TOP 9 Open Source ERP Systems in 2023 for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you know that managing your operations effectively is crucial to your success. But with so many expensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) software options out there, it can be challenging to find a solution that fits your budget. That’s where free ERP Open Source systems come in.

In this article, I’ll introduce you to open-source ERP software tools and share the best options for small businesses. I’ll also help you choose the right, quality management and tool for your business and compare the top 4 open source ERP software tools based on product name, prices, features, and rating.

What Are the Best Open Source ERP System for Small Businesses?

To find the best ERP Open source system for small businesses, it’s important to determine the specific needs and goals of your business.

This involves evaluating factors such as the type and size of your business, the features and functionality required, ease of use, customizability, and support services. Researching and comparing the various open-source ERP solutions and systems available, along with reading reviews and discussing with other professionals in your industry, can also be helpful in making an informed decision.

Spoiler Alert: The listed ERPs do an amazing job compared to the leading ERP system of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

After thorough research and analysis, I have identified the following 9 open source ERP systems as the best for small businesses in 2023.

1. Odoo

Overview

Odoo ERP is an all-in-one, open-source business software that offers a range of business applications such as CRM, sales, accounting, project management, manufacturing, inventory, and many more. It is flexible, customizable, and offers a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use for businesses of all sizes. Odoo ERP can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud, offering companies the flexibility to choose a deployment method that works best for their business.

Highlights

All-in-One Platform – Odoo provides a full suite of applications for all aspects of a business, from accounting to project management, making it a comprehensive business solution.
Modular Design – The modular design of Odoo allows users to add or remove modules as per their business needs, resulting in a scalable and customizable ERP system.
User-Friendly Interface – The user interface of Odoo is intuitive and easy to use, with a drag-and-drop builder that can help users customize forms, reports, and dashboards.
Integration Capabilities – Odoo provides integration with popular third-party applications, such as PayPal, eBay, UPS, FedEx, and many more, to make business processes more streamlined.
Mobile Compatibility – Odoo’s responsive design and mobile compatibility enable users to access applications and perform tasks on mobile devices, promoting productivity and convenience.
Community Support – With a large and active community of users and developers, Odoo offers extensive support and resources for users to troubleshoot issues, customize the software, and obtain updates.

Pricing

They offer various pricing plans based on the number of users and applications needed, and there’s also a free community edition available. The paid plans start at $14.80 per user per month for the standard package, and the custom plan with all the features included starts at $22.40 per user per month. However, the pricing may vary depending on the customization and hosting requirements.

Bottomline

Odoo the ERP suite is best suited for small to mid-size businesses that need a fully integrated and customizable solution for managing their daily operations and workflow. It offers a 15-day free trial that allows users to test the software’s functionality and features before committing to a purchase.

2. Dolibarr

Overview

Dolibarr is an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software. It is designed for small and medium-sized businesses and offers features such as accounting, invoicing, inventory management, project management, and more. Dolibarr is easy to use and can be customized to fit the specific needs of each business.

Highlights

Accounting: The accounting module of Dolibarr allows for easy management of invoices, payments, and financial reports.
CRM: The customer relationship management module enables businesses to manage leads, prospects, and customers, as well as track interactions and communications.
Project Management: Dolibarr’s project management module helps businesses to track tasks, deadlines, and team members, as well as generate reports on project progress.
Inventory Management: The inventory management module provides businesses with tools to manage stock levels, track products, and monitor orders.
HR Management: The HR management module allows businesses to manage employee records, payroll, and benefits.
E-commerce Integration: Dolibarr can integrate with ecommerce platforms, enabling businesses to manage orders, payments, and shipping information from one central location.

Pricing

Dolibarr is open-source software and is available for free download. However, some features and modules may require payment or a subscription to access, and pricing can vary depending on the specific requirements and support needed.

Bottomline

Dolibarr is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require a comprehensive and customizable ERP and CRM system to manage their operations efficiently. It is also ideal for freelancers and individuals looking for an open-source solution to manage their business or personal projects.

3. ERPNext

Overview

ERPNext is an open-source ERP software designed to help small and medium-sized businesses manage their operations and automate their business processes. It includes features such as accounting, document management, sales and purchase management, inventory management, project management, and more.

Highlights

Accounting: Manage financial transactions and automate accounting tasks.
Sales: Manage leads, customers, and sales orders.
Purchasing: Manage supplier relationships and automate purchase orders.
Inventory: Track stock levels, manage inventory movements, and perform stock valuations.
Manufacturing: Plan production schedules, track work orders, and manage BOMs.
HR: Manage employee data, attendance, and leave applications.
Project management: Manage projects, tasks, and resources, and track progress and budgets.
CRM: Manage customer interactions, including leads, opportunities, and support requests, and track customer history and preferences.

Pricing

ERPNext offers a free plan for up to 1 user and pricing plans start at $10 per month, with additional users charged per-user basis. There are also options for self-hosting and enterprise plans with more advanced features at the cost of $1250 per site, per month.

Bottomline

ERPNext is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require an all-in-one solution for managing various business processes like sales, inventory, accounting, and HR. It is also suitable for companies with limited technical expertise as it is easy to use and requires minimal training.

4. Openbravo

Overview

Openbravo is an open-source ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution designed for small and medium businesses. It offers features such as financial management, inventory, and warehouse management, sales and purchasing management, and more. Openbravo can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud and has a modular architecture that allows for customization and scalability.

Highlights

Customizable dashboards – Users can customize their dashboards to display the data they need to see.
Inventory management – Helps manage stock levels, automate replenishment, and improve inventory accuracy.
Point of sale (POS) – Provides a modern and intuitive POS solution for retailers and hospitality businesses.
Multi-language support – Supports multiple languages for global businesses.
Mobility – Provides mobile access to the system, allowing users to access data from anywhere.
Omnichannel retail – Helps businesses create a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels.

Pricing

Openbravo offers a subscription-based pricing model, with three different editions: Professional, Enterprise, and Cloud. Pricing varies depending on the number of users and modules selected and can be obtained by contacting their sales team.

Bottomline

Openbravo is best suited for small and medium-sized retail and restaurant businesses looking for a cost-effective and easy-to-use ERP system to streamline their operations, manage their inventory, and improve their customer service. The product offers a free trial for users to test its features and functionalities before committing to a purchase.

5. Apache OFBiz

Overview

Apache OFBiz (Open For Business) is a free and open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that provides a full integrated suite of enterprise applications and functionalities to support businesses in managing their operations. It includes features such as accounting, CRM, order management, inventory management, and manufacturing, among others.

Highlights

E-commerce platform – OFBiz provides an end-to-end ecommerce platform that supports multiple storefronts, catalogs, and payment options.
Accounting and financial management – It offers a robust accounting and financial management system that includes accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, and budget management.
Supply chain management – OFBiz provides comprehensive supply chain management functionality, including inventory management, purchasing, and order management.
CRM and Sales Management – It has a CRM system that manages customer interactions and sales processes, including lead management, opportunity management, and sales forecasting.
Human resource management – OFBiz includes a complete human resource management system that manages employee records, benefits, and payroll.
Project management – It has a project management module that enables organizations to manage projects, tasks, and resources.

Pricing

Apache OFBiz is open-source software and is available for free to download and use. However, there may be additional costs involved in terms of customization, maintenance, and support services that are required for a specific business’s needs. These costs will vary based on the complexity of the implementation and the specific requirements of the business.

Bottomline

Apache OFBiz is best suited for mid-sized and large businesses looking for an open-source ERP and CRM solution with extensive customization capabilities. The product offers a free trial, making it easy for businesses to try out the software before committing to a purchase.

6. iDempiere

Overview

iDempiere is a free and open-source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software suite that offers a range of features for businesses of various sizes and industries. It is based on the same source code as Adempiere and includes additional features and enhancements.

Highlights

Robust ERP functionality: iDempiere offers an array of modules and functionalities, such as accounting, inventory management, purchasing, sales, and more, to support end-to-end business operations.
Customization and flexibility: The software is highly customizable and can be configured to meet the specific needs of different organizations and industries.
Open-source and free: iDempiere is an open-source ERP solution that is available for free, making it a cost-effective option for small and medium businesses.
Multi-language and multi-currency support: iDempiere supports multiple languages and currencies, making it a suitable option for organizations operating in multiple countries.
User-friendly interface: The system is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation, which reduces the need for extensive training.
Community support: The software is supported by a large community of developers and users who offer support and resources, making it easy to get help and find solutions to issues.
CRM functionality: The software includes built-in customer relationship management (CRM) tools, which help businesses manage their customer interactions and relationships.
Advanced reporting and analytics: iDempiere includes advanced reporting and analytics features that provide businesses with insights into their operations and help them make data-driven decisions.
Integration capabilities: The software can be easily integrated with other systems and applications, allowing businesses to streamline their operations and improve data accuracy.
Security features: The software includes robust security features, such as user authentication and role-based access control, to ensure that sensitive business data is protected.

Pricing

iDempiere is an open-source ERP software that is free to use and can be downloaded from the iDempiere website.

Bottomline

iDempiere is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require a flexible and customizable open-source ERP solution to manage their end-to-end business operations. It is particularly useful for companies operating in multiple countries and requiring multi-language and multi-currency support.

7. Adempiere

Overview

Adempiere is a free, open-source ERP and CRM business solution designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It offers features such as financial management, purchasing and sales management, inventory management, and project management. Adempiere also provides customization options, allowing small and midsize businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs.

Highlights

ERP and CRM integration: Adempiere provides seamless integration between ERP and CRM systems to streamline business processes.
Open source and free: Adempiere is completely open-source software and is free to use, which makes it accessible to a wide range of businesses.
Customizable dashboards: Adempiere allows users to create customizable dashboards to view important business metrics and data.
Multi-language and multi-currency support: Adempiere supports multiple languages and currencies, making it suitable for businesses with global operations.
Advanced inventory management: Adempiere’s inventory management system includes features such as automated stock replenishment and tracking of serialized items.
Flexible reporting: Adempiere’s reporting capabilities allow for the creation of customized reports and real-time data analysis.

Pricing

Adempiere is open-source software and is available for free without any licensing fees. There are no licensing fees associated with the software, and users are free to modify and customize the software to suit their needs.

Bottomline

Adempiere is best suited for both small and medium businesses, looking for an affordable and customizable ERP solution that can handle various business processes such as financial management, inventory management, sales, and procurement.

8. Compiere

Overview

Compiere ERP software is an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software that provides a range of business applications for small and medium-sized and large enterprises. It is designed to help businesses automate and streamline their operations, manage their finances, and improve their customer relationships.

Highlights

Accounting: Compiere provides a comprehensive accounting system that supports multiple accounting schemas, currencies, and account hierarchies.
Sales and purchasing management: Compiere offers advanced sales and purchasing management capabilities, including quotes, orders, invoicing, and purchasing orders.
Inventory management: Compiere allows businesses to track inventory levels, manage multiple warehouses, and perform inventory transactions such as transfers, receipts, and issues.
Manufacturing: Compiere provides tools for managing production processes, including bills of materials, work orders, and production routing.
CRM: Compiere includes a customer relationship management module that allows businesses to manage leads, contacts, opportunities, and campaigns.
Reporting and analysis: Compiere offers a powerful reporting and analysis framework that enables users to create custom reports and dashboards, analyze data, and generate insights.

Pricing

Compiere offers both a Community Edition, which is free and open-source, and an Enterprise Edition, which requires a subscription, and pricing is based on a per-user per-year basis. The exact pricing can vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the customer.

Bottomline

Compiere is the best software as a service, suited for mid-sized to large companies looking for a comprehensive ERP solution that can be customized to meet their specific business needs and processes. It is also suitable for industries such as retail, distribution, manufacturing, and services.

9. Metasfresh

Overview

Metasfresh is a free and open-source ERP software designed to cater to small and medium businesses. It offers a range of functionalities, including procurement, inventory management, sales, financial accounting, and more. The software is highly customizable, allowing users to adapt it to their specific business needs. It is built on modern technology, making it highly scalable and adaptable to future changes in the business environment. Metasfresh is a community-driven project that is continuously updated and improved by its users and developers.

Highlight

ERP functionality: Metasfresh provides a comprehensive set of ERP functionalities, including inventory management, purchasing, production planning, and financial accounting.
Open-source and cloud-based: Metasfresh is ERP open-source tool, which means it is freely available for use and modification. Additionally, it can be hosted on a cloud server, providing flexibility and scalability to businesses.
Multi-language support: Metasfresh supports multiple languages, including English, German, French, and Spanish, making it accessible to businesses worldwide.
Mobile-friendly: The software has a responsive design and can be accessed from mobile devices, allowing users to manage their business on the go.
Integration capabilities: Metasfresh can be easily integrated with other software tools, including CRM and ecommerce platforms, providing a seamless experience for businesses.
Agile methodology: Metasfresh follows an Agile methodology, which means it focuses on delivering small, incremental updates and improvements to the software, ensuring it stays up-to-date with changing business requirements.

Pricing

Metasfresh is free and open-source system with no licensing fees, which means it can be downloaded, installed, and used for free (Self-Hosted). Which gives you the right to use it, change it, and distribute it as long as you want. It also offers a paid (Cloud-Hosted) with additional features and support services, but the pricing for this edition is not publicly disclosed and may vary based on specific business needs.

Bottomline

Metasfresh is a highly customizable and scalable ERP system suited for small to medium-sized enterprises looking for an open-source, flexible solution for their business operations product data management. It is ideal for companies looking to streamline their business processes, improve inventory management, and optimize their supply chain management.

What Is Open Source ERP System?

An Open source ERP system is a type of software designed to help businesses manage and automate their core business processes. It typically includes modules for accounting, inventory management, customer relationship management, and more. The source code for open-source ERP systems is freely available, allowing users to modify and customize the software to meet their specific needs. The combination of ERP software and AI builder can help businesses improve their efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Comparison Open Source ERP Systems

PRODUCT	PRICING	FEATURES	RATING
Odoo	$14.80/month	All-in-One Platform, Modular Design, User-Friendly Interface, Integration Capabilities, Mobile Compatibility	9/10
Dolibarr	N/A	Accounting, CRM, Project Management, Inventory Management, HR Management, Ecommerce Integration	8/10
ERPNext	$10/month	Accounting, Sales, Purchasing, Inventory, Manufacturing, HR, Project management, CRM	7/10
Openbravo	N/A	Customizable dashboards, Inventory management, Point of sale (POS, Multi-language support, Mobility, Omnichannel retail	7/10

Wrap Up

ERP Open source system tools can be a game-changer for small businesses looking for an affordable alternative to expensive ERP software. There are options like Odoo, Dolibarr, ERPNext, and Openbravo that integrate with Microsoft Outlook.

When choosing an ERP open-source tool for your business, consider your budget, needs, ease of use, and support offered by the software developers and community. With the right open-source ERP software tool, you can revolutionize your small to midsize business market operations in 2023.

So why not give them a try and see how they can benefit your business?