Open Mercato vs Salesforce - CRM Comparison 2026
Last updated: March 2026
Salesforce is the world’s most popular CRM with a massive ecosystem. But is it actually the best choice for a European SME? Below we compare both solutions in terms of cost, flexibility and implementation.
Open Mercato is an open-source platform -no per-user licence fees, full source code access and the option to host on your own infrastructure. Salesforce requires a per-user subscription and locks your data into their ecosystem.
The right choice depends on your team size, budget and how much control you want over the system.
Comparison Table
| Criterion | Open Mercato | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Open source (free) | Per-user subscription |
| Price per user | EUR 0 / mo | from ~$25 to $300+ / user / mo |
| Customisation | Full -source code access | Limited to Apex / Lightning |
| Hosting | Self-hosted or cloud -your choice | Salesforce cloud only |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Vendor lock-in | None | High |
| Support | Implementation partner + community | Paid support plans |
| Built-in AI | Yes (AI assistant) | Yes (Einstein AI, extra cost) |
Cost Comparison
| Users | Open Mercato (yearly) | Salesforce (yearly, Professional) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 users | ~EUR 700 - 1,400 (hosting) | ~EUR 10,800 ($80/user/mo) |
| 25 users | ~EUR 1,200 - 2,400 (hosting) | ~EUR 27,000 |
| 50 users | ~EUR 1,800 - 3,500 (hosting) | ~EUR 54,000 |
* Open Mercato costs cover infrastructure only. No licence fees. Salesforce costs based on Professional Edition pricing (2026).
When to choose Salesforce
- Enterprise with 500+ people and budget for licences and a dedicated IT team
- You need the extensive AppExchange ecosystem
- Your industry requires specific Salesforce certifications
- You already have many integrations built on Salesforce APIs
When to choose Open Mercato
- SME (5-200 people) looking for CRM/ERP without growing licence costs
- You want full control over data and source code
- You need a system tailored to your actual processes
- GDPR compliance and EU-hosted data matter to you
- Budget for implementation, not for escalating licences
Want to see how Open Mercato fits your business?
Book a free 30-minute call. We’ll analyse your needs and show you how much you can save.
Book a callFrequently Asked Questions
01Can Open Mercato replace Salesforce?
Yes, for SMEs Open Mercato offers comparable CRM functionality — sales pipeline, contact management, automations and reports. The difference is the model: Open Mercato is open source, with no per-user licence fees and full source code access.
02How much will I save switching from Salesforce to Open Mercato?
With 20 users, companies typically save EUR 7,000 - 12,000 per year on licences alone. Open Mercato costs are a one-time implementation plus hosting (EUR 700 - 2,400/year).
03Can I migrate data from Salesforce to Open Mercato?
Yes, data migration from Salesforce is a standard part of the implementation. We migrate contacts, deals, activity history, notes and files. The process is zero-downtime — Salesforce runs until switchover.
04Does Open Mercato have an equivalent to Salesforce Einstein AI?
Yes. Open Mercato has a built-in AI assistant that helps with data queries, record updates and report generation. Unlike Einstein AI, it doesn’t require additional fees.
05How long does migration from Salesforce to Open Mercato take?
A typical migration from Salesforce to Open Mercato takes 8-12 weeks, including process audit, system configuration, data migration, testing and team training.
See also: Open Mercato vs HubSpot | Open Mercato vs SAP | Open Mercato vs Pipedrive | Open Mercato vs Dynamics 365 | Open Mercato vs Zoho CRM