A modern CRM offering the flexibility of open source, advanced features, and a sleek design.
- AGPL-3.0
- TypeScript
- Docker
- Actively maintained
CRM comparison
Twenty vs SuiteCRM: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Twenty for a modern CRM you model and extend as code, with custom objects, views, workflows and APIs; pick SuiteCRM for a mature, feature-heavy enterprise CRM with cases, contracts and a long-established partner ecosystem on a classic PHP stack.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
The award-winning, enterprise-class open source CRM.
- AGPL-3.0
- PHP
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Twenty vs SuiteCRM, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Twenty |  SuiteCRM |
|---|---|---|
| License | Mostly AGPL-3.0; files marked Enterprise are commercial | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language/stack | TypeScript with NestJS and React | PHP 8.1 to 8.4 (SuiteCRM 7), descended from SugarCRM Community Edition |
| Database | PostgreSQL plus Redis | MySQL or MariaDB (recommended), or Microsoft SQL Server |
| Standout features | Custom objects and fields, table and kanban views, workflows, apps defined as code with the Twenty SDK and CLI | Accounts, contacts, leads, opportunities, cases, contracts and documents, multi-currency and many languages |
| Hosting | Official Docker Compose setup, or Twenty Cloud | LAMP-style install on Linux (Apache recommended) or Windows; managed hosting from SuiteCRM Ltd |
| GitHub stars | 57,949 | 5,779 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 7,656 | 185 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Latest release | twenty/v2.45.0Oct 5, 2026 | v7.15.2Jul 31, 2026 |
| Main language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Official Docker image | Yes | No |
| Repository | twentyhq/twenty | SuiteCRM/SuiteCRM |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Twenty suits technical teams that want a fast, modern interface and a CRM they can shape with custom objects, fields, views and workflows, and extend as code with its SDK and CLI. SuiteCRM suits organizations that want a proven, broad CRM out of the box (accounts, leads, opportunities, cases, contracts and documents), runs on standard Apache, PHP and MySQL hosting, and comes with commercial hosting and support from SuiteCRM Ltd if needed. SuiteCRM 7 is the stable line; SuiteCRM 8 lives in a separate repository.
Best for
Choose Twenty for
Technical teams wanting a modern, programmable CRM.
Best for
Choose SuiteCRM for
Organizations wanting a mature, all-round enterprise CRM on PHP hosting.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
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Which is the better Salesforce alternative?
SuiteCRM is closer to Salesforce in breadth today, with cases, contracts and a large partner network. Twenty is closer in how you customize it, with custom objects and code-defined apps, and is the better pick if you want a modern UX.
Should I install SuiteCRM 7 or 8?
The SuiteCRM 7 README describes 7 as the mature, stable line and says SuiteCRM 8, in the separate SuiteCRM-Core repository, is not yet as feature complete. Check the roadmap before choosing.
Which is lighter to run?
SuiteCRM runs on a standard PHP and MySQL server. Twenty needs Node.js, PostgreSQL and Redis, which is easiest with its Docker Compose file.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Twenty or SuiteCRM?
Twenty has 57,949 GitHub stars against 5,779 for SuiteCRM. Over the last twelve months Twenty received 7,656 commits and SuiteCRM received 185, so Twenty is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
