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Best Open-Source HubSpot Alternatives for 2026 (Small Teams)

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18 min read
•BareStack Team

Best Open-Source HubSpot Alternatives for 2026 (Small Teams)

TL;DR: Ditch HubSpot bloat. Use EspoCRM or SuiteCRM for sales + Mautic for marketing. Self-host with Coolify on a $10–$20 VPS; connect Mailgun/SES for email.

Introduction

HubSpot has been the “safe” pick for small teams for a decade. In 2026, it’s also a sprawling, expensive machine that charges you for every seat and add-on whether you use them or not. If you’re a solo founder, consultant, or a 5-person agency, you don’t need an “all-in-one.” You need a fast CRM and reliable email that don’t hold your data hostage.

In this guide, we cut through the noise. You’ll learn which open-source HubSpot alternatives are actually worth running, how to stack them (EspoCRM or SuiteCRM + Mautic), and how to self-host with Coolify in an afternoon. This is BareStack’s no-bullshit playbook: minimal features, maximal control, predictable costs. We believe software should be simple, honest, and fast—and that you should own your tools, not rent them.

Why open-source HubSpot alternatives matter in 2026

HubSpot price creep and feature bloat are punishing small teams

HubSpot’s pricing model incentivizes bloat. Over time, “starter” becomes “growth,” “growth” becomes “pro,” and suddenly your stack costs 10x more than expected. Need sequences? That’s extra. Want multiple pipelines with permissions? Extra. Automated emails for more than a handful of contacts? Also extra. The net effect in 2026: even small teams pay hundreds to thousands per year for a fraction of the platform.

Small teams don’t benefit from the “all-in-one” promise if they only need CRM + email. You’re subsidizing features you’ll never use: social inboxes, live chat bots, CMS, and a dozen reporting modules you could replicate with Metabase. Open-source options let you choose the exact features you need—no seat tax, no forced upgrades.

You’re not underinvesting; you’re overbuying. Bloat is the cost, not the solution.

Privacy, data control, and EU compliance are easier when you own the stack

Data is your moat. Locking it into a vendor is bad enough; locking it into a US-based SaaS without strong data residency controls is a compliance headache. If you serve EU customers, hosting your own CRM/automation stack in the EU simplifies GDPR, data residency, and DPIAs. Backups? Your schedule. Retention? Your policy. Exports? Instant, with no support tickets.

Open-source tools (AGPLv3/GPLv3/LGPLv3) give you code transparency and auditable data flows. You can add consent fields, strip trackers, or implement a stricter retention policy without vendor roadblocks. That’s hard to put a price on when a regulator knocks.

Speed and simplicity beat “all-in-one” if you only need core CRM + email

HubSpot is powerful—but power often equals slower UIs, complex navigation, and cognitive overhead. For solos and small teams, speed wins: fast contact search, quick deal updates, simple tasks, and reliable email automations. That’s 90% of your daily workflow. The rest is noise.

EspoCRM or SuiteCRM + Mautic deliver that sweet spot: simple CRM, robust marketing automation, zero bloat. Mautic replaces HubSpot Marketing for segments, forms, drips, and scoring. Stick PostHog or Plausible on top for analytics. You’ll ship more campaigns and follow up faster because everything is focused and under your control.

Definitions that actually help

CRM vs Marketing Automation (what HubSpot bundles)

  • CRM: contacts, companies, deals, pipelines, tasks, and basic workflows. Think: “Did I follow up?” “What’s in the pipeline?” “Who’s the decision-maker?” You need fast search, Kanban, reminders, and clean reporting.
  • Marketing automation: forms, landing pages, email campaigns, sequences, segmentation, lead scoring, and attribution. Think: “How do I nurture leads?” “Who qualifies for a sales call?” “What content converts?”

HubSpot bundles both. Open-source lets you pick best-in-class for each instead of swallowing a monolith.

Open-source vs self-hosted vs “open-core”

  • Open-source: code is available to run, modify, and host. Licenses like GPLv3/AGPLv3/LGPLv3 protect your freedom to use and improve the software.
  • Self-hosted: you run it yourself on a VPS, NAS, or on-prem. You control infra, backups, updates.
  • Open-core: the core is free/open, but advanced modules cost money or have different licensing. It’s viable if the vendor is transparent about what’s paid, and the free core is actually useful.

Open-source does not mean “hard.” Self-hosting does not mean “DIY email server” (please don’t). The right stack is approachable with Coolify/CapRover and takes hours, not weeks.

What “minimalist” means (BareStack’s no-bullshit take)

Minimalist isn’t “missing features.” It’s being ruthless about the 20% that drives 80% of outcomes:

  • Fewer features: avoid the “marketing Swiss army knife” syndrome. Core flows should be obvious.
  • Faster UI: every extra click costs you deals. Speed is a feature.
  • Clear data ownership: easy exports, readable JSON/CSV, interoperable APIs.
  • Predictable costs: $10–$40/mo for infra, predictable email credits, no seat tax.

If a tool makes you open three tabs to create a deal from a form submission, it’s not minimalist. It’s a time tax.

Best all-in-one open-source CRM options

EspoCRM (AGPLv3) — fast, lightweight, customizable

EspoCRM is the “just works” open-source CRM. The UI is snappy, entities are flexible, and you can model custom fields without drowning in config. Pipelines, activities, roles, and sane workflows are built-in. Docker deployment is straightforward, and it plays nicely with Mautic for marketing.

  • Pros: snappy UI, flexible entities and relations, uncomplicated workflows; easy Docker deploy; fine-grained roles; solid REST API.
  • Cons: basic built-in marketing; relies on Mautic for serious automation; smaller ecosystem than Odoo; fewer third-party “plug and play” integrations.
  • Best for: solos/small teams who value speed and clarity; anyone replacing HubSpot Free/Starter with a self-hosted CRM that stays out of the way.

SuiteCRM (AGPLv3) — enterprise features without the enterprise bill

SuiteCRM descends from SugarCRM and brings a ton of modules: quotes, invoices, contracts, cases, advanced reporting, and more. It’s heavier than EspoCRM, but it’s also more “enterprise” out of the box. If your agency has complex pipelines, approvals, or permissioned teams, SuiteCRM handles it.

  • Pros: mature modules; deep configuration; large community; proven for service businesses with multi-stage processes and reporting.
  • Cons: dated UX; heavier footprint; configuration depth can eat time; upgrades can require care.
  • Best for: agencies/services with complex pipelines, role-based access, and paper trails; replacing HubSpot Starter/Pro for more structured teams.

Odoo Community (LGPLv3) — CRM inside a modular business suite

Odoo Community Edition is an ERP with a CRM module. If you need projects, inventory, invoicing, and basic CRM under one roof, Odoo is compelling. It’s modular, extensible, and widely used. The catch: some CRM and automation features live in Odoo Enterprise, not Community.

  • Pros: one platform for CRM, invoicing, inventory, projects, timesheets; huge ecosystem; good for “run the business” teams.
  • Cons: CE misses some Enterprise goodies; heavier learning curve; not “CRM-first”; marketing functions are limited in CE.
  • Best for: SMBs wanting one stack for ops + sales; teams okay with CE trade-offs and adding Mautic for marketing.

Best open-source marketing automation alternatives

Mautic (GPLv3) — the open-source marketing brain

Mautic is the go-to HubSpot Marketing replacement. It handles campaigns, segmentation, lead scoring, forms, landing pages, dynamic content, and attribution. Connect it to your CRM and an email provider (Mailgun/SES/Postmark), and you’ve got a serious automation engine without vendor lock-in.

  • Pros: powerful visual campaigns; granular segments and scoring; form builder; landing pages; tokens and personalization; solid plugin ecosystem.
  • Cons: email deliverability and maintenance require attention; you’ll want monitoring, backups, and periodic updates; UI is functional but not flashy.
  • Best for: replacing HubSpot Marketing for nurture flows, lifecycle emails, and lead capture while keeping control of data and cost.

n8n (Fair-code) — workflows and glue

n8n is not a marketing platform; it’s the glue. Use it to trigger automations between your CRM, Mautic, Slack, spreadsheets, webhooks, and payment processors. Visually build workflows that would otherwise require Zapier—without per-task fees.

  • Pros: visual workflows; hundreds of integrations; great for ops automation; self-hostable; replaces a bunch of zaps cheaply.
  • Cons: fair-code license; not a full email/marketing suite; you bring your own logic and discipline.
  • Best for: replacing HubSpot workflows/zaps at low cost; stitching together CRM tasks, lead routing, enrichment, and hand-offs.

Analytics + tracking add-ons

Pair Mautic with analytics for cleaner attribution and privacy-first tracking.

  • PostHog (OSS core): product analytics, feature flags, event pipelines. Great for SaaS teams linking product usage to nurture.
  • Plausible or Umami: lightweight web analytics; GDPR-friendly; fast. Connect source/medium/campaign into Mautic where appropriate.

Use analytics to decide, not to surveil. Minimize tracking by default. Ask for consent. Keep trust.

Stack recipes: Replace HubSpot without the bloat

Minimalist solo stack (fast, cheap, reliable)

  • Stack: EspoCRM + Mautic + Mailgun or Amazon SES + n8n
  • Deploy: Coolify on a $10–$20 VPS (Hetzner, Vultr, Lightsail). One app per service, auto-SSL, nightly backups.
  • Flow: Mautic form captures lead → segment triggers a short nurture → qualified tag → n8n creates a deal in EspoCRM and posts to Slack/email → you follow up fast.

Cost and time:

  • Infra: ~$10–$25/mo
  • Email: $0.10–$1 per 1k emails depending on ESP
  • Setup: 2–4 hours if you’ve ever touched Docker; one evening even if you haven’t

Why it works: It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. Perfect hubspot alternative for solopreneurs who value speed and full data control.

Agency stack (multi-pipeline, roles, reporting)

  • Stack: SuiteCRM + Mautic + Metabase (for BI) + Mailgun/SES
  • Deploy: Coolify/CapRover across two small VPS instances if you want isolation; automated backups to S3/Backblaze.
  • Flow: Multi-pipeline deals by service line; role-based permissions; Mautic handles lead scoring by source and campaign; Metabase provides dashboards by rep, pipeline stage, revenue forecast, and campaign ROI.

Cost and time:

  • Infra: ~$20–$40/mo
  • Setup: 1–2 days including roles, fields, and dashboard wiring

Why it works: SuiteCRM gives you structure and guardrails; Mautic drives demand; Metabase makes the numbers obvious. You’ll save hundreds per month vs HubSpot Pro.

All-in-one ops stack

  • Stack: Odoo CE (CRM + invoicing + projects) + Mautic
  • Deploy: Odoo container plus PostgreSQL on a $20 VPS; Mautic sidecar; backups and SSL via Coolify.
  • Flow: Lead captured in Mautic → qualified to Odoo CRM → deal won → invoice from Odoo → project/task spun up → Mautic sends onboarding drips.

Cost and time:

  • Infra: ~$20–$40/mo
  • Setup: 2–5 days to configure modules, permissions, and views

Why it works: If your pain is “ten tools for one workflow,” Odoo CE consolidates ops while Mautic covers marketing. It’s the best open source CRM 2026 pick when you want a suite but refuse Enterprise pricing.

Comparison: Open-source HubSpot alternatives at a glance

Here’s the short list you’ll actually use:

ProjectLicenseCRMMarketing AutomationHosting OptionsStrengthsWatch-outsBest for
SuiteCRMAGPLv3YesVia Mautic/integrationsSelf-host, vendor cloudMature, robust, big communityHeavier, dated UI, setup timeAgencies, service SMBs
EspoCRMAGPLv3YesBasic; integrate MauticSelf-host, vendor cloudFast, lightweight, flexibleNeeds add-ons for advanced marketingSolos, small teams
Odoo Community (CRM)LGPLv3YesLimited in CESelf-host (Docker, VM)Modular ERP + CRMCE gaps vs EnterpriseSMBs needing suite
ERPNext (CRM)GPLv3YesBasic campaignsSelf-host, Frappe CloudFull ERP, extensibleResource-heavy, steeper learningProduct ops, larger SMB
YetiForceYFPL (open-source)YesVia integrationsSelf-hostFeature-rich out of boxComplex, UX inconsistenciesVtiger/Sugar migrants
Dolibarr (CRM)GPLv3BasicMinimalSelf-host, vendor cloudUltra-lightweight, easyLimited CRM depthFreelancers, microbiz
MauticGPLv3NoYesSelf-host, Acquia CloudPowerful automation suiteDeliverability/maintenanceReplacing HubSpot Marketing

Reality check: no single OSS matches HubSpot 1:1. But EspoCRM or SuiteCRM + Mautic cover 90% of what small teams actually use—without the price creep.

Deep dive: Self-host vs managed open-source

What it costs (money and time)

Self-host:

  • VPS: $10–$40/mo depending on CPU/RAM and whether you split services
  • Domain: $10–$15/year
  • Email credits: $0.10–$1 per 1k emails (Mailgun, SES, Postmark, SendGrid)
  • Time: 2–8 hours for initial setup; 1–2 hours/month for updates/backups

Managed:

  • Vendor-hosted versions of EspoCRM/SuiteCRM/Mautic typically run $20–$100+/mo
  • You trade money for reduced maintenance, SLAs, and support
  • Still cheaper than HubSpot for most small teams, especially when seat-based fees balloon

If you hate servers, managed is fine. If you want control and low, flat costs, self-host is easy enough with the right tooling.

Tooling to make it painless

  • Coolify or CapRover: one-click Docker deploys, auto SSL, env management, scheduled backups, health checks. It’s the “Heroku for your VPS” tool you wish you had sooner.
  • Offsite backups: send daily snapshots to S3 or Backblaze; keep 7–30 days. Test restores quarterly.
  • Observability: basic logs and metrics are enough—don’t overengineer. If you want more, Prometheus + Grafana are there.

You’re not building a bank; you’re running a CRM and email tool. Keep it simple.

Security and maintenance basics

  • Patch cadence: monthly updates for your apps and OS; apply security patches promptly.
  • MFA and least privilege: restrict admin roles; enforce MFA on user accounts.
  • Secrets: use long random passwords and per-service API keys.
  • Encrypted backups: store encrypted archives in offsite buckets; protect keys.
  • Uptime monitoring: Uptime Kuma with email/Slack alerts. If a pod dies at 3 a.m., your backups won’t.

None of this is exotic. It’s hygiene. Once you set it up, it stays out of your way.

Deep dive: Email deliverability without tears

Use an ESP, not raw SMTP

Do not run your own mail transfer agent. You will get flagged, throttled, and buried in Spamhaus tickets. Use a reputable ESP:

  • Amazon SES: cheap and reliable; requires initial warm-up.
  • Mailgun: good tooling; easy domain setup and logs.
  • Postmark: superb deliverability; pricier but worth it for transactional flows.
  • SendGrid: popular; fine if you manage lists well.

Point Mautic to the ESP via SMTP or API. Keep transactional and marketing streams separate if possible (subdomains help).

Configure DNS properly

  • SPF: authorize your ESP to send for your domain.
  • DKIM: sign messages to prove authenticity.
  • DMARC: set policy to monitor, then enforce. Start with p=none and move to p=quarantine or p=reject after you trust your setup.
  • Warm-up: gradually increase volume over 2–4 weeks for new domains/IPs.
  • Hygiene: prune bounces; keep complaints low; never buy lists.

Small teams often see 30–50% better inboxing after switching from “whatever HubSpot set up years ago” to a clean ESP configuration they control.

Forms, tracking, and consent

  • Forms: use Mautic forms and double opt-in for lists that get nurtures.
  • Consent: make consent explicit; store it as a field synced to CRM; honor it in every campaign filter.
  • Cookies: run a simple consent banner and default to minimal tracking. Use Plausible/Umami and server-side events where you can.

Less tracking often means faster pages, fewer blockers, and happier prospects. Respect earns deliverability.

Case studies (short and real)

1) Solo consultant: HubSpot Free → EspoCRM + Mautic on $12 VPS

A solo consultant used HubSpot Free for contacts and basic forms but hit limits on email sequences and custom fields. They migrated to EspoCRM + Mautic over a weekend using Coolify on a $12 Hetzner VPS. SES handled email. They imported contacts via CSV, rebuilt two forms in Mautic, and wired a simple 5-step nurture.

Outcome: <3h setup, faster follow-ups thanks to Espo’s snappy UI, and <$20/mo all-in including SES credits. The “HubSpot is safer” story evaporated once they saw their own logs and backups working.

2) 5-person agency: HubSpot Starter → SuiteCRM + Mautic

A web design agency outgrew HubSpot Starter when they needed multi-pipeline permissions and better reporting. They moved to SuiteCRM for role-based access, added Mautic for lead scoring and form capture, and stood up Metabase for dashboards. n8n matched MQLs to reps and posted Slack alerts.

Outcome: saved ~$600+/yr vs HubSpot add-ons and seat creep, gained granular permissions and predictable reporting, and sped up hand-offs. The team stopped arguing about licenses and started tuning their pipeline.

3) Micro-SaaS: HubSpot Marketing → Mautic + PostHog

A micro-SaaS with a freemium plan needed product-led lifecycle emails, not a broad marketing suite. They replaced HubSpot Marketing with Mautic connected to PostHog events. Activation triggers and milestone emails now run off product behavior, not guesses.

Outcome: better activation rates, clear attribution, zero seat tax, and no panic when HubSpot announced another tier change.

Decision framework you can apply today

Cut the analysis paralysis. Here’s how to pick your stack:

  • Must-haves: list 5 core features you actually use in HubSpot. Examples: multiple pipelines, tasks/reminders, email sequences, forms, lead scoring. If a feature doesn’t make the list, it’s not a blocker.
  • Data control: do you need EU hosting, on-demand exports, or strict retention? If yes, go self-host.
  • Team size & roles: solo, 2–5, or 6–10 with permissions? Solos/small teams → EspoCRM. Role-heavy teams → SuiteCRM. Suite-like ERP needs → Odoo CE.
  • Email volume: newsletters, drips, or high-volume campaigns? All roads lead to Mautic + ESP. Start modest, warm up, and expand.
  • Time budget: 2–4h setup (EspoCRM) vs 1–2 days (SuiteCRM) vs 2–5 days (Odoo/ERPNext). Pick the one that fits this week, not “someday.”
  • Hosting: self-host (Coolify) for control and low cost; managed vendor cloud if you want support and a credit card checkout.
  • Migration: export contacts/companies/deals from HubSpot CSV; map fields; import into EspoCRM/SuiteCRM. Rebuild key forms in Mautic; recreate 1–2 critical automations first.
  • 30-day plan: pilot one stack, run one campaign, measure one outcome, then commit. Don’t boil the ocean.

Choose the stack you’ll actually maintain. A simple tool you use beats a complex one you admire.

Frequently asked questions

Which open-source option is closest to HubSpot all-in-one?

None match 1:1, and that’s the point. EspoCRM or SuiteCRM + Mautic cover 90% of what SMBs use, minus the bloat and price creep.

Can I migrate my HubSpot data easily?

Yes. Export CSVs of contacts, companies, deals, and activities. Import to EspoCRM/SuiteCRM with field mapping. Expect 1–2 hours of cleanup and testing.

How much will self-hosting really cost?

Typical: $10–$40/mo for a VPS, plus email credits ($0.10–$1 per 1k emails) and a domain. That’s a fraction of HubSpot’s monthly seats and add-ons.

Is Mautic good enough for serious automation?

Yes. It handles segments, drips, scoring, forms, and landing pages well. The catch is deliverability and updates—use a proper ESP, monitor bounces, and update quarterly.

What about GDPR and consent?

Host in the EU if needed, store consent as a field in Mautic/CRM, and use privacy-friendly analytics. Document processing in your RoPA/DPA and keep exports handy.

Do I need a developer?

Not necessarily. Coolify/CapRover + Dockerized apps make deployment a click-and-config job. If you can follow a tutorial, you can ship this.

Can BareCRM replace HubSpot?

BareCRM is our minimalist CRM—fast and focused on sales essentials. It’s not open-source and doesn’t try to be a full marketing suite. If you want speed without bloat for sales only, it’s a fit; pair it with Mautic if needed. Start here: https://app.barestack.org

Internal links and further reading

Conclusion: Keep the power, cut the bloat

Open-source HubSpot alternatives are not a downgrade; they’re an upgrade in control, speed, and honesty. If you’re a solopreneur or small team, the winning combo in 2026 is simple: EspoCRM or SuiteCRM for sales, Mautic for marketing, deployed with Coolify on a $10–$20 VPS, and plugged into Mailgun or SES for deliverability that doesn’t suck. Add n8n for glue and Plausible/PostHog for clean analytics. You’ll get a faster stack, predictable costs, and full data ownership.

We built BareStack because we’re tired of bloat and bullshit. If you want a hosted, minimalist CRM for sales that stays out of your way, try BareCRM: https://app.barestack.org. If you want the open-source route, you now have the map. Either way, stop paying the HubSpot tax. Keep the power, cut the bloat.

Keywords to remember as you choose: open-source hubspot alternatives, best open source CRM 2026, self-hosted CRM for small teams, Mautic vs HubSpot, hubspot alternative for solopreneurs.