mailing, etc. 

• Productivity: track agendas, interventions, projects, tasks, and more. 

• Integration and development: API, connectivity with external tools, import, export, module builder for developers. 

• CMS, website, point of sale (POS): build your website in a few minutes, and record payments and orders. 

Advantages 

• Dolibarr’s all-in-one suite is easy to install and configure, even for non-technical users. 

• Modular and extensible. Flexible usage, modules can be added or removed as needed. 

• Without double entries. Integration between the features/modules is ready and in-the-box.  

• Marketplace (Dolistore). To add modules and plugins, Dolibarr marketplace offers many options from third parties (free and paid).  

• Upgrade at any time. The upgrades of new versions are integrated by design into the development process. You can upgrade Dolibarr to the latest version without losing data.  

• Dolibarr free open-source software (FOSS) model available. It is a more competitive solution. If you have the skills, you can use the software to customize the ERP without limits. 

• Community. Active community constantly working on improvement and support. There are frequent updates. Moreover, it is integrated with different CMS. 

Disadvantages 

• Dolibarr all-in-one suite basic user interface (UI). The UI’s priority is functionality but lacks modern aesthetics. 

• Limited advanced features. It may not suit very large enterprises with complex needs. 

• Customization. Advanced customization through open-source software requires technical skills. 

• Marketplace. The products offered are from third parties and haven’t been developed or tested directly by Dolibarr. 

Who can use Dolibarr ERP? 

Dolibarr’s design, functionality, and possibilities are an excellent choice for freelancers, large companies, SMEs, and foundations. It is among the best free ERP for small business to avoid upfront costs. 

You can check out a Dolibarr ERP demo here.  

 

Metasfresh ERP 

Metasresh is a modern and free open-source ERP. You can use the software, modify it, and distribute it as you please. It is free if it’s self-hosted – just download and install it on a server that fulfills the system requirements. You also can choose their hosting plan (for a fee), but you will be limited in terms of users you can have. 

Read why you should host your ERP in the cloud.  

Main features 

• Accounting and finance: Manage invoicing, payments, and financial reports. 

• CRM: Lead management, customer relationships, and sales order processing. 

• Inventory and SCM: Detailed tracking, procurement, and logistics management. 

• Manufacturing: Production planning, MRP, and shop floor control. 

• Sales and distribution: Order management, pricing, and distribution planning. 

• Quality management: Integrated tools for quality control and assurance. 

Advantages 

• Scalability and flexibility. Metasfresh grows with your business, supporting increasing complexity and volume. 

• Modern UI. A clean, attractive, and responsive UI that enhances the user experience.  

• Real-time data processing. It provides real-time insights and reporting for fast decision-making. 

• Metasfresh runs on PCs, or smartphones, and adapts to the respective screen available. 

• There is a 7-day trial. Metasfresh hosts it during this time so you can try it for free. 

Disadvantages 

• Complexity. It requires more time to learn and master than simpler ERP systems. 

• Technical expertise. Installation and customization may require IT expertise. 

• Community support. While active, the community is smaller compared to more popular ERP systems. 

Who can use Metasfresh ERP? 

Metasfresh is among the best free open-source ERPs. It is ideal for SMEs searching for a free ERP solution with robust features for managing products, sales, and finances. Think about businesses focused on e-commerce, manufacturing, distribution, retail, etc. It is also one of the best free ERP for small business. 

You can download Metasfresh ERP here. 

 

Apache OFBiz 

Apache OFBiz is an open-source and 100% free ERP system. It offers great functionality. It is Java-based and one of the best free open-source ERPs. 

Main features 

• Apache OFBiz includes a range of core and out-of-the-box modules such as Manufacturing and MRP, CRM, order management and e-commerce, warehousing and inventory, and accounting (AR, GL, FA, AP). 

• Payments, billing, and contracts management. 

• Supply chain fulfillment. 

• Product and catalog management. 

• Promotion and pricing management. 

Advantages 

• It is one of the best free open-source ERP. 

• There are many modules to build the most complete ERP for your company. 

• Scalability. Apache OFBiz ERP is a reliable solution that can grow at the pace of your business needs. 

• Fully customizable. Being open-source, you can customize everything you want. 

• Flexibility. The ERP’s architecture allows quick extensions, additions, or adaptations to new needs or scenarios. 

Disadvantages 

• Not intuitive UI. Technical knowledge is required. 

• Complexity. The OFBiz has all the potential to be what you exactly need it to be, but its optimal use requires technical expertise. Setting up, configuring, and maintaining OFBiz can be challenging without an IT expert. 

• Challenging customization. Technical knowledge is required to succeed. 

• Longer implementation time. Due to its complexity and need for customization, the implementation process requires careful planning and development. 

Who can use Apache OFBiz ERP? 

Manufacturing, e-commerce, and many more businesses could benefit from OFBiz ERP. It is a great solution, especially for medium and large enterprises. Small businesses can use it too, but honestly, companies with larger needs will take greater advantage of the potential of this ERP. 

You can download Apache OFBiz and try it!  

 

ERPNext 

ERPNext is a full-featured, free, and open-source ERP. ERPNext is completely free if you self-host it. If you need hosting, then there is a fee to pay based on the plan you choose. It is another good choice when searching for free ERP software. 

Main Features 

• Accounting and finance: Manage invoices, expenses, and financial reporting. 

• Inventory and warehouse management: Track stock levels, manage warehouses, and automate reordering. 

• Manufacturing: BOM, work orders, production planning, and job cards. 

• HR and payroll: Employee management, payroll processing, attendance, and leave tracking. 

• CRM: Lead management, sales orders, and customer support. 

• PM: Task tracking, timelines, and resource allocation. 

• E-commerce integration: Built-in integration with online stores. 

Advantages 

• Ease of use. Friendly UI with a clean and intuitive design. 

• Comprehensive features. Robust set of features, suitable for various industries. 

• Cloud and on-premise options: Can be hosted in the cloud or on-premise. 

Disadvantages 

• Customization limitations. Advanced customization requires programming knowledge. 

• Performance. It can slow down with a large volume of data or users. 

• Support. Limited to community support unless a paid plan is chosen. 

Who can use ERPNext? 

ERPNext is a great and free ERP software for small business. Moreover, it perfectly suits medium-sized enterprises and can work well for large companies if you have the knowledge to tailor ERPNext to meet the growing needs of your business. 

You can check out a ERPNext demo here.  

 

Conclusion 

These five best free ERP applications can be the brain of your company! They provide suitable features for all business sizes and needs. Which one to choose? The one that fits your specific requirements, technical expertise, and the complexity of your business operations. 

Remember that once you have picked the best ERP for your business, you will need a server. Check out our offers for Dedicated Servers and Cloud Servers. They can help your business grow!