Dolibarr/dolibarr - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/Dolibarr/dolibarr
Stars: 5951 (as of August 2025)

2. Project Description#

Dolibarr ERP CRM is a modern, open-source web application designed to help businesses, freelancers, and foundations manage their operations efficiently. Written in PHP, it integrates Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) functionalities into a single platform.

Key aspects include:
✔ Modular design – Only install the features you need.
✔ Self-hosted – Full control over your data.
✔ Multi-user & multi-company support – Ideal for growing businesses.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

Dolibarr serves as a free, open-source alternative to commercial solutions like:

SAP Business One (ERP)
Salesforce CRM (CRM)
Odoo (ERP/CRM)
Microsoft Dynamics 365

For small businesses, it can replace standalone tools like QuickBooks (accounting), Zoho CRM, or HubSpot.

4. Core Functionality#

Dolibarr’s modular structure allows businesses to enable only the features they require:

ERP Features#

Invoicing & Payments – Generate quotes, invoices, and track payments.
Inventory & Stock Management – Manage products, warehouses, and orders.
Accounting – Double-entry bookkeeping with export to accounting software.
HR & Project Management – Track employees, timesheets, and projects.

CRM Features#

Contact & Lead Management – Store customer details and track interactions.
Email Campaigns – Send bulk emails and newsletters.
Event Scheduling – Manage meetings and tasks via an integrated calendar.

Additional Modules#

Point of Sale (POS) – For retail businesses.
Donations & Memberships – Ideal for nonprofits.
E-commerce Integration – Connect with platforms like WooCommerce.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros ✅#

✔ Open-source & Free – No licensing costs.
✔ Highly Customizable – Add or remove modules as needed.
✔ Self-Hosted – Ensures data privacy and security.
✔ Multi-language & Multi-currency – Supports global businesses.

Cons ❌#

❌ Steep Learning Curve – Requires time to master all features.
❌ Limited Mobile App – Web-based interface may not be as mobile-friendly.
❌ Community Support Only – No dedicated enterprise support (paid plans available for assistance).

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host on Ubuntu)#

Prerequisites#

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (or newer)
LAMP Stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)
Composer (PHP dependency manager)

Step-by-Step Setup#

1. Install LAMP Stack#

1
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
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sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-zip php-xml -y

2. Configure MySQL#

Secure MySQL and create a database:

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sudo mysql_secure_installation
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sudo mysql -u root -p
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CREATE DATABASE dolibarr_db;
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CREATE USER 'doliuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'YourSecurePassword';
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GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON dolibarr_db.* TO 'doliuser'@'localhost';
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FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
7
EXIT;

3. Install Dolibarr#

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cd /var/www/html
2
sudo git clone https://github.com/Dolibarr/dolibarr.git
3
cd dolibarr
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sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/dolibarr

4. Configure Apache#

Create a virtual host:

1
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/dolibarr.conf

Paste:

1
<VirtualHost *:80>
2
    ServerAdmin admin@yourdomain.com
3
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/dolibarr/htdocs
4
    ServerName yourdomain.com
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    <Directory /var/www/html/dolibarr/htdocs>
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        Options FollowSymLinks
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        AllowOverride All
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        Require all granted
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    </Directory>
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</VirtualHost>

Enable the site:

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sudo a2ensite dolibarr.conf
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sudo a2enmod rewrite
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sudo systemctl restart apache2

5. Complete Setup via Web Installer#

Visit http://yourdomain.com/install in a browser.
Follow the on-screen instructions to configure Dolibarr.
Enter your MySQL credentials when prompted.

Optional: Docker Installation#

For Docker users:

1
docker run -d --name dolibarr -p 80:80 -v dolibarr_data:/var/www/html/dolibarr -e PHP_TIMEZONE="UTC" dolibarr/dolibarr:latest

Final Notes#

✔ Secure your installation with HTTPS (use Let’s Encrypt).
✔ Regularly back up the /var/www/html/dolibarr directory and database.

Dolibarr is a powerful, cost-effective solution for businesses looking to streamline operations without vendor lock-in. Try it today!