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ERP · head to head

Apache OFBiz vs BackToMe

Apache OFBiz logo

Apache OFBiz

ERP

Java ERP and e-commerce framework from the Apache Foundation, sold as a toolkit not a product

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
BackToMe logo

BackToMe

E-Commerce

Right-of-withdrawal handling for European e-commerce

From
€25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apache OFBiz has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apache OFBiz oFBiz has disclosed repeated critical vulnerabilities including pre-authentication remote code execution and authentication bypass chains, several exploited in the wild, so an internet-facing instance that is not patched promptly is a genuine breach risk rather than a theoretical one.; BackToMe the scope is European consumer law. A merchant selling outside the EU has no use for it.
  • They diverge on capability: Apache OFBiz covers Entity engine, BackToMe covers Floating withdrawal button.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache OFBiz and BackToMe actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache OFBiz and BackToMe differ
AttributeApache OFBizBackToMe
Starting priceFree€25/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hostedWeb
CategoryERPE-Commerce

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apache OFBiz

  • Entity engine
  • Service engine
  • Accounting
  • Order management
  • E-commerce storefront
  • Warehouse management
  • Manufacturing and MRP
  • Party model

Only in BackToMe

  • Floating withdrawal button
  • Automatic acknowledgement
  • Sealed archiving
  • Withdrawal dashboard
  • One-click proof export
  • Multi-store from one account

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apache OFBiz

  • A systems integrator building a vertical industry product on a permissively licensed ERP core it can redistribute commerciallynot BackToMe
  • An organisation with strong Java capability that needs an order and inventory data model it can extend rather than configurenot BackToMe
  • A business that requires a permissive Apache 2.0 licence because GPL copyleft is unacceptable to its legal teamnot BackToMe
  • A team replacing a bespoke in-house order management system that wants an entity model rather than a finished applicationnot BackToMe

BackToMe

  • Meeting EU Directive 2023/2673 withdrawal obligationsnot Apache OFBiz
  • Producing dated proof of a cancellation in a customer disputenot Apache OFBiz
  • Handling withdrawal requests across several EU languagesnot Apache OFBiz
  • Running one withdrawal process across multiple storefrontsnot Apache OFBiz
  • Passing a consumer-protection audit with exportable recordsnot Apache OFBiz

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apache OFBiz

  • OFBiz has disclosed repeated critical vulnerabilities including pre-authentication remote code execution and authentication bypass chains, several exploited in the wild, so an internet-facing instance that is not patched promptly is a genuine breach risk rather than a theoretical one.
  • There is no vendor, no support contract and no hosted edition, so every deployment depends on either in-house Java skill or an integrator you find and vet yourself.
  • The screens and default workflows look and behave like enterprise software from the 2000s, and user acceptance in a finance or warehouse team is frequently the reason projects stall.
  • It is a framework rather than a configurable product, so meaningful deployments require Java, XML widget and entity engine development, which puts the real cost in developer months rather than licence fees.
  • Localisation for tax, statutory reporting and payroll is largely absent, so any country-specific compliance requirement has to be built, and that build has to be maintained against upstream releases.

BackToMe

  • The scope is European consumer law. A merchant selling outside the EU has no use for it.
  • The site and dashboard are French. The customer-facing button covers 24 EU languages, but the merchant side is not multilingual.
  • One price, one feature set. There is no tier for a shop that wants only the archive or only the button.
  • It runs as an injected script on the storefront, so a shop with a strict content security policy has an extra step before the button will render.
  • A young French vendor with no independent review coverage, so there is nothing outside the vendor's own material to corroborate the archive's evidentiary weight.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache OFBiz

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Apache License 2.0, permissive and commercially redistributable
    • Accounting, order management, warehousing and manufacturing included
    • E-commerce storefront included

BackToMe

€25/month
  • Monthly$25/month
    • Per active store, excluding VAT
    • Unlimited withdrawal requests
    • 24 EU languages
  • Annual$250/year
    • Per store, excluding VAT
    • Two months free against the monthly rate
    • Everything in the monthly plan

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache OFBiz if

  • You need entity engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted.
  • You also want service engine.
Apache OFBiz review

Choose BackToMe if

  • You need floating withdrawal button.
  • You also want automatic acknowledgement.
BackToMe review

Questions people ask

Is Apache OFBiz or BackToMe better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache OFBiz starts at Free and BackToMe at €25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache OFBiz or BackToMe?
Apache OFBiz has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apache OFBiz and €25/month for BackToMe.
Does Apache OFBiz or BackToMe run on more platforms?
Apache OFBiz runs on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted. BackToMe runs on Web.
Can I use Apache OFBiz for free?
Yes. Apache OFBiz has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BackToMe starts at €25/month.
What is Apache OFBiz best used for?
Apache OFBiz is most often used for a systems integrator building a vertical industry product on a permissively licensed erp core it can redistribute commercially, an organisation with strong java capability that needs an order and inventory data model it can extend rather than configure, a business that requires a permissive apache 2.0 licence because gpl copyleft is unacceptable to its legal team, a team replacing a bespoke in-house order management system that wants an entity model rather than a finished application. Of those, a systems integrator building a vertical industry product on a permissively licensed erp core it can redistribute commercially and an organisation with strong java capability that needs an order and inventory data model it can extend rather than configure are not what BackToMe is typically brought in for.
What can Apache OFBiz do that BackToMe cannot?
Apache OFBiz covers Entity engine, Service engine, Accounting, Order management. BackToMe covers Floating withdrawal button, Automatic acknowledgement, Sealed archiving, Withdrawal dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apache OFBiz: Is Apache OFBiz safe to run on the public internet?

Only with disciplined patching. It has shipped fixes for pre-authentication remote code execution and authentication bypass flaws, with CVEs continuing into 2026, and some have been exploited in the wild.

BackToMe: What does BackToMe cost?

25 euros excluding VAT per month per active store, or 250 euros excluding VAT per year, which works out at two months free. The price does not change with the number of withdrawal requests.

Source
Apache OFBiz: What does it cost?

Nothing to licence. It is Apache 2.0. The cost is Java development, hosting and ongoing security maintenance.

BackToMe: Which regulation does it address?

EU Directive 2023/2673, which governs the consumer right of withdrawal on distance contracts in e-commerce.

Source
Apache OFBiz: Can I use it as a finished ERP?

Not realistically. It is a framework with reference applications, and most production deployments are custom builds on top of it.

BackToMe: Is there a free trial?

Seven days. A card is required to start it but nothing is charged upfront, and cancelling before day seven costs nothing. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Source
Apache OFBiz: Why choose it over a GPL ERP?

The Apache 2.0 licence is permissive, so an integrator can build and sell a derived commercial product without copyleft obligations.

BackToMe: Are staging and development stores billed?

No. Only activated stores are billed, and the withdrawal button does not display on inactive ones.

Source
BackToMe: What happens to the archive if I cancel?

Cancellation is available at any time with no commitment, premium access runs to the end of the paid period, and the account stays open with archived withdrawals and proofs accessible indefinitely. Reactivation is self-service.

Source
BackToMe: Which e-commerce platforms does it support?

Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Wix, Webflow, WiziShop and Squarespace, plus custom builds through a single line of script. The vendor puts installation at five minutes on any platform.

Source
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