Dolibarr or Odoo: the ERP match-up for SMEs looking to grow!
Dolibarr and Odoo are among the most popular open source ERP solutions on the market. Two powerful tools that promise to simplify day-to-day management, support the growth of SMEs and adapt to the most specific needs thanks to their many modules. But despite their shared open source DNA, these two platforms take very different approaches.
One is designed to be light, quick to learn and without frills. The other relies on a more comprehensive, highly modular offering, but is sometimes more complex to deploy. So, which is the best choice for your business?
👉 In this comparison, we analyse features, costs, interface, customisation and integrations to help you find the ERP system that really sticks to your goals.
What is Dolibarr?
Dolibarr overview
Dolibarr is open source management software designed for SMEs, micro-businesses, the self-employed and even associations. Initially developed in France, this modular ERP system brings together a range of functions that are essential for running a business: CRM, invoicing, accounting, stock management, human resources, etc.
Accessible via a free community version or in cloud mode, Dolibarr is attractive for its open source philosophy, ease of installation and short learning curve. It can be hosted on its own server, or used via a service provider, making it a flexible option for businesses looking for a customisable management tool without blowing their budget.
Dolibarr's main features
Dolibarr offers a catalogue of modules that can be activated à la carte, to adapt precisely to the needs of each company. No unnecessary overload: just the essentials.
⚒️ Before diving into the list, let's be clear about one thing: Dolibarr isn't here to impress with fancy tricks. It's straight to the point, with clear functionalities designed for organisations that want a simple, robust and frictionless ERP:
- CRM: management of prospects, customers and sales opportunities ;
- invoicing and estimates: creation of sales documents, payment management, reminders; and
- basic accounting: journals, VAT, bank reconciliations (extended modules available) ;
- stock management: products, warehouses, movements, stock levels ;
- project management: tasks, milestones, Gantt charts ;
- human resources: holidays, expense reports, time spent ;
- diary and planning: synchronisation of events, collaborative vision ;
- point of sale (POS): solution tailored to physical shops.
Dolibarr
Advantages and disadvantages of Dolibarr
Before rushing to buy Dolibarr for your SME, you need to look under the bonnet. Because, while the tool has a lot to offer, it is not without its limitations. So we take an honest look at what Dolibarr does very well... and what it does a little less well.
✅ Dolibarr has carved out a place for itself in the open source ERP world thanks to several key strengths that speak to medium-sized businesses and smaller structures alike:
- quick and easy installation (local or cloud) ;
- highly flexible modularity: you activate only the modules you need;
- Very low cost, or even zero cost with the community version;
- clear, accessible interface, even for non-technical users;
- easy customisation via modules or specific development;
- large French-speaking and international community;
- respect for open source logic: no proprietary lock-in.
❌ However, Dolibarr is not for everyone. Some more complex or fast-growing businesses could quickly hit its limits:
- limited advanced functionality compared to Odoo or other full-featured ERPs ;
- an unmodern (albeit effective) interface
- fewer native integrations with other third-party applications;
- limited support if you stick with the community version;
- sometimes technical customisation curve if you have specific needs.
What is Odoo?
Odoo overview
Odoo is a comprehensive, ultra-modular open source ERP designed to meet the management needs of businesses ranging from ambitious start-ups to large multi-site organisations.
Its strength lies in its impressive library of modules, with over 30 main applications and thousands of extensions, covering the entire spectrum of business management: sales, marketing, finance, HR, production, logistics, etc. Odoo is available as a free community version and as a paid enterprise version, with premium features, support and cloud options.
It's an ERP designed for businesses that want to centralise, automate and personalise everything to the extreme, without compromising on scalability.
Odoo's main features
Odoo is more than just a management tool; it's a truly integrated ERP ecosystem, designed to adapt to every stage of a company's growth. Its modular architecture means you can do almost anything.
Before diving into the key modules, it's important to understand that Odoo is an all-in-one ERP solution, but one that can evolve in line with business needs. You can start small, then add building blocks as you go along.
⚒️ Here is an overview of the key functionalities offered by Odoo:
- Advanced CRM: pipeline, scoring, automated reminders ;
- complete invoicing and accounting: quotes, invoices, VAT, analytical accounting, multi-currency ;
- commercial management: sales, purchasing, stocks, deliveries ;
- website and e-commerce: creation of online shops and showcase sites;
- marketing automation: email campaigns, SMS, tracking, forms;
- human resources: recruitment, payroll, leave, appraisals;
- production management (MRP): production orders, bills of material, quality monitoring ;
- Business Intelligence (BI): dynamic dashboards, customised reports, etc;
- native mobile applications for all modules.
Odoo
Advantages and disadvantages of Odoo
Odoo is a powerful tool, but this power comes at a price. Before taking the plunge, you need to carefully assess whether its level of complexity, potential costs and range of functions match your company's digital maturity.
✅ Here are the strengths of Odoo, according to feedback from SMEs and large groups alike:
- A comprehensive ERP capable of managing all aspects of a business ;
- Extremely modular, with thousands of apps and integrations;
- modern, intuitive interface, accessible from desktop and mobile;
- free community version for risk-free start-up;
- extensive customisation options;
- strong community and vast ecosystem of partners ;
- remarkable scalability: Odoo keeps pace with growth without changing tools.
❌ But be warned, where there's power there's sometimes complexity. Odoo is not necessarily the ideal choice for the most modest structures or those without in-house technical resources. Here are the main obstacles or limitations:
- a longer learning curve than simpler tools such as Dolibarr ;
- initial configuration can be technical, especially in the community version;
- costly enterprise version if several modules are activated;
- some advanced features are only available in the paid version;
- official support reserved for Odoo Enterprise customers.
Dolibarr vs Odoo: compare features
Between pragmatic simplicity and functional richness, the duel between Dolibarr and Odoo is above all a question of priorities. For medium-sized businesses, the right ERP system needs to strike a balance between immediate needs and scalability.
| Functionality | Dolibarr | Odoo |
| CRM | Yes (simple) | Yes (very complete, with automation) |
| Invoicing & Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Accounting | Basic (expandable by modules) | Full (multi-currency, analytical) |
| Stock management | Yes | Yes (advanced, multi-warehouse) |
| Project management | Yes (functional but simple) | Yes (more visual and integrated) |
| Human resources | Yes (leave, expenses, time) | Yes (recruitment, payroll, appraisals) |
| E-commerce / website | ❌ No | Yes (integrated CMS) |
| Marketing automation | ❌ No | Yes (email, SMS, nurturing) |
| BI / Reporting | Basic | Advanced with customised dashboards |
| Module customisation | Yes (but limited) | Very advanced with Studio |
| Mobile applications | ❌ Not native | Yes (official) |
Focus on sales management
Odoo takes automation a step further:
- automatic invoice generation,
- complex workflows,
- integration with e-commerce or dropshipping.
Dolibarr, for its part, remains highly functional, but without advanced automation. It's perfect for SMEs with a simple structure, who want to stay in control without complicating their processes.
💡 The verdict: Dolibarr gets straight to the point, while Odoo excels at automation and omnichannel.
Focus on CRM
Dolibarr allows you to track customers, prospects and opportunities, but without a visual pipeline or scoring.
Odoo, on the other hand, offers :
- an intuitive kanban interface
- automation (emails, tasks),
- native integration with marketing
- and even a sales forecasting tool.
💡 The verdict: Odoo is better suited to structured sales teams; Dolibarr is sufficient for basic customer management.
Focus on accounting
Dolibarr offers management accounting, with :
- journals,
- VAT
- exports to other software (such as Sage).
But there is no complete management of tax returns or analytical accounting without external extensions.
Odoo, in its enterprise version, provides a real advanced accounting module:
- multi-company
- multi-currency
- bank reconciliations
- lettering,
- automatic reminders, and much more.
💡 Verdict: Dolibarr may be enough for a micro or small business; for more advanced needs, Odoo is clearly superior.
Dolibarr vs Odoo: price comparison
| Plan | Dolibarr | Odoo |
| Free offer | Community version, self-hosted | A free Odoo app |
| Basic package | " Dolibarr Basic- from €14 / month / user :
|
" Standard- from €19.90/month :
|
| Enterprise package | " Dolibarr Premium- from €30/month + €15/user/month :
|
" Custom"- from €29.90 / month :
|
Dolibarr vs Odoo: which interface is the most intuitive?
When choosing an ERP solution, the user interface plays a key role. And why is that? Because software can be ultra-powerful, but if it's a pain to use on a daily basis, your teams will quickly give up.
So, between Dolibarr and Odoo, which offers the best user experience? We compare their ergonomics, ease of use, customisation and mobile accessibility.
| Criteria | Dolibarr | Odoo |
| General ergonomics | Classic, uncluttered, but a little dated | Modern, fluid, UX thinking |
| Learning curve | Very fast, little training required | ⚠️ Medium to long, depending on the module |
| Navigation | Simple tree structure by module | Intuitive navigation via apps and menus |
| Interface customisation | ⚠️ Limited (menu, colours) | Advanced (via Odoo Studio, dashboards) |
| Mobile & responsive | Responsive interface, but no dedicated app | Native mobile apps per module |
| Multilingual and accessible | Yes, good language management | Yes, very comprehensive |
🧠 Analysis:
- Dolibarr gets straight to the point. Its interface is sober, without graphic overload. The menus are clear, and each module has its own logic. You won't get lost... but don't expect a visual experience worthy of modern SaaS apps. Ideal for companies that want efficiency, not bling.
- Odoo, on the other hand, is clearly committed to design. It's clean, elegant and designed for intensive use. It may take a little longer to get used to, but everything is fluid and coherent. And above all, the experience is the same on desktop, tablet or mobile thanks to the dedicated apps. Perfect for collaborative, mobile or performance-oriented UX teams.
Dolibarr vs Odoo: compare integrations
The better an ERP solution integrates with your CRM, accounting or HR stack, the more it becomes a central lever in your company's digital transformation. For a CIO, integrator or systems manager, it's not just a question of 'connecting', but of synchronising intelligently.
👉 Number of integrations available
- Dolibarr: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Dolibarr offers a number of native integrations (PayPal, Stripe, LDAP, e-commerce such as WooCommerce) and third-party connectors via external modules or specific developments. There is no centralised marketplace and no wealth of ready-to-use tools. Dolibarr remains a simple but limited choice in terms of direct interconnection with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot or Microsoft 365.
- Odoo: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 39,000 modules in the Odoo App Store, many of which can be integrated with CRMs, accounting tools, e-commerce platforms, marketing tools, etc. Native integrations with Google Workspace, Dropbox, Shopify, Amazon, Jira, Slack, etc. A rich ecosystem, supported by an active community and a network of integrator partners.
👉 Easy to configure
- Dolibarr: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Dolibarr integrations often require technical intervention: manual installation of modules, configuration via back-offices, or even code customisation for certain APIs. Few "plug & play" connectors. You need to be comfortable with the modular logic and sometimes get your hands dirty with the engine.
- Odoo: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Thanks to its integrated modules and Odoo Studio's low-code/no-code environment, many integrations can be configured without coding. For complex cases, robust APIs and clear documentation are available. Odoo is designed to make integration easy, even if some advanced features remain technical.
👉 Customisation and automation
- Dolibarr: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Ability to activate or create custom triggers, but very few visual automation tools. Some customisations require you to go into the source code. Automation remains functional but limited, unless coupled with external tools. A good level for an SME with simple needs, but not very scalable without technical skills.
- Odoo: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is where Odoo shines: automated workflows, management rules, data synchronisation between modules, marketing, sales or HR automation... everything can be scripted. And with Odoo Studio, you can go even further without typing a line of code. The level of customisation is very high, perfectly suited to fast-growing organisations.
💡 Conclusion
- Odoo wins hands down when it comes to integrations, thanks to its impressive catalogue of applications, ease of configuration and powerful automation tools. It's a strategic choice for businesses that want to centralise their IS and make their tools communicate intelligently.
- Dolibarr, on the other hand, remains a simpler, lighter option , to be considered for SMEs with little dependence on third-party applications, or with a technical team ready to get its hands dirty with the code.
When should you choose Dolibarr or Odoo?
Choosing between Dolibarr and Odoo is not just a question of budget or design. It's a strategic decision, which depends on the size of the company, its organisational complexity, its business and its internal resources. Here's where each open source ERP software comes into its own.
Typical use cases for Dolibarr
Dolibarr is a minimalist but effective ERP solution, designed for people who want to get straight to the point, without getting bogged down in configuration or superfluous options. Its "light" modular approach and free community version make it an ideal choice for agile, low-complexity structures.
📌 Here are the profiles for which Dolibarr is an excellent choice:
- VSEs / SMEs with a simple business (services, crafts, trading) ;
- companies that want an ERP that's easy to install and maintain, without having to go through an integrator;
- associations or foundations needing a basic management tool (members, donations, projects);
- freelancers or self-employed people who want to centralise quotes, invoices and CRM without blowing their budget;
- SMEs with manual processes that want to gradually digitise their management;
- organisations with limited IT resources that want to keep to a lightweight stack.
Typical use cases for Odoo
Odoo, with its rich functionality and ability to centralise everything, is aimed at companies that need a structuring ERP capable of supporting their growth, automation and data-driven approach. It's a strategic choice for organisations that see ERP as the heart of their IS.
📌 Here's where Odoo comes into its own:
- Fast-growing SMEs that want to upgrade their ERP to keep pace with their development ;
- Mature start-ups or scale-ups with varied business needs (sales, production, marketing, HR);
- multi-site or multi-entity companies (multi-company management);
- e-commerce or retail players needing to link ERP, CRM, online shops and logistics;
- industrial companies needing an integrated MRP, production or quality module;
- organisations with mobile teams, who need ERP applications accessible on smartphones;
- organisations with a vision of data and advanced automation, who want to create tailor-made workflows.
Dolibarr vs Odoo: two visions of ERP, one good choice for you
This face-off between Dolibarr and Odoo clearly shows that there is no single good open source ERP, but solutions adapted to very different needs and contexts.
👉 Dolibarr shines for its simplicity, lightness and free availability. It ticks all the boxes for an SME with standard needs, who wants a reliable, no-frills management tool that's easy to maintain, without mobilising internal IT resources.
👉 Odoo, on the other hand, is positioned as a comprehensive, modular and scalable ERP, designed for ambitious, multi-team or multi-site businesses that want to centralise all their processes within a powerful, automated ecosystem.
FAQ - Dolibarr vs Odoo
What's the difference between Dolibarr and Odoo?
Dolibarr is a simple, lightweight open source ERP, ideal for very small businesses with basic management needs.
Odoo, on the other hand, offers a much more comprehensive and modular suite, suited to growing businesses with more complex requirements and a strong need for automation.
Dolibarr or Odoo: which is best for a small business?
For a small business with few in-house resources, Dolibarr is often better suited. It's easy to learn, quick to deploy and offers excellent value for money.
Odoo may also be suitable, but it will require more configuration and time.
Is Odoo really free?
Yes and no. The community version of Odoo is free (open source), but it does not include all the advanced features. To take advantage of all the modules, support and official cloud hosting, you need to upgrade to the paid enterprise version, billed per user.
Can Dolibarr be customised like Odoo?
Dolibarr allows a certain amount of customisation, notably by activating modules or adding plugins. But Odoo goes much further, with tools like Odoo Studio, a rich API and an ecosystem of bespoke apps. For complex business needs, Odoo is more flexible.
Which software offers the best support?
Dolibarr relies mainly on its open source community and a few specialist service providers. Support can therefore vary. Odoo, on the other hand, offers official support, with SLAs, exhaustive documentation and a network of certified partners.
Article translated from French