First, let's clear the air. Bitrix24 is not Open Source in the Stallman-esque sense (like GPL or MIT). You cannot legally fork the entire platform and sell it as "Bob’s CRM" without repercussions.
However, Bitrix24 offers a Self-Hosted version (formerly Bitrix24 Intranet) that gives you full access to the server-side PHP source code. This is "Source Available." You can modify it, audit it, and run it on your own servers forever without paying a monthly per-user fee (after the initial license purchase).
For the developers and sysadmins reading this, that distinction matters less than you think. What matters is: Can I change the report logic at 2 AM without waiting for an API ticket? Yes. Yes, you can.
Just because it isn't open source doesn't mean the self-hosted version is bad. For regulated industries (banking, healthcare, government), the on-premise version is essential. It allows you to:
However, if your goal is freedom and zero license fees, the Bitrix24 self-hosted version is not your solution. bitrix24 open source
Bitrix24 is a comprehensive business suite offering CRM, collaboration, project management, and website building capabilities. While widely known for its cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, the platform offers an on-premise "Self-Hosted" edition which is often the subject of inquiry regarding its open-source status.
This report clarifies the licensing model, analyzes the technical architecture of the self-hosted version, evaluates the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and provides a strategic recommendation for deployment. The core finding is that while Bitrix24 Self-Hosted allows access to source code, it is technically "Source-Available" proprietary software, not Open Source Software (OSS) under the strict OSI definition.
Before jumping to alternatives, ask yourself why you searched for "Bitrix24 open source." Usually, it is one of three reasons:
| Your Goal | Does Bitrix24 do this? | The Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. I have zero budget. | No. Self-hosted licenses are expensive. Cloud free tier is limited to 12 users. | Switch to a truly free open-source suite (see below). | | 2. I want full code control to customize everything. | No. You cannot touch the core PHP. | Switch to a GPL-licensed platform. | | 3. I don't trust cloud vendors with my customer data. | Yes. The self-hosted version solves this (for a fee). Open source would also solve this. | You have two paths: Pay for Bitrix24 On-Prem, or switch to open source. | First, let's clear the air
If reason #3 is your only concern, you might simply buy the self-hosted license. But if reasons #1 or #2 are your drivers, you need to look elsewhere.
There is no such thing as “Bitrix24 Open Source.”
The term is a marketing confusion or wishful thinking. Bitrix24 remains a proprietary commercial product.
If full code access, community forks, and no vendor lock-in are mandatory, choose one of the genuine open source alternatives above.
For teams that can accept a proprietary self-hosted model with limited customization, Bitrix24 Box is powerful — but it will never be open source.
Last updated: April 2026
Based on Bitrix24’s official EULA and OSI definition of open source. However, if your goal is freedom and zero
Let’s get this out of the way immediately. There is no official "open source" version of Bitrix24.
The software is proprietary, commercially licensed software. The source code is owned exclusively by Bitrix, Inc. You are legally prohibited from modifying the core code, removing copyright notices, or redistributing it.
If you find a website offering "Bitrix24 Open Source Download," it is either:
Bitrix24 operates on two models:
“Bitrix24 is not open source. It is proprietary software. The self-hosted version provides full source code access for customization, but you do not have the right to redistribute the modified code as a competing product.” – Bitrix24 Terms of Use
Unlike lightweight OSS alternatives, Bitrix24 is a "heavy" application.