Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. What Does “Free” Mean in the Context of Dolibarr?

  3. The Open-Source Licensing Model

  4. What You Get with the Free Version

  5. Hosting Dolibarr: Local vs. Cloud Options

  6. Cost of Ownership When Self-Hosting

  7. Are All Modules in Dolibarr Free?

  8. The Role of the Dolistore Marketplace

  9. Premium Modules and When You Might Need Them

  10. Dolibarr SaaS (Cloud) Options and Their Pricing

  11. User Limits: Is There a Cap on Free Usage?

  12. Performance Limits in the Free Version

  13. Security and Support: What’s Free and What’s Not

  14. Can Dolibarr Scale Without Paying?

  15. Common Misconceptions About Dolibarr’s Pricing

  16. Case Study: A Freelance Business Using Dolibarr for Free

  17. Case Study: An SME Growing with Minimal Costs

  18. Hidden Costs to Consider

  19. When Free Becomes Paid: Signs It’s Time to Upgrade

  20. Conclusion: How Far Can You Go with Free Dolibarr?

1. Introduction

Dolibarr is often described as a free and open-source ERP/CRM system. But what does that really mean? Can a business use it without spending a cent? Where does the free aspect stop and paid features begin?

This article offers a detailed exploration of Dolibarr’s free model—what it includes, where it excels, and where you might encounter limitations that push you toward optional paid tools or services.

2. What Does “Free” Mean in the Context of Dolibarr?

“Free” in Dolibarr’s case primarily refers to freedom (as in open source) and zero cost (as in you can use it without paying license fees). The software can be downloaded, installed, modified, and used without purchasing anything.

It’s important to distinguish between:

  • Free software (you can use and modify it)

  • Free services (hosting, support, modules—these may or may not be free)

3. The Open-Source Licensing Model

Dolibarr is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL v3), which ensures that:

  • You have full access to the source code

  • You can modify the code to suit your needs

  • You can share the software under the same license

This model is ideal for developers, freelancers, and small businesses that want full control without being locked into a vendor’s ecosystem.

4. What You Get with the Free Version

By downloading Dolibarr from the official website or GitHub, you receive:

  • All core modules: CRM, invoicing, accounting, HR, inventory, POS, etc.

  • Access to configuration tools, permissions management, dictionaries

  • Support for multi-user, multi-language, and multi-currency use

  • PDF generation tools, import/export tools, REST API

You also have access to the community forums, documentation, and updates.

5. Hosting Dolibarr: Local vs. Cloud Options

While the software itself is free, you need to host it somewhere:

  • Self-hosted: Free if you have your own server or computer

  • Shared hosting: Typically costs $2 to $10/month

  • VPS or dedicated server: $10 to $50/month depending on resources

There is no “Dolibarr tax”—you’re not paying the project for usage, but hosting is still a real cost.

6. Cost of Ownership When Self-Hosting

Even with a free installation, consider:

  • Time spent on installation and maintenance

  • Security updates and backups

  • Server performance monitoring

  • Domain and SSL certificate costs

These are manageable for many small businesses, but not technically “free” in terms of time or infrastructure.

7. Are All Modules in Dolibarr Free?

The core Dolibarr modules are free. These include:

  • Invoices

  • Quotes

  • Projects

  • Timesheets

  • Expense reports

  • Products and services

However, many optional or extended modules—especially industry-specific tools—may be paid.

8. The Role of the Dolistore Marketplace

Dolistore is Dolibarr’s official marketplace. It offers:

  • Premium modules developed by third-party contributors

  • Themes and design tools

  • Specialized extensions (e.g., for hotels, restaurants, real estate)

Prices range from €20 to €300+ depending on complexity. This is optional—nothing forces you to buy.

9. Premium Modules and When You Might Need Them

You may consider purchasing modules when you need:

  • eCommerce integrations (WooCommerce, Prestashop)

  • Advanced PDF templates

  • Chorus Pro for French public invoicing

  • Complex HR/payroll features

  • CMMS or manufacturing add-ons

These modules save time or provide industry-specific features not in the core.

10. Dolibarr SaaS (Cloud) Options and Their Pricing

Dolibarr SaaS services (like DoliCloud, DoliHost) offer:

  • Managed hosting and updates

  • Backup and security management

  • Support services

Pricing usually starts around €10/month per user. It’s still more affordable than traditional ERPs, but it’s no longer “free.”

11. User Limits: Is There a Cap on Free Usage?

When self-hosted, there is no limit to the number of users, products, invoices, or clients. This is a major advantage over many commercial ERPs, which charge per user or per record.

Performance depends on your server, but Dolibarr does not enforce artificial restrictions.

12. Performance Limits in the Free Version

There are no hardcoded limits, but practical ones include:

  • Server memory and CPU

  • Database query speed

  • Disk space for attachments or logs

Proper server optimization and indexing can handle hundreds of thousands of records.

13. Security and Support: What’s Free and What’s Not

Security updates are free for all users, released regularly. However:

  • Support is community-based unless you pay for professional services

  • Monitoring, intrusion detection, and firewalls are your responsibility unless you use SaaS

Security is as strong as your setup—Dolibarr doesn’t charge for patches.

14. Can Dolibarr Scale Without Paying?

Yes. Many medium-sized businesses run Dolibarr with:

  • 50+ users

  • Thousands of products and clients

  • Multi-warehouse inventory

  • API integrations with other systems

Scaling requires technical knowledge and server resources, but not additional software licenses.

15. Common Misconceptions About Dolibarr’s Pricing

  • Myth: You must pay to unlock features — False. Most features are unlocked by default.

  • Myth: You’re limited to one user — False. Unlimited users on self-hosted installs.

  • Myth: You must use a paid theme or module — False. Many themes and tools are free.

Understanding these realities helps businesses budget correctly.

16. Case Study: A Freelance Business Using Dolibarr for Free

Sarah, a freelance designer in Lyon, installed Dolibarr on a €3/month shared hosting account. She uses:

  • CRM to track clients

  • Invoicing and bank module

  • Task module to manage deliverables

Her total cost: under €50/year. No paid modules, no SaaS.

17. Case Study: An SME Growing with Minimal Costs

A renovation company with 15 employees uses Dolibarr to:

  • Track projects and materials

  • Invoice clients

  • Manage 3 warehouses

They pay €50 once for a stock management module and host on a VPS. Total ERP cost: ~€120/year plus time.

18. Hidden Costs to Consider

  • Customization (developer fees if you want tailored features)

  • Training and onboarding staff

  • Data migration from other systems

  • Integrations with third-party tools (e.g., Shopify, Stripe)

Even with these, the total is often far less than commercial ERP licensing fees.

19. When Free Becomes Paid: Signs It’s Time to Upgrade

  • You need support and don’t have in-house tech staff

  • Your team needs mobile access and cloud sync

  • Industry-specific needs require commercial modules

  • You want peace of mind with managed backups and monitoring

Upgrading isn’t required, but it can be worth it.

20. Conclusion: How Far Can You Go with Free Dolibarr?

Dolibarr is genuinely free—and remarkably capable out-of-the-box. Many businesses can operate for years without spending more than a hosting fee. It’s perfect for freelancers, startups, and growing SMEs that want full ERP/CRM capabilities without financial overhead.

However, as needs grow, investing in premium modules, SaaS hosting, or professional services might be worthwhile. The best part? You only pay when it makes sense. Dolibarr gives you the freedom to start free—and stay free—as long as it works for your business.