Frappe CRM helps you turn scattered sales data into one clear, fast workflow.
Introduction – The Sales Chaos You Don’t Need
Imagine this: sales are picking up, leads are flowing in… but notes live in spreadsheets, follow-ups are buried in email threads, and call logs are stuck on someone’s phone.
It’s noisy, slow, and easy to miss opportunities.
Frappe CRM fixes that by putting everything in one place:
- Leads
- Deals
- Emails
- Calls
- WhatsApp messages
- Tasks
- Team comments
It’s open-source, fast, and doesn’t charge per user — so it grows with your team without shocking bills.
💡 Good to know: You can host it yourself or run it on Frappe Cloud. Either way, you own your data and can customize it to match your workflow.
What Is Frappe CRM?
Frappe CRM is a Customer Relationship Management app built on the Frappe Framework — the same platform behind ERPNext.
It helps you:
- Capture leads
- Move deals through a visual pipeline
- Communicate with clients directly from their record
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Generate reports for better decision-making
Key advantages:
- Open-source – transparent, flexible, and self-hostable
- Simple UI – clean and modern
- Customizable – fields, layouts, workflows your way
- Mobile-ready – works as a PWA (Progressive Web App)
Clean, simple, and focused on the sales work that matters.
Why Choose Frappe CRM?
Many CRMs are either too complicated or too expensive (or both).
Frappe CRM is different because:
- No per-user cost – add your whole team without breaking budget
- Core features, not clutter – only what you need to sell faster
- Full ownership – your stack, your data, your rules
- Perfect with ERPNext – works inside your existing system if you use ERPNext
Features That Actually Help You Sell
1. Kanban Deal Pipeline
Track deals visually across stages like New, Qualified, Proposal, Won, and Lost.
Drag and drop to update instantly.
Kanban helps everyone see the pipeline at a glance.
2. Custom Views & Filters
Create views like “Hot leads this week” or “Overdue follow-ups”.
Save and share them so the team works on the same page.
3. Unified Record View
See emails, calls, notes, tasks, documents, and comments — all in one place.
4. Email Integration
Connect your email account, reply without leaving CRM, and use templates for speed.
5. Calls & WhatsApp
- Twilio / Exotel: log calls, store recordings
- WhatsApp app: send messages from a lead or deal
6. Automation Rules
Auto-assign leads, set SLAs, send reminders, and escalate high-value deals.
7. Mobile-Friendly (PWA)
Open in your mobile browser and “Add to Home Screen” — it works like an app.
Real-World Business Benefits
| Benefit | What You’ll Notice |
|---|---|
| No per-user fee | Onboard the whole team with no cost anxiety |
| Central source of truth | No more hunting across spreadsheets |
| Faster follow-ups | Saved views + reminders |
| Custom fit | Fields and layouts match your process |
| Better decisions | See where deals stall and fix issues |
Installation Guide
Option A: Frappe Cloud (Easiest)
- Go to Frappe Cloud
- Sign up for free
- Click New Site
- Select CRM from Marketplace
- Install and start
Option B: Self-Host (For Developers)
Requirements:
- Ubuntu 22.04
- Python 3.10+
- Node.js 18+
- Redis, MariaDB, Git
pip install frappe-bench
bench init my-crm-bench --frappe-branch version-15
cd my-crm-bench
bench get-app crm https://github.com/frappe/crm
bench new-site crm.local
bench --site crm.local install-app crm
bench startOpen http://localhost:8000 and log in.
First 7 Days Onboarding Plan
- Day 1: Add Leads, Contacts, Organizations
- Day 2: Create pipeline stages
- Day 3: Set assignment rules
- Day 4: Connect email
- Day 5: Enable WhatsApp or calls
- Day 6: Invite team
- Day 7: Review dashboard & clean duplicates
Small weekly rituals keep your pipeline clean and moving.
Automation Ideas
- Auto-assignment – Route leads by territory or value
- SLA reminders – Alert when leads wait too long
- Follow-up nudges – Remind for idle deals
- Template replies – Personalize in seconds
💡 Tip: Start with 1-2 rules to avoid confusion.
Key Integrations
Install the WhatsApp app, configure credentials, and send messages directly.
Phone (Twilio / Exotel)
Log and record calls inside CRM.
ERPNext
Convert won deals to quotes, orders, or invoices.
3 Quick Case Studies
- D2C Brand – Increased conversions by 30% after moving from spreadsheets.
- IT Agency – Reduced lead response time from 2 days to 4 hours.
- Distributor – Auto-routed leads by city, speeding up deal closure.
Frappe CRM vs Other CRMs
| Feature | Frappe CRM | HubSpot | Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free/self-host | Free to start, then per-user | Per-user |
| Customization | Deep | Moderate | Good |
| Pipeline | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| WhatsApp & Calls | Yes (via integrations) | Yes | Yes |
| ERP integration | Yes | No | No |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding too many fields too soon
- Skipping SLAs and reminders
- Importing messy data
- Not reviewing dashboard weekly
- Not using templates for replies
FAQ
Q: Is Frappe CRM free?
A: Yes, completely free and open-source.
Q: Does it work on mobile?
A: Yes, as a PWA.
Q: Can I move from spreadsheets?
A: Yes, import via CSV.
Q: Can I use WhatsApp and calls?
A: Yes, via official integrations.
Glossary
- Lead: A potential customer
- Deal: A sales opportunity
- Pipeline: The stages of your sales process
- SLA: Time commitment for a response
- PWA: Progressive Web App
Conclusion
If you want a CRM that’s simple, fast, and yours to control, Frappe CRM is a great choice.
It keeps your sales work clean, your team in sync, and your costs low.
👉 Explore Frappe CRM or Launch on Frappe Cloud today.
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