Ever Gauzy

An honest look at an ambitious self-hosted business management platform — and whether the ambition holds up.

TL;DR

• What it is: Open-source (AGPL-3.0) business management platform combining ERP, CRM, HRM, ATS, and project management in one codebase [README][homepage].
• Who it’s for: Agencies, studios, freelance businesses, and in-house teams that want to consolidate time tracking, invoicing, HR, and CRM into a single self-hosted platform instead of paying for five separate SaaS products [README].
• License caveat: AGPL-3.0 — free to self-host, but if you modify and expose it as a service, you must publish your source changes. Not as permissive as MIT. Matters if you plan to embed it in a client-facing product [README].
• Key strength: Genuinely broad feature set. Time tracking with automated screenshots, invoicing, payroll, sales pipelines, ATS, KPIs, and inventory in one platform. Desktop timer app included [README][homepage].
• Key weakness: The SaaS offering is explicitly labeled Alpha [README]. Third-party reviews are nearly absent from the public record. 3,591 GitHub stars for an ERP platform claiming 100+ company customers is a modest number compared to peers. Community traction is unclear.
• Cost comparison: Replacing five tools (Harvest + BambooHR + HubSpot CRM + Greenhouse + Asana) at their entry tiers would run $150–$400/mo. Ever Gauzy self-hosted runs on a VPS at $10–20/mo, with no per-seat ceiling [homepage].

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What is Ever Gauzy

Ever Gauzy is a monorepo-based business management platform built by Ever Co, a company that describes its goal as building open infrastructure for “collaborative, on-demand and sharing economies” [README]. The platform covers six distinct product categories under one roof:

• ERP — financial management, income/expense tracking, billing, payments
• CRM — contacts, clients, leads, sales pipelines, proposals
• HRM — employee registry, onboarding, time-off management, performance monitoring
• ATS — applicant tracking, candidate interviews
• PM — projects, tasks, goals, KPIs, OKRs
• Time tracking — real-time timers, automated screenshots, app and URL monitoring, timesheets

The pitch is explicit on the README: this is for freelance agencies, studios, and in-house teams that need all of the above and don’t want to pay per-seat to five different vendors [README]. A companion product, Ever Teams, is a separate React/NextJS application built on Ever Gauzy’s APIs, focused specifically on work and project management [README].

The platform supports multiple deployment targets: web app, desktop app (via Electron, with an embedded server mode), and a mobile app [README][merged profile]. The Electron desktop app includes a dedicated timer interface — “standard” and “expanded” views — that works independently of having the full web platform open [README].

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Why people choose it

Independent third-party reviews of Ever Gauzy are thin on the ground — the most detailed public documentation comes from the DeepWiki technical analysis of the codebase rather than user-written reviews [1][2]. That scarcity is itself a signal worth noting for anyone doing due diligence.

What the available record does show:

The consolidation case is real. The homepage lists 100+ companies as customers, and the feature breadth is not marketing fiction — the codebase actually ships time tracking with screenshot capture, invoicing, employee management, a sales pipeline, and ATS in one deployable unit [README][homepage]. For a small agency currently paying separately for Harvest, BambooHR, and HubSpot CRM, the math for self-hosting is straightforward.

The plugin architecture is the extensibility story. Ever Gauzy uses a plugin system where features are self-contained modules in packages/plugins/ [1][2]. External integrations — Upwork, HubStaff, GitHub, Jira, and others — are implemented as plugins with lifecycle hooks rather than hardcoded into the core [1][2]. This means the core platform can be updated without breaking custom integrations, which matters for long-term maintenance.

Third-party service integrations cover the expected freelance stack. Upwork and HubStaff are the headline integrations, which tells you something about the target customer: this is software for agencies and studios managing distributed contractors, not primarily for corporate HR departments [README][1].

Gauzy AI adds a job-matching layer. The platform includes a proprietary AI integration for job search and matching functionality — relevant for agencies trying to staff projects from talent pools [1][2]. It’s a feature you won’t find in a typical ERP.

The OpenAlternative listing is sparse. The entry for Ever Gauzy on openalternative.co [4] describes it as a “comprehensive open-source b…” — truncated — which suggests it hasn’t received the same editorial attention as Odoo or ERPNext. No G2, Capterra, or Trustpilot profile with meaningful review volume was surfaced by the available research.

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Features

Based on the README and website documentation:

Time and activity tracking:

• Real-time time tracking with start/stop timer (web and desktop)
• Automated screenshots at configurable intervals (optional)
• App and URL monitoring for activity logs
• Manual time entry
• Timesheets with approval workflows
• Daily/weekly activity statistics

Financial management:

• Invoicing and recurring invoices
• Estimates
• Income and expense tracking
• Payments
• Multi-currency support
• Billing

HR and people ops:

• Employee directory with rates and roles
• Employee onboarding flows
• Time-off management with holiday and approval tracking
• Performance monitoring and metrics
• Organization departments and teams

CRM and sales:

• Contact management (clients, leads, vendors)
• Sales pipelines
• Proposals
• Schedules, appointments, events

Project and task management:

• Projects with task breakdown
• Goals / KPI / OKR tracking
• Project budget tracking

ATS:

• Applicant tracking
• Candidate interview management

Infrastructure and extensibility:

• Plugin-based architecture for all integrations [1][2]
• REST API (headless API documented at api.gauzy.co)
• Docker, Docker Compose, Helm, Kubernetes deployment targets
• PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB database support
• MCP Server configuration (listed in the DeepWiki architecture overview) [1]
• Multi-organization support — run multiple companies from one instance
• Roles and permissions
• Multi-language UI
• Data import/export
• Multiple themes (Dark, Light, Corporate, Material)

Integrations (plugin-based):

• Upwork, HubStaff (flagship integrations)
• GitHub, Jira (listed in DeepWiki) [2]
• Sentry, PostHog, OpenTelemetry for analytics and monitoring [2]
• Gauzy AI for job search and matching [2]

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Pricing: SaaS vs self-hosted math

Ever Gauzy’s own SaaS (app.gauzy.co): The SaaS version is explicitly labeled as “Alpha version/testing mode” in the README, with a note to “use it cautiously” [README]. Pricing data for the cloud offering was not available in the research sources — the website did not surface a pricing page in the scraped data. Treat the cloud version as not production-ready based on the project’s own description.

Self-hosted (Community Edition):

• License cost: $0 (AGPL-3.0)
• AGPL caveat: if you modify the code and offer it as a hosted service to third parties, you must publish your modifications. Pure internal use has no such obligation.
• VPS to run it on: $10–20/mo for a 4–8GB RAM instance (Hetzner, Contabo, or Vultr)

What you’re replacing — and what it costs: The realistic comparison is against the stack of tools an agency might currently use:

Tool	Typical entry cost
Harvest (time + invoicing)	$12/seat/mo
BambooHR (HR)	~$6–8/seat/mo
HubSpot CRM Starter	$15/seat/mo
Greenhouse ATS	$6,000+/year (SMB pricing, data not available for small teams)
Asana or Linear (PM)	$10–13/seat/mo

For a 10-person team, that’s potentially $430–500/mo just for the combination. Self-hosting Ever Gauzy on a $15/mo VPS brings that to $15/mo — with no per-seat charge as the team grows. The savings are real, but only if the setup investment is worth it for your team.

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Deployment reality check

The platform is a monorepo with many moving parts. The README references Docker, Docker Compose, Helm, and Kubernetes as deployment targets, and the website points to docs.gauzy.co for documentation (marked as work-in-progress) [README][homepage].

What you need:

• A Linux VPS with at least 4GB RAM — this is not a lightweight app. The monorepo includes a NestJS backend, Angular frontend, Electron desktop builds, and multiple plugin packages [1][2]. 8GB RAM is a safer minimum for a team environment.
• Docker and docker-compose
• PostgreSQL (supported; SQLite for local dev, MySQL and MongoDB also listed as supported)
• Redis
• A reverse proxy (nginx or Caddy) for HTTPS
• Domain name

What the architecture adds up to: DeepWiki’s analysis reveals a complex system: NestJS application structure with a plugin system, TypeORM-based database layer with migrations, multi-tenancy via base entity system, offline synchronization for desktop, and a desktop server mode where the Electron app runs its own embedded API [1][2]. This is not a simple CRUD app — it’s a platform that has accrued significant architectural complexity.

Honest time estimate:

• Technical user following Docker Compose docs: 2–4 hours to a working instance
• Non-technical founder without Linux experience: this is not a one-afternoon project. Realistically budget a full day or hire someone to deploy it

What can go sideways:

• Documentation is marked WIP. The gap between what’s documented and what’s implemented in a codebase this large is unknown without direct testing.
• The SaaS demo at demo.gauzy.co exists, but the production SaaS is Alpha [README] — meaning the project itself is still maturing.
• Dependency count in a monorepo this size (NestJS + Angular + Electron + React Native for mobile) means upgrade cycles can be painful.
• No independent user reviews in the public record means you can’t fall back on community experience reports when something breaks.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

• Genuine breadth. ERP + CRM + HRM + ATS + PM + time tracking in one deployable unit is rare in open source. Odoo and ERPNext are the main peers, and neither has the same focus on freelance/agency workflows [README][homepage].
• AGPL self-host is free. Internal use costs only infrastructure. For a 20-person agency, eliminating five SaaS subscriptions is a real financial event.
• Desktop timer app with offline support. The Electron app with an embedded API mode means employees can track time even without internet, and sync later [1][README].
• Plugin architecture is clean. Lifecycle-hook-based plugins with hot-swappable modules means integrations don’t require core modifications [1][2].
• Headless REST API. api.gauzy.co/docs exposes the backend as an API, which means you can build custom front-ends or integrate with other tools [README].
• Multi-organization support. Run multiple companies or client entities from a single instance — useful for agencies managing multiple brands [README].
• MCP server configuration is listed in the architecture, suggesting AI agent integration is on the roadmap [1].

Cons

• AGPL license. If you modify and offer it as a hosted service, you must open-source your changes. This rules out embedding it in a commercial SaaS product without legal review.
• Cloud SaaS is Alpha. The project’s own README says to use it “cautiously” [README]. This is not a tool with a mature managed hosting option.
• 3,591 stars for a platform this ambitious is modest. Odoo has 40,000+ stars. ERPNext has 20,000+. Even niche competitors like Akaunting have comparable traction. Small community = fewer forum answers when you’re stuck.
• No meaningful third-party review record. Zero Trustpilot, G2, or Capterra entries with volume. This makes independent validation impossible — you’re going in largely blind on production reliability.
• High infrastructure complexity. NestJS + Angular + Electron + Redis + PostgreSQL + plugin system is a lot to maintain. The monorepo build complexity is non-trivial [1][2].
• Documentation is WIP. The README links to docs.gauzy.co with a “(WIP)” annotation [README]. For a system this complex, incomplete docs are a real operational risk.
• Mobile app status unclear. The merged profile lists mobile as a feature, but the README focuses on web and desktop — mobile app maturity isn’t confirmed by available sources.
• No independent community forum. Gauzy’s presence on Reddit, Discord, or Stack Overflow is not evident in the research record.

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Who should use this / who shouldn’t

Use Ever Gauzy if:

• You’re running an agency or studio with 5–50 people and currently paying for time tracking, invoicing, and CRM as separate SaaS tools — the consolidation math is compelling.
• You need automated screenshot-based employee activity monitoring and want it hosted on your own server, not a vendor’s.
• You have a technical person who can own the deployment, handle Docker upgrades, and read NestJS error logs without panicking.
• You’re comfortable operating on AGPL software for internal use, and you’re not planning to resell the platform.
• You want Upwork and HubStaff integrations built in, which suggests your team is managing freelance contractors.

Think carefully (or skip it) if:

• You need a proven production system. The Alpha SaaS and thin public review record mean you’re an early adopter, and early adopters carry bugs.
• Your technical tolerance is low. This is not a “click install” platform. Expect ongoing maintenance.
• You need AGPL-clean code. The license isn’t a problem for pure internal use, but verify with counsel if you’re building a product on top of it.
• You need deep HR compliance features for regulated markets (GDPR, HIPAA payroll, etc.) — feature availability for compliance scenarios is unconfirmed.
• You’re a solo founder without a dev team. The learning curve and maintenance overhead don’t justify the savings until you have employees to track.

Stay on your current SaaS stack if:

• You have fewer than 5 people and your current tools cost under $100/mo combined.
• You’ve never operated a Linux server.
• You need vendor support with an SLA.

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Alternatives worth considering

• Odoo (Community Edition) — The dominant open-source ERP. Wider module ecosystem, larger community, longer track record. Community edition is LGPL; enterprise requires a commercial license. More mature but also more complex to configure. The realistic comparison for anyone considering full ERP replacement [README context].
• ERPNext / Frappe — Python-based ERP with similar breadth. Strong in manufacturing and inventory scenarios. MIT licensed. Larger community than Ever Gauzy. Less focus on the agency/freelance workflow.
• Akaunting — Open-source accounting and invoicing focused. Simpler scope, easier to deploy, GPL. Good if you only need the financial layer.
• Kimai — Open-source time tracking only. MIT licensed, lightweight, mature. If all you need is time tracking and invoicing, Kimai has a cleaner footprint than Ever Gauzy.
• Plane — Open-source project management (AGPL). Narrower scope but more polished PM experience. Pairs with a separate time tracking tool.
• Twenty CRM — Open-source CRM (MIT). Modern, actively developed, Salesforce-alternative focused. If CRM is the primary need, Twenty is more targeted.

For an agency evaluating total-stack consolidation, the realistic competition is Ever Gauzy vs Odoo Community vs ERPNext. Odoo wins on ecosystem and maturity. ERPNext wins on license and community size. Ever Gauzy wins on focus — its feature set is explicitly designed around the freelance agency workflow (Upwork integration, contractor rates, desktop timer) rather than adapted from a manufacturing ERP template.

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Bottom line

Ever Gauzy is an ambitious platform that succeeds at the hardest part of open-source ERP: actually shipping a cohesive feature set across time tracking, invoicing, HR, CRM, and project management in one codebase. The plugin architecture is architecturally sound [1][2], the deployment target list is comprehensive, and the consolidation math against five separate SaaS subscriptions is genuinely compelling for a 10–50 person agency.

The honest caveats are equally real: the SaaS version is Alpha, independent production reviews are nearly absent, the GitHub star count suggests a small community relative to the platform’s ambition, and the documentation is a work in progress. You are stepping into this with less safety net than you’d get from Odoo or a paid HR platform. If you have a technically capable person who can own the stack, the $0 license cost and infrastructure-only hosting expense can pay for a significant amount of setup time. If you don’t, the risk of a broken deployment with no community troubleshooting record to fall back on is real. Test the demo at demo.gauzy.co before committing to a deployment — and plan for a proper staging environment before going anywhere near production data.

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Sources

1. DeepWiki — Integrations and Plugin System, ever-co/ever-gauzy (indexed March 7, 2026). https://deepwiki.com/ever-co/ever-gauzy/11-integrations-and-plugin-system
2. DeepWiki — Integrations and Extensions, ever-co/ever-gauzy (indexed March 7, 2026). https://deepwiki.com/ever-co/ever-gauzy/11-integrations-and-extensions
3. OpenAlternative — Krayin: Open Source Alternative to HubSpot, Attio and Salesforce (competitor reference). https://openalternative.co/krayin
4. OpenAlternative — Open Source Projects tagged “Productivity” (Ever Gauzy listing). https://openalternative.co/tags/productivity

Primary sources:

• GitHub repository and README: https://github.com/ever-co/ever-gauzy (3,591 stars, AGPL-3.0)
• Official website: https://gauzy.co
• Platform documentation (WIP): https://docs.gauzy.co
• Headless API docs: https://api.gauzy.co/docs
• Demo: https://demo.gauzy.co