SuiteCRM vs Twenty: which open source CRM fits your team
SuiteCRM fits a team that needs a broad, module-heavy CRM now. It covers sales, service and campaign work out of the box, runs on PHP with MySQL or MariaDB, and offers SAML or LDAP sign-in through AUTH_TYPE=saml or AUTH_TYPE=ldap in the free core. Twenty fits a developer-led team that expects the data model to change often, since custom objects and fields can be defined as code, and that already runs PostgreSQL and Redis. Its GraphQL and REST APIs suit teams building their own front ends or integrations on top of the CRM.
The decision turns on four questions. First, which skills your team already has: PHP, MySQL or MariaDB for SuiteCRM, TypeScript, NestJS, PostgreSQL and Redis for Twenty. Second, how much the data model will change after go-live. Third, what identity requirements you have, because Twenty's SSO, row-level permissions and audit logs sit on its paid Organization plan, while SCIM provisioning and IP allow-listing are listed for Enterprise. Fourth, whether you can accept the Enterprise license header in Twenty's repository, which marks files under a commercial license even though the core is largely AGPL-3.0.
Both cores are AGPL-3.0, so the license question is less about the core than about which files you will run and which tier you will need. Confirm with each vendor which features your required controls depend on, and get the paid tier, if any, written into the quote. Then match that list against the stack your operations team can support for the next several years.
Which CRM fits each scenario
This table maps common team situations to the platform that fits better, based on stack, modules, identity and paid tiers. The scenarios are illustrative, and the answer changes if your team's skills, hosting habits or identity provider change, so treat each row as a starting question rather than a verdict.
| Scenario (illustrative) | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A PHP shop with an existing LAMP-style team and MySQL or MariaDB hosting | SuiteCRM | Its PHP and MySQL or MariaDB stack matches existing skills, and the 8.10.x matrix lists MariaDB and MySQL versions that ops teams can standardize on. |
| A TypeScript or product engineering team that wants to own the data model in code | Twenty | Custom objects and fields can be defined as code, the backend is NestJS on PostgreSQL and Redis, and APIs are GraphQL and REST. |
| A service desk that needs case handling alongside sales pipelines | SuiteCRM | Its broad module set covers sales, cases and campaigns in one application, while Twenty focuses on CRM objects and workflows that you would build out yourself. |
| A team that needs SSO and audit logs without a paid plan | SuiteCRM | SAML and LDAP sign-in are built into SuiteCRM 8, whereas Twenty lists SSO and audit logs on its Organization and Enterprise plans. Confirm the SAML logout limits before committing. |
| A team with an active SuiteCRM 7 instance that must move off it | SuiteCRM | Moving to SuiteCRM 8 is documented as a migration to a new environment, so SuiteCRM remains the natural path. Twenty would be a rebuild of data and customizations. |
| A team that expects to run a Redis and PostgreSQL stack and wants frequent releases | Twenty | Its self-hosting guide runs a server, worker, PostgreSQL and Redis with at least 2 GB of RAM, and releases arrive often, which suits teams already operating that stack. |
How SuiteCRM and Twenty are built and what that means for operations
SuiteCRM and Twenty take different routes to the same job: a PHP application on MySQL or MariaDB against a TypeScript application on PostgreSQL and Redis. The four cards below cover the runtime of each, the layout of Twenty's Docker Compose self-hosting guide, and what each design asks your operations team to own after go-live.
SuiteCRM's PHP and database stack
SuiteCRM 8.10.x runs as a PHP application on Apache 2.4 with a MySQL or MariaDB database. The compatibility matrix lists PHP 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, MariaDB 10.6, 10.11, 11.4 and 11.8, and MySQL 8.0 and 8.4, on Linux, Unix or macOS. Your team needs PHP and Apache administration skills and a relational database team. Before go-live, confirm the exact PHP and database pairing against the matrix for the minor release you deploy, because support differs by version.
Twenty's NestJS and React runtime
Twenty's backend is built on NestJS with BullMQ for background jobs, PostgreSQL for data and Redis for queues and caching, with a React frontend. It exposes GraphQL and REST APIs. Your team needs TypeScript and Node.js operations skills and PostgreSQL and Redis experience. Asynchronous jobs such as workflow runs and email sync depend on BullMQ working against Redis, so a Redis outage stalls background processing even when the web interface still loads.
Docker Compose self-hosting layout
Twenty's Docker Compose guide runs four components: a server, a worker, PostgreSQL and Redis. The guide asks for at least 2 GB of RAM because insufficient memory can crash processes. Plan for the worker as a separate process to monitor, not only the web endpoint. Ask your platform team whether Compose is acceptable under your change control, or whether the components must be split onto managed services and scheduled through your own orchestration.
Operational ownership and backups
SuiteCRM concentrates state in one relational database plus its file store, so backups cover database dumps and customization files, and migration work touches both. Twenty spreads state across PostgreSQL and Redis, so backups and restore tests must cover both services and the worker's queue state. In both cases, monitor database health, disk and memory, and job failures, and rehearse a restore on staging before you rely on either platform in production.
SuiteCRM vs Twenty side by side on the features that decide the choice
This table compares the licensing, release, stack, API, data model, permission and enterprise control facts that most often decide between SuiteCRM and Twenty. Read the Twenty column with its pricing tiers in mind, since several controls sit on paid plans, and treat every 'confirm with the vendor' cell as an open question for your own evaluation.
| Feature | SuiteCRM | Twenty |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 for the SuiteCRM 8 core repository and SuiteCRM 7 repository | Mostly AGPL-3.0 with an application exception; Enterprise-headed files are commercial; SDK and UI packages are MIT |
| Release line and cadence | SuiteCRM 8 (latest 8.10.2, July 31, 2026) and SuiteCRM 7 (latest 7.15.2); 8.x minors about every eight weeks | Frequent releases, for example v2.48.0 on October 16, 2026; confirm your preferred upgrade cadence with the vendor |
| Database, cache and runtime | PHP 8.2 to 8.4 on MariaDB or MySQL, with Apache 2.4 on Linux, Unix or macOS | TypeScript application on PostgreSQL and Redis; Docker Compose guide asks for at least 2 GB of RAM |
| API surface | Confirm the 8.x REST and GraphQL coverage and webhook options in the SuiteCRM documentation | REST and GraphQL APIs and webhooks included on all plans, according to Twenty's pricing page |
| Custom objects and fields | Confirm how custom modules and fields are built in SuiteCRM 8 and what survives upgrades | Custom objects and fields defined as code; unlimited custom objects, fields, views and records on all plans |
| Workflow automation | Confirm the 8.x workflow and automation coverage with the vendor | Workflow automation is part of the platform, per the twentyhq/twenty repository; confirm how it runs on your self-hosted version |
| Role-based and row-level permissions | Confirm role-based and record-level access options in SuiteCRM 8 with the vendor | Role-based permissions in the platform; row-level permissions on the Organization and Enterprise plans |
| SSO on the free core | LDAP (AUTH_TYPE=ldap) and SAML (AUTH_TYPE=saml); SAML 8.7.0+ lacks IdP-initiated logout | SSO is listed for Organization and Enterprise plans; confirm what the free self-hosted core offers |
| SCIM, IP allow-listing, audit log and key rotation | Confirm SCIM, IP allow-listing, audit logging and encryption key rotation with the vendor | SCIM and IP allow-listing on Enterprise; audit logs and encryption key rotation on Organization and Enterprise |
What the license and paid editions cover for each platform
SuiteCRM's core software is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPL-3.0). The SuiteCRM 8 core and SuiteCRM 7 repositories maintained by SalesAgility carry that license, and SuiteCRM Ltd sells services around the free software. The license covers the code you can download, run and modify, while the paid items are separate agreements with their own scope.
- Free software: The SuiteCRM 8 core and SuiteCRM 7 code can be self-hosted and modified under AGPL-3.0, and the license itself carries no per-user fee.
- SuiteASSURED support: A paid support package from SuiteCRM Ltd. Its response commitments, coverage hours and cost sit in the vendor's agreement, so request them in writing.
- SuiteCRM Hosted: A vendor-run hosting service. It is a different deployment model from running the software inside your own infrastructure.
- Implementation, training and migration: Paid services from SuiteCRM Ltd. Work by any other provider is a separate contract with its own deliverables.
Confirm which paid service, if any, your use case depends on, and get each one's terms in writing before you rely on it.
Twenty is mostly licensed under AGPL-3.0 with an additional application exception. Files marked with an Enterprise license header fall under a commercial license, and the SDK and UI packages are MIT. The open-source core can be self-hosted for free, and the paid plans add access controls, identity features and administration options on top of it.
- Mostly AGPL-3.0: The repository LICENSE sets the main terms, and the application exception modifies them in ways you need to read in full.
- Enterprise-header files: Files carrying the Enterprise header are commercial. Map the features you plan to use against those headers before you build on them.
- MIT packages: The SDK and UI packages are MIT, which is more permissive than AGPL-3.0 for reuse in your own code.
- Pro and Organization: Pro is listed at 9 US dollars per user per month. Organization is listed at 19 US dollars per user per month and adds row-level permissions, SAML or OIDC SSO and audit logs.
- Enterprise: Listed from 50,000 US dollars a year. It adds single-tenant isolation, IP allow-listing, SCIM provisioning and an SLA.
Prices are as shown on Twenty's pricing page at the time of writing, so confirm current figures with Twenty and ask for Enterprise terms in writing.
The license texts are the starting point, but how AGPL-3.0 obligations apply to your hosting, modifications and integrations is a legal question. Your counsel should review both platforms before you commit, because the answer depends on how you deploy and extend the software. The points below are the ones most likely to need a decision.
- Network use: AGPL-3.0 has obligations when you modify software and offer it over a network. Ask counsel how these apply to internal staff use and to any customer-facing portal.
- Application exception: Confirm what Twenty's additional exception permits for your extensions, custom objects and integrations.
- Mixed files: Identify which Twenty files your deployment touches and confirm that none carry the Enterprise header unless you hold a commercial license.
- Paid agreements: Review SuiteASSURED, SuiteCRM Hosted, any Twenty plan terms and any SLA for liability, support scope and termination.
- Version drift: License text and pricing change between releases. Record the version and date you reviewed.
Bring the license files, a dated copy of each pricing page and your planned customizations to counsel before you sign anything.
How data model customization and APIs differ in practice
Twenty treats the data model as something you can version. Custom objects and fields are defined as code, and the same unlimited custom objects, fields, views and records are included on every plan, with REST and GraphQL APIs and webhooks available across the board. For a team that already keeps infrastructure and application configuration in Git, this means schema changes can go through the same review, branch and rollback path as the rest of the stack. Confirm with Twenty how its code-defined objects move between environments and how they are applied during an upgrade, because that process, not the feature list, determines how much work each release creates for your team.
SuiteCRM customization lives in its extension model, and the 7-to-8 change affects how custom work survives upgrades. The SuiteCRM migration documentation treats the move from SuiteCRM 7 to 8 as a migration into a new environment, not an in-place upgrade, and it warns that the process may remove non-core files under the public/legacy folder. Any customization you built on SuiteCRM 7 therefore needs to be inventoried and re-validated against SuiteCRM 8 before it is trusted. Ask the vendor or your implementation partner which extension mechanisms are supported in the SuiteCRM 8 line you plan to run, since the supplied material does not establish the tooling for this in detail.
Start with an inventory, then test each item on a staging instance. List every custom field, workflow, report, integration and API consumer your users and systems depend on, and record where each one is defined: in the database, in a SuiteCRM module or file, or in Twenty's code-defined schema. Then run each item against a staging copy, backing up files and the database first as the SuiteCRM migration guidance advises. Items that fail or cannot be located are your migration risk list, and they should be scoped and priced before a go-live date is set. An illustrative example: a custom quote field that works in a SuiteCRM 7 module may need rebuilding in SuiteCRM 8 rather than carried across.
What drives the running cost of each CRM
Running cost for either CRM comes from four places: the servers and database stack you operate, the people who can run it, the support you buy, and the work each upgrade cycle creates. The cards below separate those costs so you can ask each vendor or partner for the right line items in a quote.
Hosting footprint and stack
SuiteCRM runs on PHP with MySQL 8.0 or 8.4 or MariaDB, and its 8.10.x compatibility matrix lists Apache 2.4. Twenty runs a server, a worker, PostgreSQL and Redis, and its Docker Compose guide asks for at least 2 GB of RAM because insufficient memory can crash processes. Count every container or service you must patch, back up and monitor, not only the application. Ask your infrastructure team whether Redis and PostgreSQL already have operational standards in your estate.
Skills to keep the stack running
Running SuiteCRM well leans on PHP, Apache and MySQL or MariaDB administration, which many IT teams already staff. Twenty asks for TypeScript application knowledge plus PostgreSQL and Redis operations, including queue behavior under the BullMQ worker. Whichever you choose, the recurring cost is the staff hours spent on patching, backups and upgrades. Ask any partner to name the engineers and the skills they will hand over at go-live.
Support options and who you pay
SuiteCRM Ltd sells SuiteASSURED support, hosting, implementation, training and migration services, and other vendors also support the software. Twenty offers paid Organization and Enterprise plans, and its Enterprise tier is listed with an SLA. DeployOpen retainers are one option for ongoing support, upgrades and testing on your own infrastructure. Each route is recurring. Ask for response targets in writing, what is covered by the subscription and what is billed as project work.
Upgrade cadence and paid editions
SuiteCRM 8 minor releases arrive roughly every eight weeks, and SuiteCRM 7.15 receives security fixes until January 2028. Twenty ships frequent releases, with v2.48.0 released on October 16, 2026. If you need SSO, row-level permissions or audit logs on Twenty, budget for the Organization plan rather than assuming the free core covers them. Each upgrade cycle is recurring labor, and a SuiteCRM move from 7 to 8 is a migration project with its own test effort.
How to move between SuiteCRM and Twenty if the choice proves wrong
The sequence turns a platform switch into a controlled project with a mapped data model, a rehearsed cutover and a defined read-only window on the source. It applies in either direction, because no supplied migration tool connects the two products, so every record and rule has to be mapped deliberately.
Inventory the source data model and customizations
Start by listing every module, custom field, relationship, workflow, report, email template, integration and user role in the current platform. In SuiteCRM this includes custom modules and any changes under the custom code paths, and in Twenty it includes custom objects and fields defined as code. Review customizations line by line, since the team that built them is often no longer present. The step is done when the inventory is signed off by the business owner of each process and each item is marked keep, rebuild or retire.
Map source objects and fields to the target model
Build a field-level mapping from the source model to the target model, covering object names, field types, picklist values, relationships and required fields. Twenty's custom objects and fields are defined in code and its REST and GraphQL APIs are the likely load path, while SuiteCRM 8 data sits in a MySQL or MariaDB schema that has to be read through its own structures. Note where one platform has no equivalent, such as a module with no counterpart. The step closes with a reviewed mapping document and a list of gaps that need a decision.
Decide what transfers and what gets rebuilt
Decide, item by item, which records, custom fields, workflows, users and permissions move across. Historical activity and attachments usually need a retention decision, while permissions must be rebuilt against the target's role model rather than copied, because the two products express access differently. Automation and integrations are rebuilt on the target instead of translated. The output is a signed transfer scope listing what is migrated, what is recreated and what is archived, with a named owner for each decision.
Build the extract, transform and load scripts
Write and version the scripts that extract source data, transform it to the mapping and load it into the target, using the target's APIs or a controlled database load where the vendor documents one. Run each script against a copy of the data and log every rejected or altered row. Check record counts, referential integrity, attachment links and user ownership on each run. The step is complete when repeated runs produce the same reconciled counts and every exception has a documented resolution.
Rehearse the move on staging with verified backups
Stand up the target on a staging environment that matches the planned production stack, then run the full migration there. Before the first run, take and verify backups of the source files and database, and keep them separate from the staging copies. Test logins through the planned identity method, check permissions for each role, and walk through the key sales and service processes with business users. The rehearsal is done when a complete run passes reconciliation and the business signs off the test results.
Confirm vendor and scope points before production work
Before production work starts, confirm with each vendor the supported versions, the self-hosting requirements, the licensing position for your intended edition and any feature you depend on, such as SSO, row-level permissions, audit logs or SCIM provisioning, which Twenty lists for paid plans. For SuiteCRM, confirm the release line and the upgrade path it sits on, because version-specific migration rules apply. Put the outcome into DeployOpen's written scope, which sets deliverables, responsibilities and timelines before work begins. The step closes with a signed scope and a vendor confirmation record.
Cut over and hold the source read-only
On the agreed cutover date, take a final backup, run the delta load, reconcile counts and switch users to the target. Set the source to read-only for a window agreed in advance, so that no changes are made in the old system while teams use the new one and any late corrections can be checked against it. Confirm that integrations point at the target and that email and calendar sync work for each user. The step is complete when the cutover checklist is signed and users confirm they can complete their daily tasks.
Retire the source after a defined read-only window
At the end of the read-only window, confirm that no outstanding discrepancies remain, archive the final source backup under your retention policy and decommission the source environment in a controlled way. Record the decisions taken, including retained records and rebuilt items, so the next operator understands the new system. The step is done when the decommission record, the archive location and the lessons log are filed with the platform owner.
How SAML, LDAP and SSO sign-in compare for each CRM
SuiteCRM 8 offers two directory and federation paths, and both are switched on through configuration. LDAP is enabled by setting AUTH_TYPE to ldap and is built on the Symfony Security LDAP authenticators. SAML is enabled by setting AUTH_TYPE to saml and is built on the nbgrp onelogin-saml-bundle. Read the SuiteCRM 8 LDAP configuration reference and the SAML reference for the version you run, then confirm which of your directory or identity provider settings each path expects before you commit to one.
The main SuiteCRM limit is logout. From 8.7.0 onward, the SAML implementation does not support IdP-initiated logout or POST binding to the logout service. Ending a session at the identity provider therefore does not end the SuiteCRM session, so a user who signs out of the portal can still hold an open CRM session. Plan for this with session timeout settings, a documented user offboarding step that covers the CRM, and a test that signs out at the identity provider and checks the CRM session in your environment.
Twenty places SSO in its paid plans, not in the free self-hosted core. Per Twenty's pricing page, SSO through SAML or OIDC sits in the Organization and Enterprise plans, and SCIM provisioning and IP allow-listing sit in Enterprise. Before you budget, ask Twenty to confirm in writing which plan covers each identity feature you need, how SSO is configured for your self-hosted instance, and how logout behaves with your provider. Verify Keycloak, Entra ID or Active Directory support against the current Twenty documentation rather than assuming it.
SuiteCRM vs Twenty questions buyers ask before hiring help
How much effort does a self-hosted SuiteCRM or Twenty deployment take?
Effort depends mostly on the stack your team already runs, the number of customizations, and the identity and integration work around the CRM. SuiteCRM 8 runs on PHP with MySQL or MariaDB, and its 8.10.x compatibility matrix lists PHP 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, MariaDB 10.6, 10.11, 11.4 and 11.8, MySQL 8.0 and 8.4, and Apache 2.4. Twenty runs as a TypeScript application on PostgreSQL and Redis, and its Docker Compose guide runs a server, a worker, PostgreSQL and Redis, with at least 2 GB of RAM. A team that already operates PHP, MySQL and Apache will usually find SuiteCRM familiar, while a team that already runs PostgreSQL, Redis and containers will find Twenty easier to host. Ask any partner to estimate effort against a written list of modules, integrations and customizations.
Can our team run SuiteCRM or Twenty without an outside partner?
A team with hosting, database and application administration skills can run either platform without a partner, provided it has time for upgrades, backups and testing. The harder parts are usually not the installation but the ongoing work: applying SuiteCRM 8 minor releases, which arrive roughly every eight weeks, reviewing customizations after each change, and keeping identity integration working. Patch releases contain only security and bug fixes. Twenty ships frequent releases, so the same review cycle applies. Outside help is most useful for a first migration, custom data model work, SSO wiring and a documented runbook. Decide which of these your staff can own before you request a quote.
What cost components apply to self-hosting SuiteCRM or Twenty?
Self-hosting has no license fee for the open-source core of either platform, but it has other costs. Infrastructure costs cover servers or cloud resources, the database, Redis for Twenty, backups and monitoring. Labor covers installation, administration, upgrades, customization and testing, paid by your staff or a service provider. Paid vendor services are optional: SuiteCRM Ltd sells SuiteASSURED support, SuiteCRM Hosted, implementation, training and migration services. For Twenty, the pricing page lists Pro at 9 US dollars per user per month, Organization at 19 dollars per user per month, and Enterprise from 50,000 dollars a year, all of which are optional for the self-hosted core. Ask any quote to separate one-time migration and build work from recurring hosting, support and upgrade work.
How long does a migration between SuiteCRM and Twenty take?
The duration depends on scope, and no supplied figure gives a standard timeline, so it must be set in a written scope before work starts. The main drivers are the number of objects and records to move, how many SuiteCRM modules and custom fields map to Twenty custom objects, the volume of attachments and email history, the number of workflows to rebuild, and the number of users who must be trained. Data cleansing and sign-off from data owners often take longer than the technical load. Ask for a scope document listing data sets, mapping rules, test cycles and cutover steps, and confirm how each phase is approved.
What does the work need from our team before it starts?
A migration or deployment needs a staging environment that matches production closely enough to test real data flows, along with named data owners who can approve mappings and sign off results. SuiteCRM migration guidance advises testing on a staging instance, backing up files and the database, and reviewing customizations because the migration may remove non-core files under the public/legacy folder. Identity provider access is needed for SAML or LDAP testing, and a backup window must be agreed so that production data can be frozen during cutover. Ask whether your team can provide admin accounts for the identity provider and whether change windows are available for each test cycle.
Do Twenty's Enterprise-licensed files change what we can do with the code?
Yes, for the files that carry the Enterprise license header. Twenty is mostly licensed under AGPL-3.0 with an additional application exception, while files marked with an Enterprise license header are under a commercial license, and SDK and UI packages are MIT. Your team can use, modify and self-host the AGPL-covered core under those terms, but code in Enterprise-marked files is governed by the commercial license. Before you build on the code, have your legal counsel read the LICENSE file in the repository and confirm which files your changes touch and how you intend to distribute or host them.
Is Twenty's free self-hosted core enough for single sign-on?
The pricing page does not list SSO as part of the free self-hosted core. SSO, row-level permissions, audit logs and encryption key rotation are listed for the Organization and Enterprise plans, and SCIM provisioning and IP allow-listing for Enterprise. If you need SSO on a self-hosted Twenty, confirm with Twenty which plan and license terms apply to your deployment before you design the identity architecture. SuiteCRM 8 offers LDAP through AUTH_TYPE=ldap and SAML through AUTH_TYPE=saml as configuration options. Note that the SuiteCRM 8.7.0+ SAML implementation does not support IdP-initiated logout, so logging out at the identity provider does not end the SuiteCRM session.
How DeployOpen helps teams choose, implement or migrate
DeployOpen plans, implements, customizes, integrates, hardens, documents and supports self-hosted open-source platforms inside the client's own infrastructure. For SuiteCRM vs Twenty, that means working out which CRM fits the team's stack, data model and identity setup before any build begins, then carrying the chosen platform through to a documented, supported go-live.
How we scope
- Engagements are fixed-scope, with scope, deliverables and timelines agreed in writing before work starts.
- Scoping maps your data model, custom objects, APIs and identity requirements against both SuiteCRM and Twenty.
- Your quote follows from the written scope, so ask for each assumption about hosting, data volume and users to be stated.
How we build
- Builds run in your own cloud accounts, data centers or air-gapped networks, on the database and cache stack your team already runs.
- Custom objects, fields, workflows and API integrations are built against the platform's supported extension model.
- Security testing of applications and APIs can be scheduled against the built environment before users are onboarded.
How we hand over
- Handover covers configuration, integration and hardening documentation written for your administrators and engineers.
- Backup and restore procedures are documented and tested, including the database and Redis or file storage each platform needs.
- Migration work, where data moves from an existing CRM, is tested on a staging instance before any production cutover.
How we support
- Ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing are available as retainers after go-live.
- Upgrade planning follows each vendor's release cadence and support windows, which you should confirm for your chosen version.
- Confirm with DeployOpen during scoping which support tier, response expectations and upgrade scope a retainer includes.
