We frequently encounter various questions about Odoo, ranging from its suitability for specific use cases to its customisation capabilities and cost considerations.
One question that consistently arises is, "Which version of Odoo should I choose – Community or Enterprise?” An important question requiring a thorough analysis of the pros and cons of both versions before embarking on any significant development work.
Understanding Odoo’s framework
Odoo’s object-oriented framework means that the Enterprise version is simply an extension of the Community version, and both versions evolve together. This is unique in the open-source world where quite often a free community version might be one or two versions behind the enterprise/paid version.
However, there are several differences between the two versions of Odoo that could render either one not suitable for your business.
Diving into Odoo versions
Essentially, the Community version of Odoo is a lite version of Enterprise. The core functionality is included and it contains the open-source entry-level components of Enterprise. It is available without any licensing or subscription fee from Odoo – no one-off licences, yearly licences, or user licences.
However, the main difference is that fewer Odoo-authored modules are available. In some instances, notably the finance module, only “cut down” versions are available.
Unlike Odoo Community, Odoo Enterprise requires a license from Odoo. The exact cost of this license depends on the number of users.
You may choose to implement Community using your in-house developers or hire an external partner to assist. The implementation service fees are usually similar for both in-house or external.
Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision about which version of Odoo is best suited to your business needs and budget.
For businesses with modest requirements and budget, Odoo Community is a cost-effective choice, especially when interfaced with external accounting packages, such as Xero.
Both the Community and Enterprise versions can be enhanced by adding modules from the Odoo app store or through custom extensions that companies like WilldooIT can develop.
Exploring Odoo Community
The most obvious difference between the Community version is the user interface, which whilst very functional is not as “pretty’ as the enterprise version (although there are third-party modules that bring it close to the Enterprise’s user interface).
The Odoo Community is the completely licence-free version of Odoo, making it extremely cost-effective if your business does not require the in-depth functionality present in Enterprise. The only cost will be hosting, any modifications you require and support from your local implementation partner.
The primary Odoo modules of concern not included in Odoo Community are those relating to accounting and financials. As such, Odoo Community cannot really be used as a substitute for an accounting package. When WilldooIT performs an Odoo Community edition implementation, the client typically will continue to use their existing accounting package (such as Xero, MYOB, etc.). It should be mentioned that there are third-party modules that can enhance the Community version’s financial accounting capabilities, making it a viable business solution.
For those who are happy to retain their existing accounting package, this is an excellent solution as it provides an otherwise near-complete ERP package, with the important following modules included:
- Invoicing (suppliers and customers)
- CRM
- Sales
- Inventory
- Purchasing
- Manufacturing (feature reduced)
- Project (feature reduced)
- Website and eCommerce POS
Additionally, Odoo Community also allows for third-party module installation and modifications.
This now brings us to the major drawbacks of Odoo Community edition – the aforementioned lack of inbuilt accounting and financial functionality. The need to use a third-party accounting package to overcome this can be a major disruption unless an API connection has been written.
There are several other features that are not available, such as eCommerce integrators, PLM and more. See the full comparison here. Some of these missing features can be added using modules from the Odoo app store, although it then may require support from several different external vendors.
Next, Odoo Community does not have an interface for mobiles and tablets so the standard desktop web interface will be shown. This can affect the user experience depending on how often you and your employees use mobile devices to access Odoo.
Lastly, upgrading the Community version is possible using open-source utilities, however, we highly recommend partnering with a technically proficient Odoo partner to do this.
Exploring Odoo Enterprise
Odoo Enterprise is the full-featured version of Odoo and it is able to use all Odoo Community modules plus the full accounting and finance modules and more, including:
- Inventory
- PLM
- Payroll
- Marketing automation
- VoIP
- Hosting
- Version upgrades
- Unlimited functional support
- Multi-company
The most important differentiation for many of our clients is the accounting and finance modules and extended features that allow complete integration with all other Odoo modules enabling a complete, fully integrated ERP package. A full-featured Odoo Enterprise ERP platform contains everything you need to operate and manage your business.
Odoo Enterprise also allows you the option to host your data on Odoo Online which is their secure cloud platform with built-in security features to protect your data. You may choose to host your data elsewhere depending on your business requirements, Odoo is flexible enough for that.
As for Enterprise subscription fees, Odoo charges by the user and depending on how many people are required to access the platform within your business, you can decide how many licences you want to purchase. You can learn more about their pricing here.
Making the right choice
Ultimately, it is up to you to determine which Odoo version is right for your business. It depends on your business requirements and your specific usage case as to which is more suitable and cost-effective. Here's a list of considerations to help you with your decision making:
- Functionality – if you require industry-specific functionalities, enhanced reporting, and advanced security features, Enterprise may be more suitable for you.
- Technical expertise – Community may be more suitable if you have in-house developers who can customise the platform for your business.
- Costs – as mentioned earlier Community is free to use with low start up costs. Enterprise is a paid subscription with more predictable costs and it can be more expensive up front.
- Growth plans – Enterprise offers automatic scaling and built-in security features, which may be more suitable for businesses looking to grow.
Contact us for personalised guidance
Whether you lean towards the flexibility and affordability of Odoo Community or require the comprehensive capabilities of Odoo Enterprise, we are here to guide you. Reach out to us to learn more.