Benefits of Using Vtiger CRM
The simplest reason for choosing Vtiger for your CRM needs is that it’s free and open-source.
Vtiger Features
But just because it’s free doesn’t mean it lacks in features.
Vtiger goes beyond the fundamentals by offering highly advanced features comparable to premium CRM solutions.
Using Vtiger, you can:
- Design sleek, professional portals for customers to view records and request customer service
- Manage projects associated with customers, and assign tasks to individuals or groups
- Plan tasks and events with a built-in calendar with customizable visibility
- Track inventory and create purchase orders for your e-commerce site
- Integrate with business staples such as Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird with easy-to-install plugins.
What is the Vtiger “CRM On Demand” Service?
But if you’re not the DIY type, or if you just want to save time so you can focus on running your business instead of taking care of technical stuff, a premium version with professional support might be the right choice for you.
There is a paid version of Vtiger, called Vtiger CRM On Demand, that includes additional features and comprehensive support. This is a cloud-based, hosted service that doesn’t require installing the software on your own server.
The on-demand version offers bonus features like email campaigns with built-in analytics, Paypal integration, and advanced reporting, and starts at $12 per month.
Vtiger Support
Vtiger is used by tens of thousands of businesses and has a vibrant community where you can get support for any questions or issues you may have.
There’s plenty of documentation, plus forums and an official wiki to get you started.
Vtiger Installation Requirements
Vtiger is usually installed on a LAMP stack. (Haven’t heard of a LAMP stack? No problem. Check out my definition here.)
The pre-requisites for Vtiger are:
| Factor | Requirement |
| Apache | 2.1+ |
| MySQL | 5.1+ |
| PHP | 5.2+, 5.3 |
| Ram | 4GB |
| Disk space | 250GB |
Furthermore, browser support is currently as follows:
| Browser | Version |
| Internet Explorer | 7,8 and 9 |
| Firefox | 3.6, 5.0 and 7.0 |
| Google Chrome | 15 |
| Opera | 11 |
Vtiger CRM Installation Guide
There are a number of ways in which you can install Vtiger CRM software.
Automatic Installation
The Vtiger installation is insanely simple.
Though most web hosts will include it as a one-click install, if you have to do so manually you won’t have any problems.
Here are some steps to get you started. If you need more guidance, check out the Vtiger installation guide on their website.
Manual installation
- You can download Vtiger from their source forge page.
- Once you’ve reached the page, click Files.
- Now, click to download the latest version of Vtiger.
- You’ll need to create a database to store the Vtiger files. Log into your cPanel account and click on MySQL Databases. Create a new database from here.
- Now, go to the file manager in your cPanel account. Click the upload button to browse for the Vtiger files that you’ve downloaded. Once the files are uploaded, you’ll need to extract them.
- Once the files are unzipped, go here: http://www.yourdomain.com/vtigercrm (replace “yourdomain” with your actual domain name).
- You will be met with the Vtiger install wizard which will help you complete the installation. And you’re done!
VTiger Points to Remember
Here’s a short summary list of the most important points about Vtiger.
Hosting Costs
Some web hosting providers have hosting plans with Vtiger already installed for you.
Since Vtiger software is free, the software itself shouldn’t affect the price of your hosting plan.
But if your host offers dedicated support for Vtiger, or offers other features or services such as transferring your data from other CRMs, it may cost a bit more than basic hosting plans.
Self Installation
You can install Vtiger yourself using cPanel if your server meets the minimum requirements for the software.
Vtiger requires your Apache 2.1+ server to run PHP 5.2+ or 5.3, and MySQL 5.1+.
Some hosts will have a one-click installation option available using SimpleScripts.
This is a great option for a free CRM solution if you’re technically inclined and don’t mind spending a bit of time on maintenance and upgrades.
Operating System Compatibility
Whether you use Linux, Windows, or Mac as your web hosting platform, Vtiger can be effortlessly incorporated into your hosting system so you can start fostering better relationships with your customers today.
What are the Pros and Cons of Vtiger?
As with most software. there are both pros and cons to using Vtiger. Here are some of the basic ones.
Assessment is truly dependent on your business objectives though.
Pros
There are many positive reasons to use Vtiger including:
- Vtiger is an open-source CRM which means it’s free and available to anyone
- The CRM application is highly adaptable
- There is loads of support out there for the application
- Vtiger is fairly simple to use and has an easily customizable interface
- Most web hosting providers include Vtiger already installed on your account
Cons
However, there are also some drawbacks including:
- Installing Vtiger manually is fairly simple, but people who are not technically inclined may run into some difficulties
- The release of new editions of the software is slower than with alternative CRMs such as Sugar CRM
My Top 3 Vtiger Host Recommendations
Below I’ve shared a few personal picks for Vtiger hosts.
Similarly to the pros and cons of Vtiger, the below is entirely dependant on your business’ or website’s need for what Vtiger has to offer. I hope these help you in your search for a suitable host.
Siteground
If you’re looking for Vtiger hosting, check out SiteGround. They include a free Vtiger install or a free Vtiger site transfer of your existing website.
SiteGround’s servers are optimized for hosting CMS and CRM systems, so they will run your Vtiger site effortlessly.
TMD Hosting
TMD Hosting provides some cheaper Vtiger hosting options.
With a 99.99% uptime guarantee, you can be sure that your website will enjoy some of the best uptime in the industry.
Their servers are all SSD-based, as are SiteGround and A2‘s.
Whether you have an existing Vtiger website or you’re starting a new one, TMD will help you out.
Enjoy immediate Vtiger activation and a free installation by a specialist, or a free zero-downtime transfer.
A2 Hosting
You’ll also be able to host the CRM application with A2 Hosting.
They include the Softaculous script installer for a simple automatic installation of Vtiger.
They’ll even notify you when a new Vtiger version is available to install, which you can update with a single click from your control panel.
If you’re looking for the fastest hosting, you may want to try A2’s Turbo servers which are available on a higher-priced plan.
Other features in CRM
vtiger Frequently Asked Questions
- What can Vtiger do?
Vtiger includes a variety of tools and features for managing your customers and running a small- to medium-sized business.
It includes tools for sales automation, inventory management, customer support portals, trouble ticketing, lead generation, knowledge bases, analysis and reporting, and much more.
Vtiger can integrate with many other popular tools and services including Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, Intuit Quickbooks, PayPal, MailChimp, Dropbox, DocuSign, etc. Vtiger’s features are also extendable via add-on modules.
- Is Vtiger CRM free?
Yes. The open source version of Vtiger CRM can be installed on a web hosting account for free.
- Can I customize the free version of Vtiger?
Yes. The open source version of Vtiger can be customized with extensions from the Marketplace.
- What is Vtiger CRM On Demand?
Vtiger CRM On Demand is a cloud-based version of the Vtiger CRM software. It is a separate product to the open source version that you can self-install.
- What are the main differences between the software and cloud versions?
Vtiger was launched as open source software in 2004 (as a fork of SugarCRM), and the cloud version was released in 2010.
The open source software version of Vtiger is free to download. It must be installed on your web host server to be used.
The cloud version, on the other hand, is accessible through the Vtiger website and is available for a monthly subscription.
Although the open source software version gives you more control, the cloud version has several benefits, including increased security, data backups, 24/7 availability, no required software updates or maintenance, and one-on-one customer support.
- What are the benefits to using Vtiger?
Using Vtiger for your business saves you time by automating many of the tasks of running your business, and it helps you to stay organized by keeping all your data in one place.
You can also grow your business with Vtiger’s marketing and sales features, and keep your team on the same page with project management tools. Vtiger’s cloud subscription rates are also very reasonably priced compared to other CRMs.
- Are there any drawbacks to using Vtiger?
Vtiger is a basic CRM tool geared toward SMBs (small and medium sized businesses), so it doesn’t have the advanced functionality or scalability of enterprise-level CRMs.
The open-source version of Vtiger has only community support available, but no direct customer support. The open source version must also be carefully managed to keep you and your customers’ data secure, and should be backed up to another location in case of data loss.
Vtiger’s developer community is also said to be a bit smaller compared to SugarCRM and SuiteCRM.
- What are the minimum installation requirements for Vtiger?
Vtiger software can be installed on a Linux operating system with an Apache server with version 2.0.40 or above, and requires PHP 5.2+ and MySQL 5.1+.
- Does Vtiger recommend or endorse any hosting companies or plans?
No, Vtiger doesn’t recommend any specific web hosting companies or plans. Some web hosting companies do offer hosting and support optimized for Vtiger, and include easy one-click installation of the software via cPanel.
- What kind of support is available for Vtiger?
Vtiger offers extensive documentation on their website, including a wiki, training videos, and tutorials with screenshots.
An active community of users and developers also provides support via the official Vtiger forums.
There is also customer support available for subscribers to the cloud-based service.
- How does Vtiger compare to SugarCRM?
Vtiger was actually first created as a fork of the SugarCRM software, so they share much of the same base code.
SugarCRM is also available in both cloud-based and installed software versions. SugarCRM is geared more towards larger, enterprise-level companies, while Vtiger is targeted towards small- and mid-size businesses.
SugarCRM has more advanced functionality and is scalable for managing larger and more complicated businesses, while Vtiger is simpler and easier to learn for individuals, with a more intuitive interface.
Subscriptions to SugarCRM start at a higher price than Vtiger, reflecting their respective target audiences.
- How does Vtiger compare to Salesforce?
Salesforce.com is a cloud-based, SaaS (software as a service) CRM tool, founded in 1999, available for a monthly subscription. It’s one of the most popular and well-known CRM services, with millions of users.
Although Salesforce and Vtiger share many of the same main features, they also each have minor features and tools the other lacks, so it’s worth taking a close look at their offering if you have specific needs for your CRM software.
- How does Vtiger compare to SuiteCRM?
SuiteCRM bills itself as a free and open source alternative to SalesForce.
Like Vtiger, SuiteCRM is also a fork of SugarCRM, first released in 2013. SuiteCRM’s goal is to offer full functionality in CRM features while still keeping the software free and open source, and its development is governed by a non-profit organization.
Like Vtiger, SuiteCRM is also extendable via third-party modules that allow you to manage quotes and proposals, contracts, teams, workflow, and various reports. It also includes an event management tool.
- What kind of hosting plan should I look for to support Vtiger?
Most modern Linux-based hosting plans will meet the minimum requirements for installing and running Vtiger software, though you may want to double check with the hosting company before you purchase a plan.
Many hosting companies offer one-click installation of Vtiger software via the control panel, and some offer the option of pre-installing the software for you.
Since you’ll be storing all your business and customer information in Vtiger, you may want to look for a hosting plan that includes regular automatic backups of all your data.
Another feature to consider is whether or not the hosting support team is well-versed in Vtiger software in case you need assistance.
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