Zoho CRM vs Django-CRM
Django-CRM (also presented in the sources as BottleCRM) is the better fit for teams that want an MIT-licensed CRM on infrastructure they control and primarily need customer records, pipelines, tasks, tickets, invoices, mobile access, and an API. Zoho CRM remains the stronger choice for organizations that depend on broad workflow automation, cross-channel engagement, advanced customization, extensive integrations, or—
Decision guide
The practical reasons to choose either option, based on documented capabilities.
Choose Django-CRM if
- Small teams needing self-hosted lead, contact, account, deal, task, ticket, and invoice management
- Organizations requiring source-code access, an MIT license, and direct control of the application database
- Python/Django teams prepared to extend and operate their own CRM stack and documented REST API_API workflows and custom integrations rather than a large packaged integration marketplace
Stay with Zoho CRM if
- Sales processes require lead scoring, nurturing, sequencing, journey orchestration, or workflow automation; Django-CRM documents that these are absent
- Teams need granular permission matrices beyond the documented Admin and User roles
- Users need CRM-composed outbound customer email, calendar feeds, recurring tasks, or task remindersments require a self-service CSV migration path; the backend importer is not exposed through the web or mobile clientsFor
Deployment and operations
Django-CRM is MIT licensed and can be self-hosted or obtained with managed hosting. The documented Docker Compose setup runs PostgreSQL, Redis, the API, a Celery worker, and the web app; the repository quick start uses `docker compose up --build`. Self-hosters are responsible for backups, upgrades, TLS, and the mail provider. PostgreSQL must be configured correctly for row-level security, and scheduled functions require both a Celery worker and beat process. No Kubernetes deployment is other.
Migration considerations
A CSV importer exists on the backend with per-row error reporting and reference checking, but it is not reachable from the web or mobile clients. Paid migration services are offered; the supplied sources do not document a Zoho-specific importer or compatibility path.
Feature fit
What Django-CRM covers
- Lead, contact, and account records
- Sales opportunity pipelines
- Shared customer histories
- Tasks linked to CRM records
- Weighted pipeline forecasting
- Custom fields
- Mobile applications
- REST API access
What’s different or missing
- No lead scoring or nurturing
- No sales workflow automation
- No granular role matrix
- No dashboard builder
- No CRM-composed customer email
- No outbound webhooks
- No calendar feed
- No recurring tasks or reminders
- No accessible CSV import interface
- No documented large integration marketplace
Project snapshot
- GitHub stars
- 2,386
- Contributors
- 48
- Language
- Python
- Last commit
- Aug 17, 2026
- Latest release
- Aug 17, 2026
Categories: Customer Data Platforms, Marketing Automation, Customer Support, No-Code Platforms, Workflow Automation, Customer Relationship Management, Business Intelligence, Data Integration, Sales Intelligence
Sources and editorial review15 linked sources
Public documentation supports this comparison. Automation assists collection and classification; editorial standards and corrections remain the responsibility of Kris.
Open Source CRM for Startups and enterprises. Django + SvelteKit · Self-hosted · Multi-tenant · Free forever
repository description · github.comA free, self-hosted, multi-tenant CRM built with Django REST Framework, SvelteKit and Flutter.
readme · github.comIt covers the full customer lifecycle: leads, accounts, contacts, opportunities, support tickets, tasks and invoices
readme · github.comthrough a SvelteKit web app, a native Flutter mobile app, and a documented REST API sharing one Django backend
readme · github.comReal support tooling: a full helpdesk with SLA timers, approvals, escalations, macros and a knowledge base
readme · github.comQuick start ... docker compose up --build
readme · github.comThe full documentation (setup, self-hosting, architecture, the REST API, and contributing)
readme · github.comBottleCRM is an open source CRM you run on your own infrastructure. It covers the full customer lifecycle: leads, accounts, contacts, opportunities, support tickets, tasks and invoices: through a SvelteKit web app, a native Flutter mobile app, and a documented REST API sharing one Django backend.
verdict · github.comNo lead scoring, nurturing, or workflow automation
consider original · bottlecrm.ioEvery deal, the stage it is in, and how long it has been sitting there. Drag it forward when it moves.
shared feature · bottlecrm.ioAdmin and User. That is the whole list, and saying so is more useful than a permissions grid you would have to test.
missing feature · bottlecrm.iogit clone https://github.com/django-crm/Django-CRM.git cd Django-CRM docker compose up --build
deployment · github.comBackups, upgrades, TLS and the mail provider are yours. This is the part a subscription was buying you, and it is the honest reason managed hosting exists as an option.
deployment · bottlecrm.ioRecurring invoices, overdue marking, SLA breach scanning and stale-timer cleanup are eleven scheduled jobs, not page loads. Skip the Celery worker and its beat process and those features silently do nothing.
deployment · bottlecrm.ioThe importer is built and tested on the backend, with per-row error reporting and reference checking, and neither the web app nor the phone can reach it. Honest status: written, not shipped.
migration · bottlecrm.io
