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ERP · head to head

Apache OFBiz vs DEAR Systems

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
DEAR Systems logo

DEAR Systems

ERP

Cloud inventory management for growing businesses

From
$349/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.; DEAR Systems dEAR Systems is sold as Cin7 Core and priced on the Cin7 pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Apache OFBiz covers Entity engine, DEAR Systems covers Inventory control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache OFBiz and DEAR Systems actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache OFBiz and DEAR Systems differ
AttributeApache OFBizDEAR Systems
Starting priceFree$349/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hostedCloud, Web, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2012

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

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 DEAR Systems

  • Inventory control
  • Purchase orders
  • Sales orders
  • Manufacturing
  • Accounting integration
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Shopify

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 DEAR Systems
  • An organisation with strong Java capability that needs an order and inventory data model it can extend rather than configurenot DEAR Systems
  • A business that requires a permissive Apache 2.0 licence because GPL copyleft is unacceptable to its legal teamnot DEAR Systems
  • A team replacing a bespoke in-house order management system that wants an entity model rather than a finished applicationnot DEAR Systems

DEAR Systems

  • Inventory and order management for wholesale and e-commerce sellersnot Apache OFBiz
  • Manufacturing with bills of materials and material requirements planningnot Apache OFBiz
  • Syncing stock and orders with Xero or QuickBooks Onlinenot Apache OFBiz
  • Multi warehouse stock control across unlimited locationsnot 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.

DEAR Systems

  • DEAR Systems is sold as Cin7 Core and priced on the Cin7 pricing page
  • The $349 per month Standard plan caps sales orders at 6,000 per year, includes 5 users and 2 e-commerce integrations
  • Material requirements planning requires the Pro plan at $599 per month
  • Advanced warehouse management requires the Advanced plan at $1,199 per month
  • Additional users, extra integrations, API access, forecasting and advanced automations all cost extra and are priced by the sales team
  • The Omni enterprise plan is custom priced with no published rate

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

DEAR Systems

$349/month
  • Standard$349/month
    • 5 users
    • 6000 annual sale orders
    • 2 e-commerce integrations
  • Pro$599/month
    • 10 users
    • 24000 annual sale orders
    • 4 e-commerce integrations
  • Advanced$1199/month
    • 15 users
    • 120000 annual sale orders
    • 6 e-commerce integrations
  • Omni$null/month
    • 8 users
    • Flexible annual sale orders
    • 5 e-commerce integrations

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 DEAR Systems if

  • You need inventory control.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want purchase orders.
DEAR Systems review

Questions people ask

Is Apache OFBiz or DEAR Systems better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache OFBiz starts at Free and DEAR Systems at $349/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache OFBiz or DEAR Systems?
Apache OFBiz has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apache OFBiz and $349/month for DEAR Systems.
Does Apache OFBiz or DEAR Systems run on more platforms?
Apache OFBiz runs on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted. DEAR Systems runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
Can I use Apache OFBiz for free?
Yes. Apache OFBiz has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DEAR Systems starts at $349/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 DEAR Systems is typically brought in for.
What can Apache OFBiz do that DEAR Systems cannot?
Apache OFBiz covers Entity engine, Service engine, Accounting, Order management. DEAR Systems covers Inventory control, Purchase orders, Sales orders, Manufacturing.

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.

DEAR Systems: How much does Dear Systems (Cin7) cost?

Dear Systems pricing starts at $349/month for the Standard tier, $599/month for the Pro tier (most popular), $1199/month for Advanced, and custom pricing for the Omni enterprise solution.

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.

DEAR Systems: What features does each Dear Systems plan include?

Standard includes 5 users and 6000 annual orders. Pro (most popular) adds 10 users, 24000 orders, and MRP. Advanced provides 15 users, 120000 orders, and advanced warehouse management. Omni offers enterprise customization with flexible user and order limits.

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.

DEAR Systems: How many users and integrations are included in Dear Systems plans?

Standard tier includes 5 users and 2 e-commerce integrations. Pro tier includes 10 users and 4 integrations. Advanced tier includes 15 users and 6 integrations. Additional users and integrations are available as paid add-ons.

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.

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