Odoo is one of the most popular ERP systems among small and medium-sized companies. It has a broad range of apps, a polished interface and strong marketing. Recently, though, there has been a lot of talk about Odoo price increases, and with it a question every company should ask before choosing a system: what exactly does "open source" mean in a given product?
The Frappe team, creators of the framework ERPNext is built on, takes a similar view in their article "Sorry Odoo, Open Source is not freemium". Frappe describes Odoo's strategy as growing the top of the funnel with a marketing push, offering limited features for free or cheaply, and monetising when customers grow their usage. They link the latest price increase to the need for better unit economics and note that this "isn't necessarily a problem". The problem, in their view, is calling such a model open source.
Keep in mind that this is the voice of an interested party: Frappe develops a competing product. In this article we therefore separate what is Frappe's position from what you can verify yourself in price lists and licences. We are an ERPNext implementation partner, so our perspective is not neutral either. We have, however, made sure to describe honestly the situations in which Odoo is the better choice.
We do not quote specific price-increase amounts here. Odoo's price lists change, so before deciding, check the current pricing on the vendor's website and ask for a quote for your number of users.
Open source, open core and freemium: what is the difference
These three terms are often used interchangeably, yet they describe entirely different business models.
- Open source in the full sense. All of the code is open. Anyone can run it, change it and develop it, and the vendor earns from services, hosting and support. No features are available only under an extra licence.
- Open core. The core of the system is open, but some features belong to a paid, closed edition. This is how Odoo works: the Community edition is open, while Enterprise has a proprietary licence.
- Freemium. Access to the basic version is free or very cheap, and payment grows with usage, number of users or the need for additional features.
Frappe states outright that enterprise editions, regular price increases, annual commitments that lock you in and rigid rules are the opposite of open source. It is a strong statement, but it captures the practical difference well: in an open-core model the customer depends on the vendor for key decisions such as price, feature scope and contract terms.
Odoo vs ERPNext at a glance
| Area | Odoo | ERPNext |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Open core: Community edition and paid Enterprise edition | Fully open source, one version for everyone |
| Code licence | Community: open; Enterprise: proprietary | GPLv3, no closed modules |
| Per-user fees | Price depends on the number of users and the chosen plan | No per-user licence fees |
| Commitments and price rises | Depend on the contract and the vendor's price list, which can change | No vendor price list; costs depend on the implementation partner and hosting |
| Changing provider | Harder if key features are in Enterprise | Possible: the code is open and you can change partner |
| Breadth of applications | Very wide, large marketplace | Wide built-in scope: accounting, warehouse, manufacturing, CRM, projects, HR, helpdesk |
| Self-hosting | Possible for Community; Enterprise under the vendor's terms | Possible, with no licence restrictions |
| Polish localisation | Depends on the edition and partner | KSeF, JPK, GUS and NIP in ERPTECH solutions |
The table is a simplification. Odoo's feature scope and commercial terms may change, so verify them in the vendor's official materials.
Costs and predictability: why price rises matter
The price in a quote is the start of the costs, not the end. With ERP a company commits to a system for years, because its documents, history and processes live there. Switching is expensive, so the vendor has considerable bargaining power after the first year.
Under a per-user licensing model, costs rise with every new employee in the system, and a price-list increase raises the bill without any change in your business. In ERPNext the number of users does not change licence costs, because there is no such fee. You pay for things you control: implementation, hosting, support and development. If your partner stops serving you well, you can change contractor without changing the system.
When comparing, calculate over 3-5 years:
- licences or subscriptions for the planned number of users, including a growth scenario,
- implementation, data migration and training,
- hosting and maintenance,
- the cost of integrations (KSeF, e-commerce, couriers, banks),
- the cost of changing provider or partner if the cooperation fails,
- contract terms: commitment period, price-increase rules, termination.
ERPNext is not free. It is free of licence fees, and the implementation cost depends on scope. For indicative amounts see our implementation packages.
Features and fit with your processes
Both systems cover the core ERP areas: sales, purchasing, warehouse, manufacturing, accounting, CRM and projects. The differences are in the details.
- Breadth of offer. Odoo has a great many apps and a marketplace of third-party modules. That is a real advantage if you need a niche feature ready to run.
- Flexibility. ERPNext is built on the Frappe framework: new document types, fields, workflows and reports can be added without changing the core code. This makes it easier to fit a manufacturing company's processes.
- Manufacturing. ERPNext has built-in BOMs, work orders and material planning. We describe the details on the manufacturing page.
- Interface. Odoo is known for a polished, modern interface. ERPNext is more utilitarian, but teams that work with documents learn it quickly.
Polish localisation: KSeF, JPK, GUS
For a Polish company, compliance with local regulations matters as much as features. We develop Polish localisation for ERPNext and publish part of it as the open-source app ERPNextPL Community (in Polish). You can read more about local areas on the pages about KSeF integration (PL), JPK_MAG and GUS integration (PL).
With Odoo, the availability and quality of Polish localisation depends on the chosen edition and partner. Ask your partner about specific features (KSeF, JPK, the VAT white list) and who is responsible for updating them when regulations change.
Migrating from Odoo to ERPNext
Changing systems is realistic, but it needs a plan. A migration usually covers customers and suppliers, items and services, BOM structures, open balances and open documents. Transaction history is often left in an archive or in reports from the old system.
- Process analysis. What works well in Odoo, and what you worked around in your own ways.
- Data cleaning. It is better to remove duplicate customers and items before import (master data cleaning, in Polish).
- Pilot. Launch one process or department before the full switch.
- Parallel running. A short period in which both systems run side by side.
- Go-live and post-launch support.
Scope and price depending on company size are described in our ERPNext Start implementations.
When Odoo is the better choice
Not every company should change systems. Odoo may be the better decision if:
- you need a specific app from its ecosystem that ERPNext does not offer out of the box,
- you value a very wide network of partners and availability of specialists,
- you accept a subscription model and have budgeted for the coming years,
- the current implementation works well and costs are predictable for you.
An ERP system should solve a company's problem. Switching only because an open-source alternative exists rarely pays off.
Summary
Odoo's price rises are a signal to check three things: what the system will really cost you over 3-5 years, which features you have real influence over, and how hard it would be to change vendor. The answers differ between an open-core model and full open source.
ERPNext gives you cost predictability, open code and the freedom to change partner, in exchange for a smaller ecosystem of ready-made apps. Odoo gives you a wide offer and a large ecosystem, in exchange for dependence on the vendor's pricing policy. The choice depends on your company's priorities.
Frequently asked questions
Is ERPNext fully open source?
Yes. ERPNext is released under the GPLv3 licence and has no separate, closed Enterprise edition with extra features. You pay for implementation, hosting, maintenance and development, not for a per-user licence.
What is the difference between Odoo Community and Odoo Enterprise?
Odoo follows an open-core model: the Community edition is open, while Enterprise is a paid edition with additional features and a licence that depends on the number of users. Check Odoo's official pricing page for the current scope and prices.
Will ERPNext be cheaper than Odoo?
It depends on scope. ERPNext has no per-user licence fees, so costs grow more slowly as more people use the system. Total cost still depends on implementation, migration, integrations and maintenance, so it is worth calculating for your specific company.
Can you migrate from Odoo to ERPNext?
Yes. A migration mainly covers master data (customers, items, BOM structures), balances and open documents. Transaction history is usually archived in a separate report or kept in the old system.
Does ERPNext support KSeF and JPK?
ERPNext can be integrated with KSeF and JPK through Polish localisation. ERPTECH develops solutions in this area, described in our knowledge base.
Can Odoo be a better choice than ERPNext?
Yes. Odoo has a very wide range of applications, a large partner ecosystem and an extensive marketplace. If your company needs a specific ready-made app from that ecosystem and accepts the licensing model, Odoo can be a sensible choice.
Considering a switch from Odoo to ERPNext?
Book a 30-minute consultation. We will go through your processes, number of users and current costs, and then tell you plainly whether a switch makes sense in your case.
Book a 30-min online meeting