In our previous post, we answered the question: What is Odoo? Now, let’s explore how Odoo can be used depending on the type of subscription. Whether you're just starting your business or you're scaling rapidly, Odoo offers flexible options — from free access to one app to powerful enterprise-grade custom solutions.
In this article, we'll break down the subscription options and help you choose the most suitable path for your business needs.
Free Odoo with One App – A Great Start for Small Businesses
Odoo offers a free version that allows you to use one application of your choice without any time limitation. This is perfect for businesses that need only one specific feature such as Invoicing, CRM, Sales, or Project Management.
Best for:
- Startups and freelancers
- Small businesses testing a process
- Projects with limited scope
- Key Benefits: - No license fees
- Full-featured access to the chosen app
- Hosted on Odoo’s cloud (SaaS)
- Limitations: You can’t use more than one app
- No customization or module integration
This option gives you a risk-free way to get started and experience Odoo's interface and capabilities.
Odoo Standard & Custom Plans – Flexible and Scalable
As your business grows, you’ll likely need more than one application — for example, integrating sales with inventory, or linking accounting with projects. That’s where the Standard and Custom paid plans come in - odoo.com/pricing.
Odoo Standard:
- Hosted by Odoo (SaaS)
- Includes all official Odoo apps
- No code-level customization
- Ideal for companies that want fast, low-maintenance implementation
Odoo Custom:
- Offers full customization with Studio or custom code
- Ideal for companies with specific workflows or industry requirements
- Key Benefits: Access to full suite: CRM, Sales, Accounting, Inventory, HR, Project, and more
- User support and system updates included
- Can grow with your business
Odoo’s pricing is per user, which makes it easy to start small and scale as you grow.
Odoo.sh – Advanced Customization with Cloud Control
a cloud platform developed by Odoo that allows businesses to deploy fully customized Odoo systems with version control, staging environments, and developer tools — without needing their own infrastructure.
Best for:
- Companies with unique workflows
- IT teams or Odoo Partners
- Projects that require heavy customization
- Key Benefits: Full access to backend code
- GitHub integration for source control
- Auto testing, staging, and backups
- Ability to install custom and third-party modules
Unlike the SaaS model, Odoo.sh offers the freedom of custom development while keeping the convenience of managed cloud hosting.
Odoo Community – The Free and Open-Source Edition
The Odoo Community edition is 100% free and open-source. It’s perfect for organizations that have in-house developers or want to host Odoo on their own servers.
Best for:
- IT teams or software developers
- Startups with tight budgets but technical resources
- Businesses that want full control and open-source flexibility
- Limitations: Does not include all apps (e.g. no Helpdesk, Marketing, or eLearning)
- No official support from Odoo S.A.
- Manual upgrades and maintenance are required
With Community, you can fully customize Odoo — but you’ll need to handle hosting, security, and updates on your own or with a trusted Odoo partner.
Choosing the Right Plan for Your Business - Here’s a quick comparison of the options:
- One App (Free) Free Odoo Cloud - Best for Freelancers, small use cases
- Standard Paid (per app/user) Odoo Cloud - Best for SMEs, fast deployments
- Custom Paid (per app/user) Odoo Cloud (Studio/API) - Best for Mid-size to large organizations
- Odoo.sh Paid (Custom + Hosting + Full code) - Best for Technical teams, high customization
- Community - Your own server (Full code) - Best for Developers, Open Source projects
Final Thoughts
Whether you need just one feature or a complete ERP solution, Odoo offers a plan that fits your business model and budget. The platform is designed to scale with you — so you can start small and grow over time.
Need help choosing the right Odoo plan or implementing the system?
At VitoshaBG, we help businesses choose the most effective subscription model and set up Odoo to match your unique goals. Contact us!