When it comes to client management and billing tools, WHMCS remains the undisputed champion.
Web Host Manager Complete Solution, better knowns as WHMCS, was founded in 2013 and is used by some of the largest web hosts in the world.
In the UK, hosting giants such as Krystal, Guru, tsoHost and A2 Hosting all use WHMCS.
Its ability to seamlessly integrate with numerous domain registrars and well-known web hosting control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and Vesta has always been a key feature of WHMCS.
The billing and hosting provisioning suite also allows you to manage web hosting clients, set up billing automation, send invoices, sell services and provide support via its built-in ticketing system.
WHMCS has been a favourite of mine for over 15 years, but it is not for everyone. You can find cheaper and free alternatives depending on your needs.
Let’s take a look at the best WHMCS free & open-source alternatives:
Clientexec
A very similar and cheaper option to WHMCS is Clientexec. Founded in 2003, Clientexec was designed with small to medium-sized hosting businesses in mind.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper
- Built-in Live chat
- Hosted version
Blesta
Blesta was first released back in 2007 and just like WHMCS, the hosting and billing software remains in active development.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper
- Open source
- Run multiple brands
Box Billing
Box Billing was free open-source web hosting and billing platform that was first released in 2015. You can sell any type of product including web hosting, software licenses, servers, downloadable products and custom products.
BoxBilling is no longer being actively maintained and has been replaced by FOSSBilling.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Free
- 100% Open source
FOSSBilling
FOSSBilling is a fork of Host Billing that is in active development. FOSSBilling (FOSS: Free and Open Source Software) is a billing and client management solution. You can sell any type of product including web hosting, software licenses, servers, downloadable products and custom products.
- Free
- 100% Open source
Hostbill
Founded in 2008, Hostbill is a complete billing and hosting solution with a huge library of integration modules.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper long term
WISECP
Another great and modern system is WISECP. It can automate client handling, billing, customer support, and all other operations to keep your web hosting business running.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper
BilingServ
BillingServ is a hosted billing platform that offers instant client management and billing tools with seamless automation.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper
- Hosted
Upmind
New player Upmind is a cloud-based platform that integrates with several hosting control panels and domain name registrars. The team behind the platform are the same guys that were behind Tsohost (before it was sold to GoDaddy), Stablepoint, and Fixed.net.
Upmind has a free option that allows you to have up to 50 customers.
Advantages over WHMCS
- Cheaper
- Hosted