Erxes — Open Source Experience Operating System

Introduction

Erxes is an open-source experience operating system (XOS) that combines marketing automation, CRM, customer support, and project management into a unified platform. It provides a self-hosted alternative to commercial tools like HubSpot, Zendesk, and Linear in a single deployment.

What Erxes Does

• Manages customer relationships with a built-in CRM and contact database
• Automates marketing campaigns across email, SMS, and social channels
• Provides customer support ticketing with live chat and knowledge base
• Includes project management with boards, tasks, and team collaboration
• Offers form builders, lead capture, and customer journey mapping

Architecture Overview

Erxes is built with TypeScript and uses a microservices architecture with plugins for each business function. The frontend uses React with a modular plugin system. The backend runs on Node.js with MongoDB for data storage and Redis for caching and real-time events. Each module (CRM, marketing, support) operates as an independent plugin.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy via Docker Compose with all services pre-configured
• Configure SMTP for email campaigns and notifications
• Set up integrations with external channels (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
• Enable specific plugins based on your business needs
• Scale individual microservices independently based on load

Key Features

• All-in-one platform replacing multiple SaaS subscriptions
• Plugin architecture allowing selective feature enablement
• Self-hosted with full data ownership and privacy control
• Multi-channel customer communication (email, chat, social, SMS)
• Open-source with no per-seat licensing or feature restrictions

Comparison with Similar Tools

• HubSpot — similar scope but proprietary, expensive at scale
• Zendesk — support-focused only, lacks CRM and marketing
• Twenty CRM — CRM only, no marketing automation or support
• Chatwoot — customer support only, narrower scope
• Mautic — marketing automation only, no CRM or support desk

FAQ

Q: Can I use only specific modules? A: Yes. Erxes uses a plugin architecture so you can enable only the features you need.

Q: What database does it use? A: MongoDB is the primary database, with Redis for caching and real-time messaging.

Q: Is there a limit on users or contacts? A: No. The self-hosted version has no artificial limits on users, contacts, or data.

Q: Does it support third-party integrations? A: Yes. It integrates with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Gmail, and custom webhooks.

Sources

• https://github.com/erxes/erxes
• https://erxes.io