If you have been following the latest updates from Odoo, you might have seen Odoo CEO Fabien Pinckaers' recent announcement about changes to their Enterprise support policy. We know policy changes can feel overwhelming, so let's sit down and chat about what this actually means for businesses on the platform.
What has changed?
The news: Odoo Enterprise support now covers ALL versions of Odoo with no deprecations. Previously, official support was limited to only the 3 most recent versions (typically 3 years). This change was designed to address the pressure to upgrade frequently to maintain support.
The trade-off: While older versions will continue to receive official support, bug fixes and security updates, there is now a 25% additional fee for versions that are 4+ years old, applied annually to your subscription.
Implementation timeline and grace period
The policy takes effect for new contracts and renewals after 8 July 2025. However, Odoo has provided important breathing room for businesses:
- Existing contracts: No additional charges apply until your next license renewal date.
- Extended grace period: No legacy system charges will be applied until April 2026. This gives Australian businesses nearly 9 months to assess their options and plan accordingly.
Who is affected?
- Odoo Online customers: No impact – you are automatically upgraded every 2 months or annually.
- Odoo.sh and on-premise customers: New policy applies to new contracts or renewals after 8 July 2025.
For example: Company X’s Odoo license renewal is on 1 Jan 2027, which means they will not be impacted by this policy change until after that.
Breaking down the additional fees
Only the 3 most recently released major versions are exempt from the additional fees. This means Odoo version 16 will no longer be covered when version 19 is released during the upcoming Odoo Experience in September 2025.
Not covered |
Covered |
Covered |
Covered |
Odoo V16 and earlier 25% additional fee will be charged. |
Odoo V17 No extra fee |
Odoo V18 No extra fee |
Odoo V19 No extra fee |
The 25% additional fee structure means careful cost analysis is essential:
- For a $10,000 annual subscription: The legacy support fee would be $2,500 per year.
- For a $20,000 annual subscription: The legacy support fee would be $5,000 per year.
- For a $50,000 annual subscription: The legacy support fee would be $12,500 per year.
In many cases, the cost of upgrading may be more economical than paying ongoing legacy fees, especially when you factor in the improved functionality and user experience.
Understanding your partner's role
It is worth noting that most businesses work with their Odoo implementation partners for their day-to-day support needs. These partnerships typically remain unchanged by Odoo's new licensing policy, so your daily support experience should continue as normal.
When evaluating your options, it is worth discussing with your Odoo partner how these changes might affect your specific support arrangement.
Our honest take and best approach
Having worked with Odoo implementations across Australia for over 15 years, this is what we have learned: staying reasonably current with your Odoo version usually pays off. Each new version brings genuine improvements – better interfaces, enhanced security, new capabilities that can actually help your business run better.
Furthermore, upgrading from significantly outdated versions is invariably more complex and costlier than upgrading from recent versions. Therefore, it is advisable to maintain your system on the latest (or close to latest) Odoo versions whenever possible.
That said, we understand that sometimes businesses need more time because:
- You have got heavy customisations that need careful migration.
- Your busy season is coming up and now is not the time for changes.
- You are planning other major business initiatives.
- Cash flow timing isn't ideal for a big project.
The new policy gives you some options and it is worth working with experienced partners to weigh them properly.
Planning your next steps
- Assess your current situation: What version are you on and when does your contract renew? Talk to your Odoo partner asap to learn more.
- Evaluate your options: Compare upgrade costs vs. legacy fees for your specific situation.
- Consider your business calendar: When would an upgrade least disrupt your operations?
- Plan ahead: Use the grace period until April 2026 to make informed decisions.
Looking forward
Always plan your ERP journey strategically, as ERP systems continuously evolve and require regular updates to maintain optimal performance and security.
Although this policy change provides more flexibility for businesses to manage their ERP systems according to their specific needs and timelines, this should not be viewed as an excuse to defer necessary upgrade indefinitely or neglect system maintenance.
The key to success remains proactive planning and making informed decisions based on your business's unique circumstances rather than reacting to external pressures.
Last updated: 18 July 2025