CiviCRM vs SugarCRM
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: not directly comparable — CiviCRM is pricing not verified, SugarCRM is pricing not verified.
- How to start: both are pricing not verified.
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What CiviCRM is
CiviCRM is open-source constituent relationship management built for non-profits, memberships and campaigns.
What SugarCRM is
SugarCRM is a customisable CRM available as cloud or self-hosted, with a history in open source.
Side by side
| CiviCRM | SugarCRM | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CRM | CRM |
| How to start | Not verifiednot a monthly price | Not verifiednot a monthly price |
| Public API | Yes | not checked |
| Mobile app | not checked | not checked |
| Open source / self-hostable | not checked | not checked |
| SSO (SAML) | not checked | not checked |
| Visit | CiviCRM ↗ | SugarCRM ↗ |
Choose CiviCRM if
- Non-profits and membership organisations with technical support available.
Choose SugarCRM if
- Organisations needing a CRM shaped to an unusual process.
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
CiviCRM
Sources have not been attached to this record yet.
CiviCRM: pros & cons
- Free and self-hostable
- Built for donations, memberships and events
- Integrates with WordPress and Drupal
- Requires technical setup and maintenance
- Interface is functional rather than modern
- Small implementer community
SugarCRM: pros & cons
- Highly customisable
- Self-hosting option remains
- Strong workflow automation
- Customisation implies implementation work
- Interface trails newer rivals
- Licensing changed away from open source
Our verdict on CiviCRM
The standard open-source non-profit CRM. Budget for someone to run it.
Our verdict on SugarCRM
Flexible and unglamorous. Pick it when standard CRMs cannot model your process.