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ERP · head to head

Aptean vs OpenBravo

Aptean logo

Aptean

ERP

ERP solutions for manufacturing and distribution

From
$1500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenBravo logo

OpenBravo

ERP

Open-source-derived ERP that has narrowed its focus to retail commerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenBravo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aptean a portfolio of industry-specific products rather than one platform, spanning ERP, TMS, PLM, EAM, WMS, MES and more, so the evaluation is which Aptean product before any feature comparison; OpenBravo the commercial product is a paid subscription despite the open source lineage, so buyers who assume open source means low cost find the licence conversation no different from any other vendor's.
  • They diverge on capability: Aptean covers Financial management, OpenBravo covers Retail point of sale.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aptean and OpenBravo actually diverge.

Attributes where Aptean and OpenBravo differ
AttributeApteanOpenBravo
Starting price$1500/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premise, WebSelf-hosted, Web
Founded20172000

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 Aptean

  • Financial management
  • Manufacturing
  • Supply chain
  • Inventory management
  • Quality management
  • REST APIs
  • EDI
  • IoT systems

Only in OpenBravo

  • Retail point of sale
  • Omnichannel order management
  • Inventory and warehouse
  • Procurement
  • Financials
  • Modular architecture
  • Web-based interface
  • Open source lineage

What people use each for

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

Aptean

  • Industry-specific ERP for manufacturing and distributionnot OpenBravo
  • Transportation and warehouse managementnot OpenBravo
  • Product lifecycle management for food and apparelnot OpenBravo
  • Enterprise asset management and maintenancenot OpenBravo
  • EDI and payment processing alongside the core systemsnot OpenBravo

OpenBravo

  • A retail chain replacing separate point of sale and back office systems with one platform across storesnot Aptean
  • A retailer needing a single view of stock across shops, warehouse and online fulfilmentnot Aptean
  • An organisation that requires source code access for auditability or long term control of its own extensionsnot Aptean
  • A business in Europe or Latin America where Openbravo's partner presence is establishednot Aptean

Where each one falls short

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

Aptean

  • A portfolio of industry-specific products rather than one platform, spanning ERP, TMS, PLM, EAM, WMS, MES and more, so the evaluation is which Aptean product before any feature comparison
  • Pricing is not published for any product
  • Aimed at mid-sized and large businesses rather than small operations

OpenBravo

  • The commercial product is a paid subscription despite the open source lineage, so buyers who assume open source means low cost find the licence conversation no different from any other vendor's.
  • Development focus has narrowed towards retail commerce, so a buyer wanting a general purpose ERP for manufacturing or services is choosing a product whose investment is going somewhere else.
  • The community around the horizontal ERP is much quieter than it once was, so independent documentation, forum answers and third party modules are sparse and you are dependent on the vendor and its partners in practice.
  • The partner network is small and concentrated in particular regions, which limits your choice of implementer and leaves you exposed if the one available partner in your country is unavailable or underperforms.
  • Extending the platform requires Java and SQL skills specific to its framework, so customisation means hiring or contracting developers for a niche stack, and a heavily modified installation becomes yours to maintain across upgrades.

Pricing, plan by plan

Aptean

$1500/month
  • Standard$1500/month
    • Core ERP modules
    • Manufacturing
    • Supply chain
  • Premium$3000/month
    • Advanced modules
    • Analytics
    • Priority support

OpenBravo

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Open-source
    • Core functionality
    • Community support
  • Enterprise Support$200/month
    • Professional support
    • Updates
    • Consulting

Which should you pick?

Choose Aptean if

  • You need financial management.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
  • You also want manufacturing.
Aptean review

Choose OpenBravo if

  • You need retail point of sale.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want omnichannel order management.
OpenBravo review

Questions people ask

Is Aptean or OpenBravo better?
Neither clearly leads. Aptean starts at $1500/month and OpenBravo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aptean or OpenBravo?
OpenBravo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1500/month for Aptean and Free for OpenBravo.
Does Aptean or OpenBravo run on more platforms?
Aptean runs on Cloud, On-premise, Web. OpenBravo runs on Self-hosted, Web.
Can I use OpenBravo for free?
Yes. OpenBravo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aptean starts at $1500/month.
What is Aptean best used for?
Aptean is most often used for industry-specific erp for manufacturing and distribution, transportation and warehouse management, product lifecycle management for food and apparel, enterprise asset management and maintenance. Of those, industry-specific erp for manufacturing and distribution and transportation and warehouse management are not what OpenBravo is typically brought in for.
What can Aptean do that OpenBravo cannot?
Aptean covers Financial management, Manufacturing, Supply chain, Inventory management. OpenBravo covers Retail point of sale, Omnichannel order management, Inventory and warehouse, Procurement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aptean: What is Aptean's pricing?

Aptean does not publish pricing on its website. Use the Request Pricing link or contact the sales team directly.

Source
OpenBravo: Is Openbravo free?

The lineage is open source and source code is available, but the commercial retail product is sold as a subscription. Treat it as commercial software with an open codebase rather than as free software with paid support.

Aptean: Does Aptean offer free product tours or demonstrations?

Yes, Aptean offers free interactive product tours and personalized demos that can be scheduled at your convenience.

Source
OpenBravo: Can I still use it as a general ERP?

The horizontal capability exists in the architecture, but the commercial attention is on retail. If you are not a retailer, you would be relying on parts of the product that are not where investment is going.

Aptean: What support is included after implementation?

Aptean provides 24/7 unlimited support and expert consultation following implementation.

Source
OpenBravo: What skills do I need in-house?

Java and SQL for anything beyond configuration, plus familiarity with the module framework. If you have no development capacity and no intention to acquire any, the open codebase gives you nothing you will use.

OpenBravo: How do I judge the implementation risk?

By the partner, and specifically by whether there is more than one credible partner in your country. A single available implementer is a concentration risk that should be reflected in your contract terms.

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