January 3, 2026
Open-source or open sore?
Odoo: Open-Source ERP
Nostalgia, 'open core' shouting, and rival fans crash Odoo’s party
TLDR: Odoo pitches an all-in-one business toolkit, but commenters say it’s “open core” with paid extras while rival fans tout Tryton and ERPNext. One business says Odoo could save money with support, yet setup needs expertise—sparking a fight over freedom, cost, and which ERP truly walks the open talk.
Odoo just reminded the internet it’s a one-stop shop for business tools—think sales, websites, inventory, accounting, HR—basically your company’s control center. But the real show was the comments. One old-school fan sighed, “I remember when this was OpenERP,” setting the stage for a nostalgia-fueled brawl over what “open-source” really means. Critics pounced: multiple voices called Odoo open core (free base, paid extras), while others waved rival flags like Tryton, ERPNext, and the meme-worthy “Why not Dolibarr?” chorus. The vibe: half reunion, half roast. Practical folks chimed in too—one manufacturer said Odoo’s flexible but you’ll likely need experts to set it up, and the paid “Enterprise” plan might actually save money compared to a patchwork of Microsoft Dynamics and other tools. Translation for non-nerds: people love that Odoo can do almost everything, but argue whether it’s truly “free” or just “free-ish,” and whether alternatives are more pure. The funniest beat? Commenters turning “Open-Source” into open sore jokes while dropping quick takes like product recommendations in a group chat. The drama isn’t about features—it’s about trust, wallets, and bragging rights.
Key Points
- •Odoo offers a suite of web-based open source business applications.
- •Core apps cover CRM, website building, eCommerce, warehouse, projects, accounting, POS, HR, marketing, and manufacturing.
- •Apps can be used standalone or integrated to form a full-featured open source ERP.
- •Installation guidance is provided via official documentation and setup instructions.
- •Learning resources include Odoo eLearning, the Scale-up business game, and developer tutorials; security issues are reported via a Responsible Disclosure page.