Apache OFBiz
5.9/10Free, open-source Java suite of business applications from the Apache Software Foundation. It covers ERP, CRM, sales force automation, e-commerce and accounting for organisations that can self-host and customise it.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Apache OFBiz is an open-source suite of business applications run by the Apache Software Foundation. It has been an Apache top-level project since 2006. The suite is built on a Java framework with an entity engine, a service engine and a widget-based UI. CRM sits beside accounting, order management and e-commerce, warehousing, manufacturing and MRP, catalog management, and contracts and billing. The CRM side lives in the marketing and SFA (sales force automation) applications, which build on the shared party data model. It has screens for leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, forecasts and events. Marketing campaigns link to contact lists and product promotions. OFBiz suits mid-sized and larger companies, and integrators, who want CRM tied closely to orders, inventory and accounting, and who have Java developers to adapt it. It has no licence cost because it is released under the Apache License 2.0. Buyers pay instead for hosting, implementation and any third-party support. There is no official vendor support. Help comes from mailing lists, documentation and independent service providers. The project is actively maintained: the 24.09 line got releases 24.09.06 and 24.09.07 in May and June 2026, which addressed 19 CVEs. The main limitation is usability and effort. Reviewers say setup and configuration are complex and the interface is dated and developer-oriented. Some SFA screens have open bug reports and improvement requests, so out of the box it is far less polished than hosted CRMs.
Our Rating
Who Apache OFBiz is best for
Less suited
Integrators use it as a framework for building custom client solutions.
Its broad ERP and CRM scope and full customisability appeal to large organisations that have in-house Java teams.
- Mid-Market6/10
Suits mid-sized firms that want CRM integrated with orders and inventory without paying licence fees, if they can resource the implementation.
Reviewers warn that its complexity and IT requirements make it a poor fit for small firms.
A reviewer explicitly did not recommend it for sole proprietors.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No licence fees under Apache License 2.0, with full source code access.
- CRM shares one data model with accounting, orders, inventory and manufacturing, so customer records connect to the whole business.
- Highly extensible: the entity engine, service engine and widget framework let developers add custom features.
- Actively maintained, with security releases in 2026 and a community of 64 committers.
Cons
- Setup and configuration are hard. One 2026 reviewer spent six hours without getting the default environment working.
- Dated, developer-oriented interface that reviewers call user-unfriendly.
- No official vendor support. Help comes from the community or paid third parties.
- SFA screens have open bug reports and improvement requests, and they lack the modern CRM extras that hosted tools include.
- 2026 brought a sharp rise in vulnerability reports, so self-hosters must patch promptly.
Key Features
Apache OFBiz Pricing
Open source (self-hosted)
- Apache License 2.0
- Community support only
- Self-hosted; hosting and implementation costs are separate
- All modules: CRM/SFA, marketing, accounting, order management, e-commerce, inventory, manufacturing
Frequently Asked Questions
The software is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0. Costs come from hosting, implementation, customisation and any paid third-party support.
Yes. Its marketing and SFA applications handle leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, forecasts, events and marketing campaigns linked to contact lists, all built on the shared party data model.
Yes. Version 24.09.06 shipped on May 19, 2026 and 24.09.07 on June 10, 2026. Both fixed outstanding vulnerability reports.
There is no commercial vendor. Support comes from the Apache community through mailing lists, Jira and documentation, or from independent service providers.
Generally not. Reviewers say you need dedicated IT staff, and one advises small businesses and sole proprietors against it.
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