ERPNext vs Flowlu: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of ERPNext and Flowlu to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
ERPNext
6.5/10
Open-source ERP from Frappe with built-in CRM for leads, opportunities, quotations and campaigns, aimed at small and mid-sized businesses that need sales tied to accounting and stock.
Flowlu
6.4/10
All-in-one work management platform for small and mid-sized service businesses, combining projects, tasks, CRM, invoicing, finance tracking and a knowledge base.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | E ERPNext | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.5/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $5/mo Sites | $12/user/mo Essential |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Self-hosted (open source) | $120/mo Essential |
| Features | ||
| Built-in Calling | Not listed | |
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Customer Support Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Marketing Automation | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| More features | ||
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Docs | Not listed | |
| Client collaboration | Not listed | |
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Task management | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| Workflow automation | Not listed | |
| Kanban boards | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Knowledge base | Not listed | |
ERPNext vs Flowlu cost by team size
ERPNext and Flowlu cost the same at 1 user; ERPNext costs less from 5 users.
| Team size | ERPNext | Flowlu |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeSelf-hosted (open source) | FreeFree |
| 5 users | FreeSelf-hosted (open source) | $60/moEssential |
| 10 users | FreeSelf-hosted (open source) | $120/moEssential |
| 25 users | FreeSelf-hosted (open source) | $300/moEssential |
| 50 users | FreeSelf-hosted (open source) | $600/moEssential |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
EWhy choose ERPNext
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $120/mo
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for finance teams (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for mid-market (7/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose Flowlu
- Higher Ease of Use score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
EERPNext
Pros
- All modules are free and open source with no per-user fees, so costs scale with compute rather than headcount.
- Leads, opportunities and quotations connect directly to sales orders, invoices and stock in the same system.
- Highly customizable: reviewers praise changing forms without code, with full scripting and custom apps for developers.
- Wide set of built-in connectors, including Twilio and Exotel telephony, Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, WooCommerce and Plaid.
- Cheap managed hosting on Frappe Cloud starting at $5 a month, with a 14-day trial.
Cons
- The ERPNext CRM workspace is scheduled for removal in version 17, and Frappe recommends its separate Frappe CRM app instead.
- Reviewers say setup and integration with legacy systems require skilled technical staff.
- Reviewers report performance slowdowns with large databases.
- Reporting is described as limited by some reviewers, and the interface as dated.
- The Product Warranty covers bug fixes only, not functional support.
Flowlu
Pros
- Combines project delivery with CRM, invoicing and finance tracking, so service firms can track project profitability without separate accounting or sales tools.
- The free plan includes invoices, estimates and a basic wiki for two users, which is unusual for a project management tool.
- Capterra reviewers give high marks for value for money, and several say Flowlu replaced multiple separate apps.
- Projects can be viewed as lists, Kanban boards or Gantt charts, and mind maps can be converted into projects.
Cons
- Important features are spread across tiers. The client portal, billable hours and role-based access need Advanced at 22 USD per user per month, and white-labeling needs Ultimate.
- Some reviewers describe a steep learning curve at first because the suite has so many modules.
- Some reviewers say requests through the in-app support chat went unanswered.
- The free plan's limits of 100 contacts, one pipeline and one workflow are restrictive, and refunds are not offered on paid plans.
- The sources reviewed list no public security certifications or SSO.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ERPNext scores higher on our CRM criteria: 6.5/10 against 6.4/10 for Flowlu. The largest gap is in Ease of Use: 4/10 for ERPNext and 7/10 for Flowlu.
ERPNext costs less for 10 users: free on its Self-hosted (open source) plan, against about $120/mo on its Essential plan for Flowlu, billed monthly.
Yes, both ERPNext and Flowlu have a free plan.
ERPNext is the better fit for finance teams: we rate it 7/10 for them, against 4/10 for Flowlu.
