Best Odoo Alternatives in 2025 | MSDW
Around 95 % of companies report that business processes improved after implementing an ERP system. It's no surprise that ERP software has become mainstream across all industries with such impressive results.
Canadian businesses are growing more in demand of ERP solutions, which would bring together finance, inventory, HR, sales, projects, and operations in one roof. As Odoo has become a solution of choice among numerous SMEs thanks to its modularity and open platform. However, an increasing number of organizations are considering Odoo alternatives to identify a better fit to the needs of their organizations, be it a better Canadian localization, alternative licensing arrangements, or a more developed support ecosystem.
This blog will cover the top alternatives to Odoo in 2025, the strengths, weaknesses, and their suitability to the businesses that work all over Canada.
Before exploring the best Odoo alternatives, it’s important to understand what Odoo is.
What is Odoo?
Odoo is an open-source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) which assists a business to operate all its activities under a single integrated platform. It includes accounting, inventory, CRM, sales, human resource, manufacturing, eCommerce, and project management modules. The modular design of Odoo enables businesses to begin by installing a limited number of core applications and add more as their operations continue to increase.
It is built to provide scalability, flexibility, and accessibility to any kind of business. It also ensures cloud-based and on-premises deployments to provide freedom to companies to select the hosting model that aligns with their IT configuration and budget.
Moreover, Odoo has two editions namely:
- Odoo Community Edition: This is an open-source version which is entirely free. It contains the main business modules but lacks some complex functions and professional assistance.
- Odoo Enterprise Edition: A paid edition that features improved functionality, mobile access, improved performance, and official technical assistance by Odoo S.A.
Reasons why Businesses use Odoo Alternatives
Although Odoo is rich in features, some Canadian businesses consider Odoo alternative products because of:
- Complex upgrade and high maintenance cost on customized deployments.
- Limited official support for regional compliance (e.g., Canada’s GST/HST structure and bilingual needs)
- Dependency of third-party applications, which can have some long-term system stability implications.
- Limitations of performance when using large-scale operations.
- Complexity in pricing, particularly when it comes to multiple user and app companies.
The 8 Best Odoo Alternatives
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Business Central is a small-to-mid-sized business cloud ERP. It deals in finance, operations, sales, service, supply chain, projects, etc. It offers deep integration with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Excel), built-in AI (Copilot), real-time dashboards, multi-currency and multi-company, and high-level security/compliance.
Strengths:
- Domestic/international compliance, regulatory services, broad partner network in Canada.
- Richest functionality in a variety of business areas; expandable modules with business growth.
- Good user experience with those who are already on Microsoft apps; customization through Power Platform and AppSource add-ons.
- Frequent updates, deploying to the cloud, scalability, robust data analytics, and conceiving.
Limitations:
- The cost of licensing may be huge when numerous modules or high users are considered.
- In companies that have no complex operations, can seem to be over-engineered.
Best: Canadian SMEs requiring cloud ERP with mature support, excellent local compliance, and reliable partner ecosystem.
ClickUp
An integrated work management experience that integrates task/project management, documents, dashboards, collaboration tools, time tracking, whiteboards, automations, and AI-assisted features (ClickUp Brain). It supports many views (list, board, calendar, Gantt, and so on), custom fields, automations (triggers/actions), collaborative documents, real-time reporting.
Strengths:
- Very versatile and can be used to combine many tools into one.
- Good teamwork and cooperation established.
- Many custom workflows do not need any coding.
- AI-features assist in summaries, automations and minimize manual labor.
Limitations:
- Due to its numerous functionalities, it might be overwhelming particularly initially.
- Some specialized activities or processes may also need numerous custom fields or automations.
- Not developed as a full ERP as deep manufacturing, payroll, or accounting out-of-box.
Best: When what matters to you is managing work + CRM + operations + collaboration, but is not very deep manufacturing, accounting, or inventory.
Zoho One
It is an integrated set of 45+ applications in CRM, finance, HR, communication, support, IT tools, analytics. It is designed to reduce tool sprawl, offering extensive business requirements coverage in a single subscription.
Strengths:
- Large collection of tools- worth it when various departments require various applications.
- It is possible to enable or disable applications by user or department.
- Simple onboarding of most of the daily business activities.
Limitations:
- Some of the modules (manufacturing, complex inventory, advanced accounting) might not be as profound as Odoo or specialized ERP systems.
- Large scale concurrent usage of many apps may cause performance lag.
Best: Small to mid-sized business, requiring numerous functions under one roof, less customization, and cheaper.
SAP Business One
ERP targeting SMEs particularly in such industries as manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and professional services. It manages modules such as inventory and warehouse, sales, production, service, finance, and multi-warehouse.
Strengths:
- Good inventory, production, and warehouse management.
- Real-time notifications and analysis.
- Established ecosystem and stability.
Limitations:
- The cost of setup may be high.
- Some non-core modules (HR, advanced CRM) might need to be integrated.
Best: When the operations are manufacturing/distribution heavy, or multi-warehouse.
Oracle NetSuite
Cloud-native ERP including modules of financials, inventory, order management, CRM, e-commerce, analytics. It offers multi sub subsidiary, multi currency, and is appropriate to international operations.
Strengths:
- Extremely mature, strong enough in terms of scale and global operations.
- In-built compliance, good data analytics, numerous integrations.
- Good support and reliability.
Limitations:
- Expensive license and implementation.
- Implementation complexity might be excessive in smaller companies.
- Criticism of some features and user interface by some users as excessive features or user-friendliness.
Best: When organization require e-commerce + finance + analytics to be closely integrated.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online (Intuit) is a cloud-based accounting solution that specializes in basic finances like invoicing, expenses, bank/credit card feeds, financial reports, and tax compliance. It integrates with payroll and dozens of third-party apps. It helps to track sales tax (GST/HST), expenses in Canada, capture mobile receipts and customize dashboards.
Strengths:
- Keeping books, invoicing, expense / purchase management, reporting.
- Predictable subscription model, scalable plans
- Strong domestic presence in Canada i.e. adherence to the laws of the Canadian tax system, payroll integrations, etc.
Limitations:
- Not a complete ERP: does not have in-depth inventory / manufacturing, multi-warehouse, or complex production modules.
- Some advanced features need upgrading to premium plans.
- It has less customization when compared to a modular ERP or open-source competitor.
Best: When your company primarily requires accounting, financial reporting, sales invoicing with irregular inventory.
Epicor Kinetic
It is an ERP solution that is specific to manufacturing or discrete or make-to-order. It has wide modules such as production management, scheduling, supply chain, financials, real-time analytics, and embedded learning tools. It also allows hybrid or on-premises deployment.
Strengths:
- Excellent cloud design, regular upgrades, in-built analytics, and BI, mobile/browser-based interfaces.
- Flexibility i.e. hybrid deployment, IoT / MES integrations, no- / low-code configuration options.
Limitations:
- It can be expensive and complicated particularly to small firms with less complicated requirements.
- Per user reviews, UI / performance can be low in certain dense dashboards or operations with large datasets.
Best: When volume, complexity or supply chain resilience is required.
SuiteCRM
SuiteCRM is an open-source and full-fledged Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. It includes modules for leads, opportunities, quotes, invoices, campaigns, activity tracking (calls, meetings, tasks), workflow automation, dashboards, reports, and a REST API for integrations. It is developed and supported by SalesAgility.
Strengths:
- No core product licensing fees; highly customizable.
- Strong in sales & marketing workflows, customer support, quoting/invoicing through CRM modules.
- Good choice when you require primarily CRM and some financial/invoicing, but not the deep-seated ERP.
Limitations:
- Not a full ERP: lacks powerful built in accounting, inventory, and manufacturing modules.
- Takes additional effort to integrate with external systems in case such functions are required.
- UI, innovation rate can be lower than the commercial ERP vendors.
Best: When your business is heavy on CRM (sales, customer service, marketing) or you require a lightweight and low-cost alternative in Odoo.
Next, we’ll explore how to choose the right ERP system for your business and what factors to consider before shifting from Odoo to another platform.
How to Choose the Best ERP
In comparing ERP systems (or Odoo alternatives), look at:
- Scalability & Performance: As the business expands, the ERP is required to support higher transactions, users, and data without causing serious performance deterioration.
- User Experience & Ease of Use: The interface must be user friendly. Onboarding training and adoption cost are important.
- Customization & Extensibility: Your unique processes must have the ability to be extended by the ERP - API, Plugin ecosystem, developer support issue.
- Deployment Alternative: Do you prefer cloud/SaaS, hybrid, or on-premises? The most important is its flexibility of deployment.
- Implementation Services and Support: It is particularly in Canada that you would like local support, experienced implementation partners, and reliable maintenance.
- ERP Implementation Strategy: An excellent system will not work when implemented poorly. It should be a staged approach: discovery, prototyping, testing, training, go-live, and continuous improvement.
After knowing about the best Odoo alternatives, it is also necessary to know what is next in process of selecting the right system, it is the implementation in the right manner.
ERP Implementation
The selection of ERP is not the final decision, but its implementation is the success or failure. According to Gartner, more than 55% of ERP projects do not achieve their original targets because of improper planning, or failure of users to accept, or clearly understand the business objectives. Nevertheless, structures that are guided by a certified partner show up to 30% increase in ROI in the initial year.
The important points to consider during the implementation of any ERP are:
- Discovery Requirements Gathering
Map your business processes, pain points, and future goals. Do not simply copy the example of old systems, redefine the best.
- Phased Approach
Implement in stages (e.g. core finance initially, then inventory, then HR, etc.), with feedback loops.
- Data Migration & Cleansing
Before migration, legacy data can be required to be cleaned up. Design by mapping, validation, testing.
- Customization vs Configuration
Prefer configuration over heavy custom coding. Customizations make upgrades harder.
- Change Management & Training
Users must be trained. Gain leadership and change agent support.
- Testing & Pilot Runs
Simulate real transactions, test edge cases, pilot with subsets of users before full go live.
- Go-Live & Support Plan
Fallback plans, hypercaring support, and fast bug fix during first weeks.
- On-Ongoing Improvement and Optimization.
Once deployed, track KPIs, receive feedback and refine processes as they go.
Conclusion
As we've discussed, choosing the right ERP is just the beginning. Success depends on implementation, partner collaboration, customization, and change management.
That is where Dynamics Square comes. We are experienced Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner across Canada, focused on the implementation, customization, and maintenance of the ERP systems. We assist in fit-gap analysis to identify the most appropriate ERP to use in the business.
We offer data migration, integration, training, and after-go-live support that are customized to Canadian operations, such as GST/HST, and Canadian payroll. We abide by the best practice in the implementation of the ERP which minimizes risk and maximizes ROI. Depending on your choice and security requirement we can provide hybrid or on-premises or cloud deployment.
In case you need assistance in evaluating Odoo alternatives, feel free to contact us via phone at +1 778 381 5388 or drop a mail on info@dynamicssquare.ca.
FAQ's
Who are the competitors of Odoo?
Odoo major competitors are:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
- SAP Business One
- NetSuite ERP, Zoho ERP
- QuickBooks Online
- Sage Intacct
What are the disadvantages of Odoo?
Although Odoo is a scalable ERP platform, it has certain shortcomings:
- Complex setup
- Minimal support
- Integration issues
- Hidden expenses
- Performance scaling