What Is OpenERP and How Does It Relate to Odoo?

Updated

OpenERP is the former name of Odoo. The software was rebranded in 2014, so "OpenERP" and "Odoo" refer to the same open-source business platform — if you see the older name in a tutorial, forum post, or job listing, it points to the same product you'll find today at odoo.com. It fits businesses that want ERP, CRM, eCommerce, accounting, and other functions on one platform instead of stitching together separate tools.

Why the name changed

The rename reflected a shift in scope. "OpenERP" described an ERP product; "Odoo" was chosen to signal a broader set of business apps beyond ERP alone. Practically, this means:

  • Documentation, community posts, and third-party articles written before 2014 use "OpenERP."
  • Anything after that date uses "Odoo."
  • The underlying project, its open-source model, and its app structure carried over — it wasn't a fork or a new product.

If you're evaluating the software today, search for "Odoo" to get current information; "OpenERP" mostly surfaces legacy material.

What the platform actually includes

Odoo bundles a large set of business apps on one platform. The site lists apps spanning Accounting, CRM, Sales, Inventory, Manufacturing, Purchase, Project, eCommerce, Website, Email Marketing, Point of Sale, Subscriptions, Helpdesk, Field Service, Planning, Timesheets, Documents, Discuss, HR, and Studio, among others. The stated design goal is that each app simplifies one process and installs with one click, so you can start with a single app and add more as needed.

Two editions exist:

Edition Cost What you get
Community Open source, 100% free Core open-source apps
Enterprise Paid Extra apps, infrastructure, and professional services

The site also advertises a plan at US$ 24.90 / month for all apps, alongside separate pricing and implementation-services pages. Check the current pricing pages before budgeting, since plan details and inclusions can change.

Open source, data ownership, and lock-in

Odoo's open-source model matters for two practical reasons:

  • Data format. Data is stored in PostgreSQL with no proprietary format, so you own your data and can access it directly.
  • Source code access. You get the source code and GitHub access, which the site frames as avoiding vendor lock-in.

The project also leans on its community: the site cites 100k+ developers and 40k+ community apps, and notes that Odoo.sh can be used to develop or vibe-code tailored modules. Because the source is open, LLMs have already been trained on it — useful if you plan to use AI tooling to customize or extend the system.

When OpenERP/Odoo is a reasonable fit

Choose it when you want modular, low-cost business apps you can install one at a time rather than a single monolithic suite. It tends to suit organizations that:

  • Want to start small (one app, one process) and expand incrementally.
  • Care about owning their data and avoiding proprietary formats.
  • Are comfortable with an open-source model and possibly customizing modules.

Before committing, compare the Community and Enterprise editions directly, since the free edition and the paid edition differ in apps, infrastructure, and services. If you need the extra apps or professional support, the Enterprise path is the relevant one; if core open-source apps cover your needs, Community is the starting point.