The Ultimate Guide to Odoo Pricing in Australia

Choosing the right ERP system is one of the most critical financial and operational decisions a business can make. Among modern ERP platforms, Odoo stands out for its modular design, flexibility, and competitive pricing. Yet, Odoo pricing is also one of the most misunderstood topics in the ERP market.

Some people believe Odoo is “free.” Others think it is “cheap compared to SAP or NetSuite.” Both assumptions can be misleading if you don’t fully understand how Odoo pricing actually works.

This guide is written to give you complete clarity. By the end of this article, you will understand:

• How Odoo pricing is structured

• What you really pay beyond license fees

• How hosting, implementation, and customization affect cost

• Real-world Odoo pricing scenarios

• Whether Odoo is worth the price for your business

This is a people-first, decision-focused guide, not a sales pitch.

1. Understanding Odoo Pricing: What You Are Really Paying For

When people search for “odoo pricing”, they usually expect a simple number. In reality, Odoo pricing is a multi-layer cost model, not a single fee.

Odoo pricing typically includes:

1. Software licensing (Enterprise only)

2. Hosting infrastructure

3. Implementation and configuration

4. Customization and integrations

5. Ongoing support, maintenance, and upgrades

Most confusion happens because only the license price is visible upfront, while the total cost of ownership (TCO) is revealed later. This guide focuses on the full picture, not just the headline number.

Odoo can be very cost-effective — but only when it is planned, implemented, and scaled correctly.

2. How Odoo Pricing Works: Core Pricing Model Explained

At its core, Odoo pricing is based on three main variables:

• Number of users

• Selected applications (modules)

• Deployment method

2.1 Per-User Pricing Logic

Odoo Enterprise is priced per user, per month. Each user who logs into the system requires a paid license (except certain limited portal users).

This means:

• Adding users increases cost linearly

• Removing users reduces cost (at renewal)

• User roles matter (internal vs external)

2.2 Subscription-Based vs Self-Managed Costs

With Odoo Enterprise, you pay a subscription fee that covers:

• Access to Enterprise features

• Security updates

• Version upgrades

However, the subscription does not automatically cover:

• Custom development

• Data migration

• Third-party integrations

• Ongoing partner support

These costs are separate and often larger than the license itself.

2.3 Annual vs Monthly Billing

Odoo typically encourages annual billing, which:

• Reduces monthly cost

• Improves budget predictability

• Aligns with ERP planning cycles

Monthly billing may exist in some regions but is usually more expensive over time.

3. Odoo Editions and Their Pricing Implications

Before discussing plans and hosting, you must understand the two Odoo editions, because pricing behavior differs significantly between them.

3.1 Odoo Community Edition

Odoo Community is:

• Open-source

• Free to use (no license fees)

• Self-hosted only

However, “free” does not mean “zero cost.” You still pay for:

• Servers or cloud infrastructure

• Technical setup

• Maintenance and upgrades

• Custom development

• Internal or external technical staff

Community Edition suits companies with strong internal technical teams and limited functional requirements.

3.2 Odoo Enterprise Edition

Odoo Enterprise is:

• Paid per user

• Includes advanced features

• Backed by official support and upgrades

Enterprise unlocks:

• Accounting localization

• Advanced inventory and manufacturing

• Studio, automation, and reporting tools

• Better UI and performance optimizations

For most businesses, Enterprise is the practical choice, despite the license cost.

3.3 Community vs Enterprise: The Real Cost Comparison

While Community has no license fee, Enterprise often becomes cheaper in practice because:

• Less custom development is needed

• Fewer technical resources are required

• Upgrades are smoother and less risky

This is a key reason many “free Odoo” projects end up costing more long-term.

4. Odoo Enterprise Pricing Plans Explained

Odoo Enterprise pricing is divided into three main plans, each designed for different use cases.

4.1 One App Free Plan

The One App Free plan allows:

• Unlimited users

• One Odoo application only

• Odoo Online hosting

This plan is ideal for:

• Very small businesses

• Single-function use cases (e.g., CRM only)

Limitations:

• No additional apps

• No Odoo.sh or on-premise deployment

• Limited flexibility

4.2 Standard Plan

The Standard plan includes:

• All Odoo apps

• Per-user pricing

• Odoo Online hosting

This plan fits:

• Small to mid-sized businesses

• Companies with standard workflows

• Teams that don’t need deep customization

It offers the best balance between cost and functionality for many SMEs.

4.3 Custom Plan

The Custom plan is the most flexible:

• All apps included

• Odoo.sh or on-premise hosting

• Full customization access

• API and advanced development tools

This plan is designed for:

• Manufacturing companies

• Multi-company operations

• Businesses with complex processes

4.4 How Costs Scale Over Time

As your business grows:

• User count increases

• Additional apps are enabled

• Customizations expand

Odoo pricing scales predictably — but only if you control customization scope carefully.

5. Odoo Hosting Options and Their Cost Impact

Hosting is a major pricing lever in Odoo projects.

5.1 Odoo Online (SaaS)

Odoo Online:

• Fully managed by Odoo

• Lowest operational complexity

• Limited customization

Best for:

• Standard processes

• Small teams

• Cost-sensitive deployments

5.2 Odoo.sh (Managed Cloud)

Odoo.sh provides:

• Dedicated environments

• Staging and development instances

• Git-based deployment

Costs depend on:

• Number of workers

• Storage usage

• Environment count

It is ideal for customized Enterprise deployments.

5.3 On-Premise / Self-Hosted

Self-hosting offers:

• Maximum control

• Full customization freedom

But adds:

• Infrastructure costs

• Security responsibility

• Internal IT workload

This option suits large enterprises or regulated industries.

6. Implementation Costs: The Largest Hidden Component of Odoo Pricing

For most businesses, implementation costs exceed license fees.

6.1 What Implementation Includes

Odoo implementation typically covers:

• Business process analysis

• System configuration

• Data migration

• User roles and permissions

• Testing and training

• Go-live support

6.2 Cost Ranges by Complexity

Approximate implementation ranges:

• Small projects: low five figures

• Mid-sized ERP deployments: mid to high five figures

• Complex enterprise projects: six figures or more

6.3 Partner vs In-House Implementation

Partner-led implementation:

• Faster

• Lower risk

• Higher upfront cost

In-house implementation:

• Lower direct cost

• Higher risk

• Requires strong Odoo expertise

Choosing the wrong model can dramatically increase total cost.

7. Customization, Development, and Integration Costs

Customization is where Odoo pricing can escalate quickly.

7.1 Configuration vs Custom Development

Configuration uses built-in features — low cost, low risk.Custom development adds new logic — higher cost, long-term maintenance impact.

7.2 Third-Party Apps

Odoo App Store modules may:

• Reduce development time

• Add subscription costs

• Create upgrade dependencies

7.3 Integrations

Common integrations include:

• Accounting software

• E-commerce platforms

• Payment gateways

• Logistics providers

Integration complexity directly affects project cost.

8. Ongoing Costs After Go-Live

Odoo pricing doesn’t stop at launch.

8.1 Maintenance and Upgrades

Annual upgrades:

• Require testing

• May need code adjustments

• Consume support hours

8.2 Support Models

Support costs vary by:

• SLA level

• Response time

• Scope of services

8.3 Scaling Costs

As usage grows:

• Users increase

• Infrastructure scales

• Support demand rises

Planning for these costs prevents budget surprises.

9. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Real Odoo Pricing Scenarios

9.1 Small Business (5–10 Users)

• Enterprise license: modest

• Hosting: Odoo Online

• Minimal customization

Lowest total cost scenario

9.2 Growing Company (20–50 Users)

• Standard or Custom plan

• Odoo.sh hosting

• Moderate integrations

Balanced cost-to-value scenario

9.3 Enterprise (100+ Users)

• Custom plan

• On-premise or advanced Odoo.sh

• Extensive customization

Highest cost, maximum flexibility

9.4 Multi-Year Perspective

Over 3–5 years:

• Implementation dominates cost

• Licensing becomes predictable

• Smart design reduces long-term spend

10. Is Odoo Worth the Price? Cost-to-Value Analysis

Odoo is worth the price when:

• You need modular ERP flexibility

• You want to avoid vendor lock-in

• You plan growth carefully

It may not be ideal if:

• You want zero customization

• You lack implementation discipline

• You underestimate change management

11. Odoo Pricing Compared to Other ERP Systems

• Odoo vs SAP Business One: Lower entry cost, more flexibility

• Odoo vs NetSuite: More customization control, lower long-term cost

• Odoo vs ERPNext: More mature ecosystem, paid licensing

12. Frequently Asked Questions About Odoo Pricing

Is Odoo really free?

Yes, Community Edition is free — but not cost-free.

What does per-user pricing mean?

Each internal user requires a license.

What costs are optional vs mandatory?

Licensing is mandatory (Enterprise); customization is optional.

Is Odoo cheaper long-term?

Often yes, if managed properly.

13. Common Odoo Pricing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Underestimating implementation effort

2. Over-customizing early

3. Choosing the wrong hosting model

14. Final Thoughts: Making the Right Odoo Pricing Decision

Odoo pricing is not about being “cheap” — it’s about being scalable, transparent, and flexible.

If you approach Odoo with:

• Clear requirements

• Realistic budgeting

• Long-term thinking

…it can deliver exceptional value in Havi Technology.

The right Odoo pricing decision aligns technology, process, and strategy — not just numbers on a quote.