# EspoCRM — Open-Source CRM Platform for Sales and Support Teams > EspoCRM is a self-hosted customer relationship management application with lead tracking, email integration, calendar, and workflow automation — fully customizable through an admin panel. ## Install Save in your project root: # EspoCRM — Open-Source CRM Platform for Sales and Support Teams ## Quick Use ```bash # Docker deployment docker run -d -p 8080:80 -v espo-data:/var/www/html/data espocrm/espocrm:latest # Or install manually on a LAMP/LEMP stack # See docs for Apache/Nginx + PHP + MySQL setup ``` ## Introduction EspoCRM is a self-hosted CRM platform that covers leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, and support cases. It provides a modern single-page application interface with drag-and-drop customization, email integration, and a built-in workflow engine — all without writing code. ## What EspoCRM Does - Manages contacts, leads, accounts, and sales opportunities - Tracks email conversations linked to CRM records - Provides a shared calendar with meeting and task scheduling - Automates workflows with a visual rule builder - Offers a customer portal for self-service support cases ## Architecture Overview EspoCRM is built with PHP on the backend and a custom JavaScript SPA framework on the frontend. Data is stored in MySQL or MariaDB. The application follows an entity-based architecture where every CRM object (contact, lead, opportunity) is an entity that can be extended with custom fields, relationships, and layouts through the admin panel. A REST API provides programmatic access to all entities. ## Self-Hosting & Configuration - Deploy via Docker or install on any PHP 8.x host with MySQL - Configure SMTP settings for email integration - Customize entities, fields, and layouts through the admin UI - Set up roles and permissions for team-based access control - Extend functionality with community or custom extensions ## Key Features - Drag-and-drop layout editor for customizing entity views - Built-in email client that links messages to CRM records - Visual workflow automation with conditions, actions, and triggers - REST API for integration with external systems - Multi-language support with community-contributed translations ## Comparison with Similar Tools - **SuiteCRM** — fork of SugarCRM with a legacy UI; EspoCRM has a more modern SPA interface - **Twenty** — AI-focused open-source CRM; EspoCRM is more mature with traditional CRM features - **Odoo** — full ERP suite; EspoCRM is CRM-focused and lighter to deploy - **HubSpot** — commercial CRM with a free tier; EspoCRM is fully self-hosted with no usage limits - **ERPNext** — comprehensive ERP with CRM module; EspoCRM is purpose-built for CRM workflows ## FAQ **Q: Can I migrate from another CRM?** A: EspoCRM supports CSV import for all entity types and has a REST API for programmatic migration. **Q: Does it support marketing automation?** A: It includes mass email campaigns and target lists. For advanced marketing automation, consider an integration with a dedicated tool. **Q: How many users can it support?** A: There is no artificial user limit. Performance depends on your server resources. **Q: Is there mobile support?** A: The web interface is responsive. Community-maintained mobile apps are also available. ## Sources - https://github.com/espocrm/espocrm - https://www.espocrm.com/documentation/ --- Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-52a933d6 Author: AI Open Source