---
title: "Salesforce CRM & Commerce Alternative: Custom-Built ERP by ERPStack"
description: "Feature-by-feature comparison of Salesforce CRM & Commerce against a custom-built ERPStack system: licensing, lock-in, customization limits, and migration path."
canonical: https://erpstack.io/alternatives/salesforce
markdown_url: https://erpstack.io/alternatives/salesforce.md
publisher: ERPStack
---

# Salesforce CRM & Commerce vs. a custom-built ERPStack system

**Typical Salesforce CRM & Commerce license cost:** $50,000 - $500,000+ / year
**Lock-in risk:** High (Apex database lock-in, API call limits limits)
**Modularity:** Low (Blob schemas, difficult multi-org consolidation)
**Customization ceiling:** Proprietary platform friction (Forced into Lightning frameworks)
**Migration path:** Incremental client migration to Next.js + Payload CMS architectures

## Feature comparison

| Feature | ERPStack (custom) | Salesforce CRM & Commerce |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data Model | Relational & Strict (PostgreSQL) | Proprietary Object/Blob storage |
| Frontend Flexibility | Any UI Library (Tailwind, Radix) | Locked to Lightning Web Components |
| API Limits | Unlimited (Infrastructure bounds) | Strict daily caps & expensive overages |
| Local Development | Yes | No |

## Migration timeline

- **Data Export** (2 Weeks): Bulk API export of all custom objects and relations.
- **Schema Normalization** (3 Weeks): Converting Salesforce objects into normalized SQL tables.
- **Logic Porting** (4-8 Weeks): Rewriting Apex triggers into Next.js Server Actions.
- **UI Rollout** (Phased): Gradual rollout of the new React-based interface to sales teams.

## Hidden costs of Salesforce CRM & Commerce

- **Data Storage Overage:** Salesforce charges premium rates per GB once you exceed standard storage limits.
- **API Overage:** High-volume integrations quickly hit API limits, forcing expensive tier upgrades.

## Why teams leave

- Escaped $80k/yr Salesforce licensing by building a custom CRM perfectly tailored to their unique sales process. (A B2B SaaS provider — Exorbitant seat licenses for read-only users.)