Yes, ERPNext is free to download, use, and change, with no license fee and no charge for each user. When people ask us, "Is ERPNext free?" we say yes to the software and then talk about the costs around it.
Your budget may include hosting, setup, data work, training, and support. Saudi businesses also need Arabic documents and ZATCA e-invoicing, and those needs can cost more than the software itself.
Is ERPNext free for business use?
Yes. ERPNext is open-source software under the GPLv3 license, so your company can use it for commercial work. You can also choose your host and change the code to fit how you work.
The license doesn't limit users, companies, or branches. ERPNext also has no paid enterprise edition that hides extra features, so the full product is available under the same license.
What free means for your company
You can run the software on your own server or pay someone to host it. If you later move to another host or implementation partner, the system and your business data stay yours.
Changes used only inside your company don't have to be published. Sharing or selling a changed version can bring extra license duties, so get legal advice before you distribute modified software.
The license covers the code, but it doesn't cover the brand. Frappe's trademark rules limit how businesses may use the ERPNext name. The software also comes without a warranty, so fixes come from your own team, a partner, or a paid Frappe plan.
Are HR and payroll free too?
Yes, but they now come in a separate open-source app called Frappe HR, starting with version 14. It doesn't add a license fee, but your team must install and update another app.
Loans moved to another free app in version 15, which matters if loan payments come from salaries. Our HR and payroll overview explains the main staff features.
If ERPNext is free, what will you pay for?
The software license is only one part of the budget. Most businesses pay for the work needed to make the system useful, and the total depends on your size and how you operate.
- Hosting and regular backups
- Setup for accounts, tax, stock, roles, and approvals
- Moving and cleaning existing business data
- Changes to forms, reports, documents, or business rules
- Arabic documents and ZATCA compliance work
- Staff training, support, security fixes, and updates
Scope has the biggest effect on cost. A small company using accounts and stock needs less work than a manufacturer with several branches. That's why we don't quote a number before we see how a company works, and you should be careful with anyone who does.
Data quality is another common cost. Old systems may hold duplicate customers, unused items, or wrong balances. Clean and approve that data before the move, because rework after go-live costs more.
Care after launch is the cost people tend to overlook. An update can break a changed report or invoice layout, so someone must test each update on a copy of the site before it reaches live data.
Review the ERPNext accounting features and inventory features before setting your first phase. This keeps the project focused on useful work.
What are the ERPNext hosting choices?
You have three main choices: Frappe Cloud, your own server, or a partner. The software is the same in each case, but who looks after it changes.
Frappe Cloud
Frappe Cloud is the vendor's managed hosting service. Its site plans are fixed monthly tiers based on a daily CPU allowance, database size, and disk storage, and they don't charge for each user.
These were the AWS shared site prices listed in September 2026. Other providers offered different CPU and database allowances at the same price points. Check the official Frappe Cloud plans before making a budget because prices can change.
| Monthly price | CPU time each day | Database | Disk |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | 0.5 hours | 250 MB | 2.5 GB |
| $10 | 1 hour | 500 MB | 5 GB |
| $25 | 2 hours | 1 GB | 25 GB |
| $38 | 3 hours | 1.5 GB | 37.5 GB |
| $50 | 4 hours | 2 GB | 50 GB |
The $50 plan included Frappe's Product Warranty in September 2026. Frappe also offered a 14-day trial. Server prices varied by provider, region, and resources, so check the server plans separately.
Shared site plans start at $5 and limit which apps you can install. Private bench plans start at $25 and add custom app deployment and deeper controls. Confirm your chosen compliance app is available before you pick a plan.
Your own server
Self-hosting gives your team full control. You still need someone to manage backups, security, system health, and upgrades. The server bill may be low, but skilled time is not free, and that knowledge often leaves when the person does.
Hosting through a partner
A partner can manage the server and provide support. It often suits firms without an internal technical team, because backups and updates become someone's real job. Ask who handles backups, updates, recovery, and urgent problems before you sign.
How well does ERPNext work in Arabic?
ERPNext includes an Arabic translation and a right-to-left layout. Each user can choose Arabic or English on the same site, which works well for teams with different language needs.
The official language instructions explain user and company settings. A user must sign out and back in after changing the language. The company setting applies when a user hasn't made a choice.
What still needs checking
Translation coverage changes by app and version, and missing text falls back to English. Custom fields may also need their own Arabic wording.
Printed invoices, quotes, and portal pages need more attention because right-to-left text can change spacing and alignment. Test real Arabic and bilingual documents before launch, since those are what your customers see.
Use the words your staff already know. Ask finance, sales, and warehouse users to review key labels, because their feedback is more useful than a literal translation.
Is ERPNext free for ZATCA e-invoicing?
ERPNext's license stays free, but ZATCA setup takes paid work. Phase 2 isn't included in the core product. It runs through a compliance app added to ERPNext.
The app handles clearance, reporting, and the cryptographic stamp. Clearance means sending a business invoice to ZATCA for approval before the buyer receives it. Reporting covers simplified invoices sent after issue.
Since version 15, Saudi VAT tools also come in a separate regional app. They include Saudi VAT settings, the VAT return report, and the Phase 1 QR code. Open-source apps exist, so the added cost is often setup and support.
Your team must connect the app to ZATCA and test each invoice type, including credit notes and point-of-sale receipts if you use them. We'd plan this from day one and test every required invoice flow before production. Read our ERPNext ZATCA setup guide for the main steps.
How should you start without wasting money?
Begin with a short first phase. For many firms, that means accounting, buying, selling, and stock. Add payroll, manufacturing, or projects when the first group works well.
- Write down the daily work that must move into ERPNext.
- Clean customer, supplier, item, and opening balance data.
- Test your real invoices, approvals, and reports on a trial site.
- Include VAT, ZATCA, and Arabic documents before launch.
- Train each team on the work it will do.
- Move into live use in planned stages.
Don't choose a plan from user count alone. Hosting use, data size, custom apps, and support needs matter more, so ask for a scope that shows what is included and what is not.
A technical team can handle a trial or self-hosted site, but a live finance and stock system carries more risk. A free system installed badly can cost more than a paid one done well. Bring in help if your staff can't own backups, upgrades, and security.
Our ERPNext pros and cons can help with the product decision. If ERPNext fits, review our implementation services or talk with our team about your scope.
Frequently asked questions
Is ERPNext really free forever?
Published ERPNext versions remain available under their open-source license, so you can keep using the version you have. Hosting prices and service fees can still change.
Does ERPNext charge per user?
No. ERPNext has no license charge for each user or module. Frappe Cloud site plans also have no user limit, but heavier use may need a larger plan.
How much does ERPNext cost per month?
The software costs $0. In September 2026, shared Frappe Cloud plans ranged from $5 to $50 monthly. Setup, support, and custom work cost extra.
Does ERPNext support Arabic and right-to-left text?
Yes. Users can choose an Arabic interface with right-to-left screens. Some text may stay in English, and printed layouts need testing.
Is ERPNext ZATCA compliant out of the box?
No, not for Phase 2. A compliance app handles the needed connection and invoice steps, and it must be installed, set up, and tested for your business.
Can we install ERPNext ourselves?
Yes. A capable technical team can install and manage it. For live use, someone must own backups, security fixes, updates, and recovery.
